Afleveringen
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Coding is figured out. Engineering is back. That's the shift, and it's already showing up in who excels and who gets stuck.
Carrick Carpenter, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Aditi Consulting, sits down with Andrew Duncan for a peer conversation about what actually changes inside a services firm when AI rewires the delivery model. Aditi runs 2,000+ employees, 70+ Fortune 500 clients, three continents. Andrew runs Vertice Labs at the boutique end. Same tension, different scale.
They go past "AI-native" positioning into the mechanics: why roles are collapsing, what a 90-pull-request engineer looks like in practice, why the people best at AI burn out fastest, and what Carrick got wrong in his first four months on the job.
Topics
Why engineering is back and what that actually meansThe 90-pull-request engineer and how to scale the patternCycle time as the new delivery metricThe capacity paradox inside services firmsFull stack leaders and collapsing rolesWhat AI-native actually looks like at Fortune 500 scaleBurnout risk for AI-native teamsOutcome-based contracts and enterprise procurementSaaS in the agentic eraGuest
Carrick Carpenter, Chief Technology & AI Officer at Aditi Consulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrickcarpenter
Aditi Consulting: https://www.aditiconsulting.com
Resources mentioned
Claude Code: https://claude.com/product/claude-code
OpenClaw: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenClaw
Gong: https://www.gong.io
MCP: https://modelcontextprotocol.io
Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com
Slalom: https://www.slalom.com
Vertice Labs: https://www.verticelabs.io
Connect
Andrew Duncan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/
Vertice Labs: https://www.verticelabs.io
Subscribe
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64yoHwDdhBd0vik2sev6xs
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/shipping-excellence/id1794200466
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shippingexcellence
RSS: https://media.rss.com/shippingexcellence/feed.xml
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SaaS isn't dead. UI is. The moat just moved.
Assaf Weinberg (Co-Founder & CEO, SetSale) joins Andrew Duncan to dismantle the LinkedIn narratives about software in the age of AI: "code is free," "SaaS is dead," and the founder myth that hiring a developer is the bottleneck.
Chapters
00:00 The biggest limit on AI is what you believe it can do01:23 Building SetSale before AI tools existed04:31 Supastarter and the portal boilerplate origin06:47 Why the cost of software isn't zero07:43 The "I just need a developer" myth11:09 Every software company is a data transformation engine13:58 Why SaaS isn't dead17:08 Capture your data or AI can't help you22:20 The Austin distributor story: four days to ship27:34 Artists don't sketch in marble33:30 A developer's job is specification, not code44:13 The new bottleneck is customer adoptionTopics
Why AI made code cheap but didn't make software cheapThe "I just need a developer" myth and why it was always a crutchUI as commodity, data and process as the only durable moatWhy every software company reduces to a data transformation engineThe Austin distributor visit: notetaker, AI PM, Cursor, four days to shipSix-week bets as the new unit of org changeWhat roles look like when designers don't make mockups and developers don't write codeThe new bottleneck: customer adoption now lags engineering velocityGuest
Assaf Weinberg, Co-Founder & CEO, SetSale
https://www.setsale.ai/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/assafweinberg/
https://x.com/assafweinberg
Resources mentioned
Sense and Respond by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden: https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Respond-Successful-Organizations-Continuously/dp/1633691888
Granola (AI notetaker): https://www.granola.ai/
Supastarter (Next.js SaaS boilerplate): https://supastarter.dev/
Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/
Connect
Andrew Duncan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/
Vertice Labs: https://www.verticelabs.io
Subscribe
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64yoHwDdhBd0vik2sev6xs
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/shipping-excellence/id1794200466
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shippingexcellence
RSS: https://media.rss.com/shippingexcellence/feed.xml
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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AI doesn't fix your broken processes. It amplifies them.
