I.t. Career Energizer: Phil Burgess Chats With Robert C Martin, John Sonmez, David Rael And Other Successful It Professionals

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Scott Ambler. Scott works with organisations around the world to help them to improve their software processes.  He provides training, coaching and mentoring in disciplined agile and lean strategies at both the project and organisational level. He is also the founder of the Agile Modelling (AM) and Agile Data (AD) methods and co-founder of Disciplined Agile (DA). In this episode, Phil and Scott discuss why Scott got interested in agile and continues to develop it. How he helps large organisations to change the way they work by leveraging the experiences of other organisations. They talk about how to effectively test the architecture of a system, at an early stage, and why it must be done.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (6.41) TOP CAREER TIP Read widely. You need to be constantly consuming information from a wide range of sources.   (7.46) WORST CAREER MOMENT Many years ago, Scott ended up working with a strong team who were handicapped by having to use tech

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Diomidis Spinellis.  He is a professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business, and a long-time IT practitioner.   He is the author of many open-source software tools, including UMLGraph, CScout, and git-issue.  His latest book is “Effective Debugging: 66 Specific Ways to Debug Software and Systems”.    In this episode, Phil and Diomidis Spinellis discuss how taking the time to develop tools to solve what are sometimes small problems makes you a better programmer and boosts your career. They talk about how to become an effective communicator and quickly understand the root of the problems you are working to solve.   Diomidis shares examples of how simple solutions can be used to achieve step changes. He also talks about the maths behind machine learning and the future of the IT industry.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.03) TOP CAREER TIP The first skill you need to develop is communication.

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Noelle LaCharite. She is an advocate for women in technology, and passionate about mindful Leadership, work-life harmony and helping people achieve more through the use of AI.   She has spent many years as a trainer, solutions architect and evangelist for IBM, RedHat, EMC, Amazon and Microsoft.  Noelle has delivered keynotes, workshops and conferences around the world.      In this episode, Phil and Noelle LaCharite discuss the opportunities AI offers and how to embrace the technology so you can take advantage of them. As well as why every developer needs to get involved in AI, as soon as possible.   She also explains how she has used mindfulness and other mental exercises to improve her focus and she shares several other productivity tips. Phil and Noelle also talk about how to recognise and tap into your natural strengths to find your ideal place within the IT industry.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.26) TOP CAREER TIP Build good mental discipline. O

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Lyndsey Padget. Lyndsey is the founder of Longplay Software and a full stack developer, having worked at both mega-corporations and start-ups.  She enjoys sharing her knowledge on topics including git & release management, test-driven development, agile and Kanban, and many more. And she believes that the difference between a good software engineer and a great one often has little to do with code. In this episode, Phil and Lyndsey Padget discuss effective ways to end negative cycles and habits so that you can finally grow your career. They discuss how not being afraid to ask the right questions, at the right stage, enables you to succeed. Lyndsey shares her take on where the biggest breakthroughs in AI are likely to come from. She also talks through the wisdom of being both a mentor and a mentoree.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (5.30) TOP CAREER TIP When growing your career you need to take act offensively rather than defensively. In the podcast, Lynds

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Ed Finkler. Ed is a software developer at DelMar Software Development. He is also co-host of the Development Hell podcast and he is currently raising mental health awareness in the tech community with his Open Sourcing Mental Illness speaking campaign. In this episode, Phil and Ed Finkler begin by talking about how mental illness impacts tech professionals and why awareness of the issue needs to increase. They also talk about how Ed has successfully managed his own mental illness issues. Ed and Phil discuss the future of IT and the need to simplify both the creative process and what we build. They also cover the need to use dependable tech.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (7.38) TOP CAREER TIP You need to develop your non-technical as well as your technical skills. These so-called soft skills are actually vital to success. Being a good communicator, the ability to work well in a team and having empathy are all essential.   (11.56) WORST CAREER MOMENT For Ed,

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Luke Kanies. He is a design and strategy-oriented advisor, speaker, writer and the founder of Puppet, a company helping to define the future of software.   He has a number of interests, including software productivity, business strategy and the inclusion of more people in the software revolution.    In this episode, Phil and Luke Kanies discuss how and why he created Puppet. Luke goes into detail about his journey through founding, funding and finally leaving the company he formed.   Luke also talks about how being a bit of a maverick thinker and risk-taker has helped him to have such a successful career. They also speak about a huge software development market that is still virtually untapped and how users having more control of their data will change things, moving forward.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (10.09) TOP CAREER TIP Getting fired is incredibly valuable. It has happened to Luke several times. After a while, he worked out that not being afraid of

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Paul Boag. He is a leader in digital transformation and user experience design thinking.  Through consultancy and training, he helps organisations make better use of technologies. He is also author of five books including “Digital Adaptation” and “User Experience Revolution” as well as being a speaker on user experience design and digital transformation. In this episode, Phil and Paul Boag discuss the importance of taking a multi-disciplinary approach to what you do. Paul repeatedly provides examples of how to do this and demonstrates the positive impact it can have on your career. They also talk about the evolution of machine learning and AI. Paul explains how soft skills, being a good salesperson and staying flexible have helped his career.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: (5.17) TOP CAREER TIP Broaden your horizons; think outside of your immediate discipline. When you familiarise yourself with other tech and areas of business, communicating and working c

