Cloud Realities

Platform engineering is a core part of modern digital operating models.  The discipline has been developing over the last 10 years and provides underlying safe, secure and optimised platforms, essential for creative and customer centric innovation.Dave, Sjoukje & Rob talk with Jennifer Riggins, Tech Culture Author about what good platform engineering looks like, why conditions today could lead to good platform engineering practices, how platforms help organisations innovate and deal with technical complexity, how it leads to strong DevOps implementation and how it helps deal with a major issue in tech today, developer cognitive overload.  TLDR:00:54 Intros02:16 Cloud conversation with Jennifer Riggins22:24 Platform engineering in 2023 - doing more with less 32:19 SPRING AT LAST!

Legacy modernisation is one of the most difficult, and often misunderstood, elements of digital transformation.  It can be expensive and very disruptive.  It has more in common with business transformation than cloud migration and can lend itself to risky large scale implementations.Dave, Sjoukje & Rob are joined by John Kodumal, CTO and Co-Founder of LaunchDarkly, they talk about how greenfield development is increasingly rare, evolving a running system is much more common.  New method and tools are now available to move this past a static or quarterly update, risk heavy process, such as feature management which allows legacy to be modernised with zero outage and switch over risk. In this weeks trend we talk about the emerging field of developer productivity, why it can be helpful, but its also very difficult to do effectively.TLDR:00:50 Intros01:30 Cloud conversation with John Kodumal21:30 Developer Productivity29:42 Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson (book recommendation)!Further Reading:Scaling People:  https://amzn.eu/d/af6XVeN

"Digital transformation" a phrase that has been used for years, often thought to be overused and perhaps hollow, maybe coming of age.  This week we look into this phrase and what its meant over the years, but also try to understand what's changed to make it more material. Dave, Sjoukje & Rob talk with Jeff DeVerter, Tech Evangelist from Rackspace about what has made this real in 2023 and what is different organisationally, culturally and technically in a "digitally transformed" organisation.  Also, they try to understand the difference between digitisation and digitalisation, how this may change professions and how this type of transformation can help us become more customer relevant.Finally, in this weeks Trend, we talk about cloud enabled digital transformation and how cloud fits in.TLDR:01:24 Intros02:19 Cloud conversation with Jeff Daverter22:30 Why Cloud is key in enabling digital transformation 31:40 Going for a nap! 

TelCo is a Sector where Cloud based software defined networks are driving customer expectations combined with potentially providing huge operational efficiencies.  Telcos are increasingly moving their networks to the cloud, recognizing the significant advantages this can provide – 31% of global network capacity is being serviced by cloud today, and this is expected to increase to 46% in the next 3 to 5 years.Dave, Sjoukje & Rob talk with Geoff Hollingworth, CMO of Rakuten Symphony about their experience as a Cloud Native Telco, and what we can learn by looking at what is possible on the other side of cloud transformation.  The team explore what a telco cloud transformation is (is it different from cloud transformation in other sectors?), the operational differences between a Cloud Native and traditional Telco and cloud transformation progress and nuances in the sectorFinally, in this weeks Trend, we talk about the FinOps Foundation and the misconception of FinOps being just about saving money.TLDR:00:52 Intros02:07 Cloud conversation with Geoff Hollingworth35:30 The FinOps Foundation 39:51 Getting some sleep!Further Reading:https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/cloudification-of-networks

Each year Capgemini publishes TechnoVision - a comprehensive prediction of the year to come, along with useful principles that guided both its prediction and use.  It seeks to bring some fresh thinking to the technology business issues of today.  In this special two part episode Dave, Sjoukje & Rob talk in detail with the reports leader Ron Tolido and get a special insight into the creation of the work.In this special second episode, the team explore the mindset at the heart of Technovision 2023, helpful to understand the implications of the trends from pt.1, but critical in how you put them to practical use!  They walk through the design principles (Every Business is a Tech Business, Do good, do less, do well, With Open Arms, IQ/EQ/CQ, Trust Thrust and No Hands on Deck) and discuss how they come together to paint a picture of a modern digital business.Finally, in this weeks Trend, we talk about how code itself can be written to ensure the best and most green performance of your products and platforms.TLDR:01:23 Intros01:51 Cloud conversation with Ron Tolido30:31 The rise of green application development & modernisation37:48 Re-writing my emails in the style of Earnest Hemmingway!Further Reading:https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/technovision-2023

Each year Capgemini publishes TechnoVision - a comprehensive prediction of the year to come, along with useful principles that guide both its prediction and use.  It seeks to bring some fresh thinking to the technology business issues of today.  In this special two part episode Dave, Sjoukje & Rob talk in detail with the reports leader Ron Tolido and get a special insight into the creation of Technovision 2023! In this special first episode, the team explore why Scarcity, Sustainability and Uncertainty have influenced so much of the thinking, what impact this has and then walk through the 5 trends at the centre of the report: Invisible Infostructure, Applications Unleashed, Thriving on Data, Process on the Fly and You Experience/We Collaborate.Finally, in this weeks Trend, we talk about how Microsoft and Google are both racing to bring chatGPT supported product to market.TLDR:01:25 Intros02:00 Cloud conversation with Ron Tolido45:04 Microsoft and Googles move to incorporate chatGPT into their tooling51:09 Surf rock with robots!Further Reading:https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/technovision-2023