Jason Macht (Whitespace Solutions) joins Andrew Duncan to break down what actually changes — and what doesn't — when you build with AI.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:40 Guest introduction
02:51 Vibe coding vs. engineering rigor
04:02 AI as amplifier — good and bad processes
04:39 Spec-driven development
06:57 The death of traditional agile
09:35 Agentic systems and guardrails
15:27 New business viability — the solopreneur opportunity
32:09 AI as thought partner and echo chamber risks
49:45 Closing
Topics
Why AI amplifies good and bad engineering practices equallySpec-driven development: engineering at the speed of thoughtThe difference between vibe coding and production-ready softwareHow solopreneurs can now build niche software businesses without VCAgentic systems, guardrails, and what happens when AI has real-world accessUsing AI as a strategic thought partner — and avoiding echo chambersWhy traditional agile is losing to fast betting cyclesGuest
Jason Macht — Founder, Whitespace Solutions
https://www.whitespacesolutions.ai/https://jasonmacht.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmacht/Resources Mentioned
Cursor: https://cursor.com/Replit: https://replit.com/Bolt: https://bolt.new/Connect
Andrew Duncan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/
Vertice Labs: https://www.verticelabs.io
Subscribe
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64yoHwDdhBd0vik2sev6xs
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/shipping-excellence/id1794200466
RSS: https://media.rss.com/shippingexcellence/feed.xml
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shippingexcellence
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In this episode of Shipping Excellence, Andrew Duncan sits down with Christopher Garvis (former AWS manager, worked on CDK) to unpack a core reality of the AI era:
AI makes speed cheap, judgment priceless.
They start with the practical: how experienced builders are using AI day to day, why “skills” (constrained context + tools) are emerging as the next standard beyond agents, and what happens when heavy integrations like MCP feel slow or token expensive.
From there, the conversation shifts to the business implications. If AI compresses the time to ship, teams hit decision points faster, with less time to react. That makes judgment and ownership the highest leverage skills. They discuss why AI amplifies whatever process you already have, why “vibe coding” often hits a ceiling without scar tissue, and why the durable moat is still culture: integrity, follow through, and loving the customer by truly understanding them.
They close on the human side of technology: authenticity in a world where it’s harder to know what’s real online, the importance of “third places,” and why remote teams need intentional in person time to build trust and momentum.
Topics covered
Why AI makes speed cheap, and why judgment becomes the premium skillSkills vs agents: constrained context, tool boundaries, and predictable workflowsParallel AI workflows: running multiple streams across code and contentMCP vs lightweight tools: when a CLI beats a server integrationEmergent behavior: when the model bypasses tools for simpler pathsAGI and what “human” means beyond text: embodiment, emotion, and social boundsAI amplifies process: discipline compounds quality, chaos compounds failureWhy ownership still matters: “AI isn’t responsible for outcomes, humans are”Vibe coding, security gaps, and what breaks at real customer scaleThe new moat: integrity, customer support, follow through, and reputationAuthenticity vs perfection in an AI saturated internetRemote work done right: high bandwidth FaceTime, offsites, and trust currencyCommunity and “third places” as technology reshapes connectionKey takeaways
AI accelerates execution, but it does not remove the need for judgment and ownership.The faster you can ship, the faster weak assumptions and bad decisions compound.Strong engineering discipline gets supercharged with AI; weak discipline gets exposed.Technology is commoditizing, so culture and integrity become defensible advantage.About the guest
Christopher Garvis is a veteran engineer and former AWS engineering leader who led the AWS CDK team. He focuses on practical AI workflows, tool constrained systems, and shipping with strong engineering fundamentals.
About Shipping Excellence
Shipping Excellence is a podcast about building exceptional software products: practical engineering, strong delivery, and the systems that help teams ship.
Links
Vertice Labs: https://verticelabs.ioFollow Andrew Duncan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/#ShippingExcellence #AINative #SoftwareEngineering #ProductDevelopment #Leadership #RemoteWork #Agents #Skills #MCP #AWS #StartupExecution
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Most software projects drift — scope grows, timelines slip, and clients spend more time managing the vendor than shipping product. Robert Randolph, CEO of Executive Linguist Agency, hired Vertice Labs to build two apps. Both shipped on time. Both on budget. Here's what made it different.
Robert runs a professional language services firm with a remote team of interpreters. He needed a HIPAA-compliant messaging platform and an internal iOS app — and he needed them fast. The experience became a useful lens on what actually makes software partnerships work: not charisma, not promises, just execution, clarity, and trust.
