LEAD Podcast

This is the very last episode of the LEAD Podcast.Rene and Geert use the House of Change as a lens to reflect on whether to continue or close this chapter, and ultimately, why it's time to say goodbye.Thank you to all our listeners, guests, and everyone who helped shape this podcast! It's been an incredible journey ❤️

Many companies waste time and resources on infrastructure and internal tools that don’t set them apart. In this episode, Geert and Rene explore core versus context through the lens of engineering culture. They break down why core work—the things that drive competitive advantage—should be the focus, while context, though necessary, should be streamlined or outsourced where possible. Using the pillars of engineering culture, they examine how organizations can align their teams, platforms, and investments to maximize impact. The takeaway: invest in what makes you unique and stop reinventing the wheel.

In this episode, Geert and Rene explore the rapid evolution of GenAI and its impact on developers and the software development life cycle. They discuss how tools like co-pilot are transforming developer productivity and speculate on the future, where AI might not only assist but also replace certain aspects of development. They discuss to the broader implications of AI, touching on product ownership, low-code platforms, and how organizations can use AI to increase efficiency while considering ethical concerns. 

The Dutch government is increasingly adopting cloud services, but what are the risks and challenges that come with it? In this episode, we examine the findings of the recent report Het Rijk in de Cloud to understand how ministries are using public cloud, where the biggest risks lie, and what lessons can be learned from the government’s cloud strategy.We discuss key concerns such as sovereignty, data protection, and vendor lock-in, as well as the fragmented approach to cloud adoption across ministries. Instead of focusing on the usual headlines or speculation, we take a detailed look at the actual research, breaking down the facts, findings, and recommendations from the report itself.link to the report from the Dutch "Rekenkamer" https://www.rekenkamer.nl/publicaties/rapporten/2025/01/15/het-rijk-in-de-cloud

In this episode, Geert and Rene sit down with Marcel de Vries, global managing director and CTO at Xebia, to explore the future of IT leadership. Marcel shares key insights from his many years of experience, drawing parallels between past technological revolutions—like electricity, cars, and cloud computing—and today’s rapid changes, such as generative AI. They discuss the psychological barriers to change within organizations, emphasizing how fear and fixed mindsets hinder innovation and Marcel highlights the importance of shifting from rigid, policy-driven models to trust-based, enabling models. It is a fast paced episode with a lot of insights on how IT leaders can prepare their organizations for a fast-evolving future.