Software People Stories
Stories of what worked and sometimes what did not, in the course of discovering, designing, developing and delivering software based solutions – as shared by practitioners who went through these situations.
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Curiosity-Driven Success with Ravikiran Pothukuchi
<p>My guest today is Ravikiran Pothukuchi, the leader of Dassault Systèmes’ Enterprise Portfolio business in India.</p><p>In this conversation, Ravi shares his journey from his humble beginnings in a small village in India to becoming a key player in Dassault Systems' business landscape.</p><p><br></p><p>Ravi dives deep into his upbringing, education, and multiple career transitions that shaped his professional life. Key highlights include his transition from an R&D role to a customer-facing role, the importance of building human connections, the value of curiosity, and how he integrated traditional knowledge with modern busi...
Evolving Security Practices with Ben Wilcox
<p><br></p><p>In this episode of the Software People Stories, my guest Ben Wilcox is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at ProArch. </p><p>Ben shares his fascinating journey from building a web hosting business as a teenager to his current role as CTO and CISO at ProArch. Ben discusses the evolution of his career, his involvement in various projects, and the ever-changing landscape of security, especially with the advent of AI. He also provides valuable insights into how enterprises should approach security, the complexities of data localization, and the importance of a continuous s...
Empowering Developers with Yaron Schneider
<p>In this episode of Software People Stories, Shiv is in conversation with Yaron Schneider, co-founder of Diagrid and a seasoned developer and entrepreneur deeply involved in the open source movement.</p><p>Yaron shares his origin story, starting from programming at age 11 to his current role as co-founder of Diagrid. He discusses his early foray into university education, experience in the military, and his progression within the software industry, including a notable tenure at Microsoft.</p><p>Yaron delves into the joys and pains of working in open source, detailing the challenges and rewards of maintaining a project with...
Numbers, Networks, and Nuance with Madhavan Jagannathan
<p><br></p><p>Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Madhavan Jagannathan (Maddy) , Instrument and Control Engineer by training, software technologist by experience, and financial explorer at heart. With over two decades of experience across HCL, Adobe, EMC, Dell, and VMware, Maddy brings together deep tech, systems thinking, and a passion for financial markets. Gayatri introduces Maddy, highlighting 17 years of friendship and his rare mix of humor, humility, and insight across hardware, software, and finance.</p><p><br></p><p>02:00 – The Physics of Curiosity</p><p> Maddy recalls his fascination with science, choosing physics for his undergraduate degree, and his ea...
From Banking to Boardrooms with Rupam Tandon
<p>Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Rupam Tandon, Financial Executive with 30 years of experience across banking, asset management, and insurance. She’s also a certified Independent Director (IoD), ESG specialist, and startup mentor. She talks about her journey starting in a small town to traveling the globe and literally spreading her wings. Gayatri Kalyanaraman, Host for Software People Stories podcast and co-founder Sangatna Angels welcomes Rupam Tandon and sets the tone for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and governance. Highlights of the conversation are here</p><p><br></p><p>01:00 – Early Career and Foundations in Finance</p><p>Rupam...
Bridging Engineering and Marketing with Mike Maynard
<p>In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Mike Maynard, the Managing Director/CEO of the Napier Group, a PR firm.</p><p><br></p><p>Mike shares his unconventional career journey from electronics engineering to marketing and recounts his initial interest in mathematics and eventual pivot to electronics engineering, sparked by a school project. </p><p><br></p><p>Despite enjoying engineering, he realized his strengths lay in explaining technical details rather than executing them, leading him to roles in technical support and eventually to marketing. </p><p><br></p><p>Mike discusses the lack of planning in hi...
Exploring Science and Technology Synergy with Prasad Chodavarapu
<p>In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Prasad Chodavarapu, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Aganitha.ai</p><p><br></p><p>In this conversation, Prasad, a tech veteran turned bio-pharma enthusiast, discusses his unique career trajectory from software development to founding a startup in the life sciences space. Prasad shares his journey, starting from his early days in tech during the nascent stages of the internet in the mid-90s, working in startups, and his transition to a large enterprise consulting role. </p><p>The conversation dives into the challenges and learnings from shifting into the bio-pharma industry, the i...
Celebrating Seven Years: Reflections and Future Aspirations
<p>In this special episode celebrating seven years of the 'Software People Stories </p><p>podcast, hosts Anita Shiva, Shiv, Gayatri, and Chitra reflect on their journey. They</p><p>discuss the origins, challenges, milestones, and personal experiences of managing</p><p>the podcast, offering insights into what kept them motivated. The conversation also</p><p>touches on the evolution of the podcast, notable guests, and some of the humorous</p><p>behind-the-scenes moments. Looking ahead, the hosts share their vision for the next</p><p>phase, including ideas for new formats and expanding the podcast's reach to a</p><...
Full Stack Leadership with Dr. Krishna Prasad
<p>In this special episode of 'Software People Stories,' , our guest is Dr. Krishna Prasad, known more popularly as KP from the 'Full Stack Leadership Cast.' KP shares his journey into podcasting, inspired by the host's longstanding podcast. They discuss the concept of full stack leadership, emphasizing a holistic approach to leadership that impacts business, influences people, and focuses on self-development. KP highlights his experiences from the first season, discussing the challenges of podcasting and the valuable insights gained from his diverse guests. They also delve into the prospects for the next season, including potential global guests and...
Achieving Excellence with Naresh Choudhary
<p>In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Naresh Choudhary, Senior Vice President, Quality & Productivity, Infosys Ltd.</p><p><br></p><p>Naresh shares his career journey starting from humble beginnings in Mumbai, studying engineering at VJTI, working at Arvind Mills, and eventually contributing to Infosys for 25 years. The discussion covers his transition from manufacturing to IT, the influence of mentors, various roles at Infosys, and the importance of reframing roles. Naresh also emphasizes the value of great work, networking, mentorship, and maintaining a work-life balance. He talks about driving innovation and change management effectively within a large organization...