Chapters
00:00 The first problem: getting an app in the App Store fast
02:50 Hesitations before starting — and why there weren't many
07:38 HIPAA-compliant interpreter messaging: the gap in the market
08:26 "You got us to market so fast I didn't have time to build a sales strategy"
10:01 What no-BS looks like in a pitch
12:20 $40K consulting with nothing to show for it
14:33 Executive Linguist: Vertice Labs' ideal client
17:29 How a Stripe security incident revealed the team's character
19:01 Speed and organization: the biggest differentiator
21:00 "You could have milked us — and you didn't"
24:20 Who should hire a software partner
31:15 What made this client relationship work
35:00 How watching the process improved their internal operations
Topics
• What makes a software partnership actually work
• Clear scope of work as a trust foundation
• Transparency, autonomy, and accountability on a dev team
• Speed without sacrificing quality
• What to look for in a software partner — and what disqualifies one
• Building HIPAA-compliant apps for specialized industries
Guest
Robert Randolph, CEO — Executive Linguist Agency
https://www.executivelinguist.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-randolph-a86ab4111
Resources mentioned
Linear — https://linear.app
Stripe — https://stripe.com
TestFlight — https://developer.apple.com/testflight/
Connect
Andrew Duncan — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/
Vertice Labs — https://www.verticelabs.io
Subscribe
Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/64yoHwDdhBd0vik2sev6xs
Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/shipping-excellence/id1794200466
YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@shippingexcellence
RSS Feed — https://media.rss.com/shippingexcellence/feed.xml
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In this episode of Shipping Excellence, Andrew Duncan sits down with Aram Hammoudeh, a Principal AI-Native Engineer at Vertice Labs, to explore how AI coding agents are transforming the way software gets built.
Aram shares what it feels like to go from “grunt developer” to directing a team of AI agents, how tools like Cursor, Copilot, and Claude accelerate delivery, and why the real role of engineers today is shifting toward strategy, architecture, and orchestration.
We cover:
How AI coding agents give engineers 10x productivity gainsThe difference between GPT-4.0 and GPT-5 in real development workWhy AI is best thought of as a “junior developer” you can delegate toHow MCP servers and Linear integrations automate project managementGuardrails and feedback loops that keep AI-generated code reliableThe mindset engineers need to thrive in an AI-native worldWhether you’re a technical leader, founder, or engineer in the trenches, this conversation shows what it really looks like to deliver production-ready software with AI agents as part of the team.
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In this episode of Shipping Excellence, Andrew Duncan sits down with Sergio Visinoni — a seasoned technology leader turned solopreneur, advisor, and fractional CTO. Sergio shares insights from his provocative article “Is GenAI Digital Cocaine?” and explores the parallels between generative AI, social media, and productivity hacks that may carry hidden costs.
We dive into:
Why Sergio believes over-reliance on GenAI could weaken cognitive skillsThe lessons he brings from 20+ years as a software engineer, VP of Engineering, and CTOHis journey from corporate leadership to solopreneurship and advisory workHow his newsletter Pseudo Make Me a CTO helps engineering leaders growThe balance between productivity gains and long-term impacts of new technologiesAbout Sergio Visinoni: Sergio is a solopreneur in the tech space with over two decades of experience. He advises companies as a fractional CTO, coaches engineering leaders, and writes the popular newsletter Pseudo Make Me a CTO.
Links & Resources:
GenAI is Digital Cocaine Article: https://makemeacto.substack.com/p/is-genai-digital-cocaineConnect with Sergio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piffio/Read Pseudo Make Me a CTO: https://makemeacto.substack.com/Subscribe to Shipping Excellence for more conversations on building and shipping exceptional software products. -
What does it take to turn a struggling product launch into a $50M success? In this episode, Wonder Cave President Webb Bostick reveals the leadership moves, technical pivots, and team-building strategies that made it happen.
You’ll learn:
How to embed technical leadership that drives focus and resultsThe keys to building a lean, high-performing engineering cultureWhy “hire the right people” beats “hire more people” every timeHow Wonder Cave scaled to handle Fortune 50-level clientsReal-world examples of moving fast without sacrificing qualityWhether you’re leading a startup, scaling a product team, or navigating complex builds, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply right now.
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In this episode of Shipping Excellence, host Andrew Duncan sits down with Drew Burdick, Managing Partner of StealthX, and co-author of the AI North Star Playbook. They dive into how businesses should think about AI adoption, the rise of AI agents, and how solopreneurs and enterprises alike can leverage AI to drive efficiency and growth. The discussion covers everything from practical AI implementations, agentic workflows, the evolution of work, and the massive opportunities AI presents for early adopters.