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Nicolas Frankel. Nicolas is a developer advocate who has consulted for customers in a wide range of industry sectors including telecoms, banking and insurance.  He usually works on Java and Spring technologies with a focus on rich internet applications, testing, continuous integration, continuous development and DevOps.   As well as a frequent conference speaker, he is also author of three books including “Learning Vaadin” and“Integration Testing from the Trenches”.    In this episode, Phil and Nicolas Frankel discuss why you need to ask plenty of questions and not be afraid of failure. They also talk about how teaching and mentoring others helps you to grow as an IT professional.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.15) TOP CAREER TIP Do not be afraid to ask questions especially when you are a junior. People won’t think you are stupid when you ask how and why. In fact, this is the sign of a good developer.   During the podcast, Nicolas pr

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Cassidy Williams. She is a software engineer at CodePen and the director of outreach at cKeys.  Previously, she has worked for Amazon, L4 Digital, Clarifai and Venmo. She also runs a weekly newsletter and loves teaching and helping people become better coders.  In this episode, Phil and Cassidy Williams discuss the benefits of getting involved with the wider community and teaching them tech skills. They talk about the need to constantly evaluate the work you are doing to make sure that it is still right for you. Phil and Cassidy also review how the frontend is changing and what the websites of the future will look like.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.18) TOP CAREER TIP Know what you don’t want just as much as what you do. If you do not want to work in a certain kind of environment or use a specific tech knowing that is the case is essential. You have to avoid that kind of work even if it looks like it will take you closer to your dream job. Putting yours

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is James Ward. He is a software developer who shares what he learns with others through presentations, blogs, demos and code.  He is a self-proclaimed Typed Pure Functional Programming zealot but often compromises on his ideals to just get things done. And as well as being the co-author of “First Steps in Flex” and the creator of the first Java hosting service back in 1997, he helped to launch the Reactive Manifesto. In this episode, Phil and James Ward talk, at length, about the best ways to get involved in the IT community, help others and grow your reputation within the industry. They also discuss how to be effective at influencing decision-makers. James also talks about how to go back to basics when explaining things to beginners. A skill you need when building a team.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.26) TOP CAREER TIP Find a community you want to be a part of and work to improve it. Everyone benefits when you do that, including you. In time, you become

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Jennifer Wong.  She is a civil former engineer and self-taught software engineer specialising in UI and frontend development.  She has written for Net Magazine and has had projects covered by Mashable, Engadget, Gizmodo and more. She is also an avid conference speaker and a Mozilla Tech speaker. In this episode, Phil and Jennifer Wong discuss how being flexible about the work you do and pushing yourself to learn completely new skills helps your career. Jennifer also speaks about her experience with sexual harassment in the workplace. Jennifer explains why you need to educate yourself about workplace disciplinary procedures, even if you have not, yet, had any issues. She also discusses how her project “Human Wasteland” helped to make a positive for the issue of homeless in San Francisco.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.09) TOP CAREER TIP Be flexible about the work you do and how you lead your life. Not being too rigid about your career plans makes it easy

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Kristijan Ristovski who is also known as Kitze. He is a developer and the founder of React Academy where he teaches React and Graph QL around the world.   He also launched ok-Google and more recently sizzy.co, which is a browser for designers and developers.  And he’s now in the process of documenting his journey on YouTube.    In this episode, Phil and Kristijan Ristovski discuss how solving problems you have helps others, stretches you as a developer and gets you known, in the industry. They talk about how easy it is to launch side projects and how to take advantage of this fact.       KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.51) TOP CAREER TIP Solve your own problems. Usually, you are not the only person with that problem, so, coming up with a solution helps others as well as you. Plus, it is a great way to learn and stretch yourself. Sharing what you create is a great way to get known.   Kristijan has taken this approach and has ended up developing two marketabl

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Adam Tornhill. Adam is a programmer who combines degrees in engineering and psychology.  He’s the founder of Empear where he designs tools for software analysis. He’s also the author of “Software Design X-Rays”, “Your Code as a Crime Scene”, “Lisp for the Web” and “Patterns in C”. In this episode, Phil and Adam discuss how domain expertise enables you to work faster, produce better products and cut down on maintenance. They talk about the future of the industry and whether the pace of change can continue to accelerate. Adam explains why he writes about tech and how it has benefited his career.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (2.46) TOP CAREER TIP The most important skill you can have is domain expertise. Understand the product, its context and the end-users. Knowing your domain enables you to keep things simple. This in turn means that the code you write is simpler. Working this way solves numerous problems and brings commercial benefits which Adam talks abo