Key Topics Discussed
AI North Star Playbook – Why most companies approach AI the wrong way and how the playbook helps leaders identify high-impact opportunities. Experimentation Over Hesitation – Why business leaders need to test and learn with AI tools rather than waiting on perfect clarity. AI Agents & Workflows – Understanding what makes an AI implementation an "agent" vs. just AI augmentation in workflows. Real-World AI Success Stories – From legal redlining automation to AI-powered RFP evaluation and outbound sales AI. The Future of Work & Solopreneurship – How AI will enable one-person unicorns and disrupt industries that rely on manual digital labor. Strategic Thinking for Builders – Why software engineers, product leaders, and businesses must rethink how they deliver value in an AI-powered world. AI’s Role in Product Development – How AI is reshaping design, engineering, and shipping software at an accelerated pace.Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI and the North Star Playbook
03:02 Current Trends in AI Adoption
05:53 AI in Business Processes
08:37 Success Stories in AI Implementation
10:59 The Future of AI in Customer Service
13:26 The Evolution of Business with AI
15:51 Mapping Value Streams with AI
18:40 The Role of Human Insight in AI Development
20:38 Embracing Change in the Age of AI
23:56 The Rise of Solopreneur Unicorns
26:18 AI in Education: A Real-World Success Story
28:40 Democratization of Business: The New Age of Entrepreneurship
30:37 Differentiation in a Noisy Market
32:34 Understanding Customer Needs for Product Success
33:29 Agentic Workflows: The Future of AI
39:06 The Evolution of AI Agents in Business
41:57 Building AI Workflows: From Simple to Complex
44:15 The Future of AI: Hands-Off Interfaces and AGI
Resources Mentioned
📖 AI North Star Playbook – Get the roadmap for building AI-powered solutions.
📚 Range by David Epstein – A must-read on why generalists thrive in specialized fields.
🔗 More resources & insights: verticelabs.io
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In this episode of the Shipping Excellence Podcast, Duncan speaks with John Main, founder of Farsight, about his journey from finance to technology leadership. John shares insights on building effective teams, navigating the challenges of product management, and the importance of aligning finance with development. He discusses his experiences at Modernizing Medicine and Strax, emphasizing the need for clear communication, prioritization of features, and maintaining team morale in high-stress environments. The conversation highlights the critical balance between innovation and resource management in tech startups.
Takeaways
John transitioned from finance to product management, learning to communicate effectively with developers. Building a supportive team culture is essential for innovation and success. Understanding business value is crucial for delivering features that meet customer needs. Prioritizing work requires balancing immediate customer demands with long-term product vision. Leadership involves getting in the trenches with the team and understanding their individual goals. Effective communication between finance and development can drive better product outcomes. Investing in QA and automation is necessary for scaling development processes. Trust and transparency within the team foster a high-performance environment. Finding common ground between visionary ideas and practical execution is key to success.Chapters
00:00 Building a Team at Modernizing Medicine
09:28 Transitioning from Finance to Product Management
17:02 Prioritizing Features and Managing Expectations
27:07 Finding Common Ground Between Development and Finance
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In this episode, Andrew Duncan discusses the emerging trends in AI and software development as we approach 2025. He highlights the shift towards in-house AI solutions, the importance of ecosystems in maximizing AI's impact, and the evolving nature of training architectures. The conversation emphasizes the need for interconnected frameworks that foster collaboration and innovation in the tech ecosystem.
Takeaways
We're entering the year of agent experimentation. Companies are building in-house AI solutions at nearly double the rate. The hype around AI is similar to blockchain, but for a real reason. Ecosystems are more important than ever. It's about creating interconnected frameworks. Successful ecosystems allow for seamless collaboration. Training architectures are evolving to work with what's possible. We're seeing a slowing pace of new AI capabilities. Bespoke solutions tailored to their needs are essential. -
In this episode of the Shipping Excellence Podcast, Andrew Duncan speaks with Malvika Jethmalani about the importance of building AI-friendly cultures within organizations. They discuss the critical role of trust in AI transformations, tactical approaches to fostering trust, and the impact of AI on employee experience. The conversation also covers how organizations can navigate AI transformations successfully, the significance of power skills in the age of AI, and the future of human connection in a technology-driven world.
Takeaways
Culture is about how leaders manage the business. Trust is essential for successful transformations. Engagement is linked to trust and productivity. AI can enhance employee experience significantly. Organizations need to define the business problem before adopting AI. Power skills will be crucial in the future job market. Human connection is vital in a tech-driven world. AI can help HR focus on human aspects. Leaders must align their actions with their words. Building trust requires transparency and consistency.Chapters00:00 Building AI-Friendly Cultures03:24 The Role of Trust in AI Transformations06:18 Tactical Approaches to Building Trust09:02 AI's Impact on Employee Experience11:56 Real-World Applications of AI in HR15:13 Navigating AI Adoption Challenges18:00 Power Skills in the Age of AI21:03 The Future of Work and AI24:04 Human Connection in an AI World36:20 New Chapter
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Jason Macht discusses the transformative role of AI in the real estate sector. He shares real-world examples of how technology and data are being leveraged to optimize marketing, sales, and operational efficiency. From enhancing lead scoring to improving call monitoring, Jason emphasizes the importance of AI in driving business growth and efficiency. The conversation also touches on the future of AI in customer interactions and the ongoing evolution of technology in the business landscape.
Takeaways
AI can significantly improve the efficiency of engineering teams. The future of customer interactions may increasingly involve AI agents. Driving for dollars is a traditional real estate practice that can be optimized with AI. Using AI for lead scoring can help prioritize sales efforts effectively. AI can transform unstructured data into actionable insights for businesses. Call monitoring with AI can enhance quality assurance in customer interactions. The integration of AI into existing workflows can lead to substantial productivity gains.Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI in Real Estate
03:17 Driving for Dollars: AI in Property Assessment
06:10 Optimizing Marketing Efforts with AI
08:59 Lead Scoring: Prioritizing Sales Efforts
12:03 Enhancing Sales Processes with AI
15:05 Operational Efficiency: Call Monitoring and QA
19:06 The Future of AI in Customer Interactions
24:56 Integrating AI into Business Workflows
29:46 Conclusion and Future Outlook
36:51 New Chapter
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In this episode of the Shipping Excellence Podcast, Chris Jaynes, a former VP of product and fractional CTO, shares his journey and insights into product management, the importance of validation in software development, and the role of AI in modern business. He discusses the challenges of navigating legacy systems, the significance of customer feedback, and the iterative process of building scalable software. Chris emphasizes the need for curiosity and customization in leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, while also reflecting on the personal challenges of being a fractional CTO.
Takeaways
Chris emphasizes the importance of exploring various experiences to foster innovation. Product management is fluid and adapts to the organization's needs. Validation is a critical phase that often gets overlooked in product development. AI can help bridge the gap in legacy systems by providing insights and solutions. Building scalable software requires a clear understanding of business goals and user needs. Feedback from users is essential for improving software and ensuring it meets their needs. Curiosity drives the exploration of new technologies and solutions. Customization of SaaS products is key to addressing specific business challenges. Constraints can foster creativity and innovation in problem-solving. The journey of being a fractional CTO involves balancing technical delivery with personal freedom.Books
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World Kill It with Fire: Manage Aging Computer Systems (and Future Proof Modern Ones)AI North Star Playbook
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Chris Jaynes and His Journey
04:58 The Product Management Philosophy
10:08 The Importance of Validation in Product Development
15:19 Leveraging AI in Legacy Systems
20:57 Navigating the AI Landscape for Businesses
26:39 Balancing Technical Delivery and Leadership
32:08 Conclusion and Future Aspirations
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In this conversation, Assaf Weinberg discusses the practical applications of AI in building technology and software products. He emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, the role of proprietary data in business, and how AI can enhance operational efficiency and content generation. The discussion also highlights the need for businesses to identify their unique processes and data to leverage AI effectively.
Takeaways
AI has the potential to revolutionize business processes. Understanding AI's limitations is crucial for effective implementation. Proprietary data is a key differentiator in the age of AI. AI should complement human tasks, not replace traditional computing. Businesses must identify unique processes to leverage AI effectively. AI can automate content generation and marketing strategies. AI can help in mapping data fields and automating processes. The integration of AI in business requires a clear understanding of value add. AI can enhance operational efficiency in various industries. Collaboration between AI, humans, and traditional software is essential for success.