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Eric Weinstein. He is an engineering leader focused on building performant, scalable and easy-to-use distributed applications.  He has a background in web development, SVOD, ad tech and machine learning as well as experience with mobile development and blockchain applications. He is currently Director of Engineering at ZipRecruiter where he’s helping to build the world’s first artificially intelligent job marketplace. In this episode, Phil and Eric discuss how to incrementally achieve your long-term career goals while staying current and relevant. They talk about avoiding burnout and how working in small efficient teams is effective. Eric discusses numerous ways AI and machine learning will be used in the future and the challenges this throws up. They discuss how to avoid communication failures.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (2.07) TOP CAREER TIP Set your career goals for 5 years time. Then work your way backwards to figure out where you need to be in 3 ye

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Lalitkumar Bhamare. He is a Senior Software Test Engineer working at XING SE.   He is co-founder and chief editor of the magazine “Tea-time with Testers” which was first published in 2011 and now boasts a readership of 40,000 across the globe.   And is also the founder of TV for Testers and host of Techno Talk with Lalit.    In this episode, Phil and Lalitkumar Bhamare discuss the need to be a continuous learner and effective ways to do that. They talk about why it is important not to wait around until you land your dream job.   Lalitkumar also explains how he turned a small local tech newsletter into a global resource for all to use, in just 8 years. He shares why he always pays it forward.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.21) TOP CAREER TIP The day you are finished learning you're finished as a professional. You need to be continually getting your hands dirty. Stay current, read the blogs, try new things yourself, discuss them, write about them and stay

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Simon Prior. Simon is the QA Programme Manager at Camelot which is the home of the UK’s National Lottery.  He has previously worked as a developer, build engineer, scrum master, QA engineer and QA manager.   He regularly gives talks on testing and IT in schools and universities and he’s also the host of the Aylesbury Testing Gathering.    In this episode, Phil and Simon Prior discuss the role work culture plays in career success. They talk through how dangerous working too hard is and how to get the balance right. Simon and Phil discuss QA and testing and talk about how getting it right ensures the creation of the best products.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (2.48) TOP CAREER TIP Define your personal values and stick to them. For example, Simon believes that nurturing and empowering his team is important. He also strongly believes that testing should be done from the very beginning of a project.   For him, those are both critical. So, he would not want to

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Dominick Baier. Dominick is an independent consultant specialising in identity and access control. He helps companies around the world to design and implement authentication and authorization for their distributed web and native applications. He is also co-creator of Identity Server and the author of a couple of books. In this episode, Phil and Dominick Baier discuss the importance of building your brand and having a lifelong business plan. They talk about how to tap into the power of open source and how these projects can end up being the standard. Dominick is a security expert, so they also discuss the benefits of working in this field.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.52) TOP CAREER TIP Find something that you are ready to do for the rest of your life. Provided you continue to find it interesting and there is work, stick with it. Dominick also recommends producing as much free and open content as possible. It will build your brand and help you to get hi

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Scott Jehl. He is a designer and developer working at Filament Group.  He is a tireless advocate of practices that ensure web access for all and is always chipping away at open source projects with his colleagues at Filament.   He is also author of Responsible Responsive Design, co-author of Designing with Progressive Enhancement and a frequent presenter at conferences throughout the world.    In this episode, Phil and Scott Jehl discuss why you need to follow and engage on Twitter. The benefits of sharing what you know, as you learn it. How to give succinct, yet informative, speeches. Scott and Phil also discuss the challenges the roll-out of superfast networks is going to throw up.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.41) TOP CAREER TIP Stay active on Twitter. A lot of important stuff starts with conversations on Twitter. So, stay engaged there. Be curious, listen and ask questions.   Share what you know as you learn. It does not matter if others are likely

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is James Quick. Founder of Learn Build Teach.  He is a self-taught Web Developer who is addicted to learning and has a passion for teaching.  He speaks at community events, participates in Hackathons and builds continuously.    In this episode, Phil and James discuss the importance of investing in yourself and talk about effective ways to do this. They also discuss the need to regularly check progress with your manager. As well as how to sail through the appraisal process and get properly rewarded for your work. James shares how he works to effect change and engages with the IT community to help others and ensure his skill stay sharp and relevant.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (2.45) TOP CAREER TIP Invest in yourself. James had a great mentor who taught him to set aside some money each year to spend exclusively on himself.   You can use that cash to buy hardware, get extra training or travel to meetups. Basically, anything you need to further your career. In

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Graeme Rocher. He is a co-founder of the Grails framework, the co-author of The Definitive Guide to Grails and Project Lead for the OCI Grails team.   He has worked in the software field for more than 20 years and has expertise in Grails, Groovy, Web Development, Dynamic Languages and the Java Virtual Machine.  He was awarded Oracle’s Groundbreaker Award in 2018 and has recently been named a Java Champion.    In this episode, Phil and Graeme Rocher discuss how believing in yourself and becoming a lifelong-learner pushes you to make a real difference through the tech you work on. They also talk about the benefits of being involved in the open-source industry. As well as the future of IT and how you can tap into the latest trends to grow your career.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.39) TOP CAREER TIP You need to be passionate about what you do and be a lifelong learner. Every new technology progresses in a new and interesting way. So, it is worth keeping