Artificial intelligence seems to be being talked about everywhere this year, but is really being leveraged as much as that suggests, and do we really understand what it is, its limitations and its dangers?Dave, Sjoukje & Rob are joined by Tom Godden, Director of Enterprise Strategy at AWS about the uptake of AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning in businesses today.  They also set out some definitions and how each of the technologies can be effectively used.  Finally, they talk about some real case studies, including pizza cooking and delivery optimisation, a subject close to all of our hearts.TLDR:01:43 Intros03:01 Cloud conversation with Tom Godden32:10 Five predications for AI in 202340:30 Next level technology futures presentations at AWS 2023 events!

Modern ways of working require significant engagement from everyone involved to ensure the right things are getting done and the right time and the levels of creativity are sustained for innovation.  How do we get the balance right?Dave, Sjoukje & Rob are joined by Duena Blomstrom, CEO of PeopleNotTech, author and influencer to discuss what drives a teams performance is it process, technology, method, or does it come down to things that are actually far more human?  The team discuss why Psychological Safety remains a critical element in driving outcomes from modern teams and get an insight into Duenas thinking on "Human Debt". Finally, the team discuss the other elements that make up modern high performing teams.TLDR:00:38 Intros00:52 Cloud conversation with Duena Blomstrom27:00 What makes up High Performing Teams31:30 I just want to sleep 'till 05:30!Further Reading: Google Paper: https://rework.withgoogle.com/print/guides/5721312655835136/ Book: People Before Tech  https://amzn.eu/d/aE2t0DX Duenas new book is out later this year

Cloud is maturing in its ability to deal with complex, highly secure & regulated environments, and there are very few more complex environments than the Defence sector.Dave & Sjoukje are joined by Gareth Hetheridge, CIO from Leonardo to talk about the challenges of unlocking the value of cloud in Defence, whilst maintaining a very high standard of security.  They go on to discuss the components of Leonardos exciting and fast moving digital transformation programme.  Finally, the team talk about how economic conditions are beginning to impact the tech industry.This conversation was recored in November 2022 (with a heavy cold!)TLDR:01:07 Intros01:27 Cloud conversation with Gareth Hetheridge26:03 Tech feels economic headwinds28:41  The weekend with the boys!

The value of Data & AI is perhaps self evident, but it was often a high cost tech solution looking for a problem to solve.  Now though, with sustainability concerns, increasingly difficult economic times, post-pandemic global change and easily accessible tools, D&AI suddenly has a mission critical role to play.Dave, Sjoukje & Rob are joined by Robin Sutara, Field CTO at Databricks to discuss the reality of data usage today.  They talk about he characteristics of organisations that have successfully created a data transformation to rethink how business gets done, supply chains in a de-globalising world, the importance of clarity of outcome and data delivery team diversity.The team also talk about the incredible launch, potential and concerns around ChatGPT.TLDR:01:00 Intros01:37 Cloud conversation with Robin Sutara27:26 The incredible rise of ChatGPT35:35 Being back on the same timezone as my calls!

Cloud transformation can take many forms, in this two part episode we hear first hand experiences of driving cloud transformation from a software development and application centric perspective, the challenges to overcome and value that can be delivered.In this second part, Dave, Sjoukje & Rob continue their talk with David Anderson, Mark McCann & Micheal O'Reilly authors of 'The Value Flywheel Effect: Power the Future and Accelerate your Organisation to the Modern Cloud', and hear about how the book came to fruition and the Cloud transformation model that they developed from their time at Liberty Mutual and you anyone can leverage it to drive value, starting today!In Tech Trends we talk about the increasing pace of organisations moving to the cloud, find out where analysts think we will be in 3 years time and why that might be true.TLDR:00:48 Intro01:10 Cloud conversation with David Anderson, Mark McCann & Micheal O'Reilly25:46 Increasing pace of tech infrastructure migration to cloud32:11 Reactions to the book!Further reading:Book: https://amzn.eu/d/7vkr59mhttps://itrevolution.com/author/David-Anderson/https://theserverlessedge.podbean.com/

Cloud transformation can take many forms, in this two part episode we hear first hand experiences of driving cloud transformation from a software development and application centric perspective, the challenges to overcome and value that can be delivered.In this first part, Dave, Sjoukje & Rob meet David Anderson, Mark McCann & Micheal O'Reilly authors of 'The Value Flywheel Effect: Power the Future and Accelerate your Organisation to the Modern Cloud', and hear about their time at Liberty Mutual where, hungry for pioneering techniques, they drove a serverless centric cloud transformation and started to talk to Simon Wardly about value streams.In Tech Trends this week we talk about something on everyones mind, the cost of Cloud as we run into 2023 and discuss best practice ways to manage it.TLDR:01:35 Intros02:30 Cloud conversation with David Anderson, Mark McCann & Micheal O'Reilly36:58 Managing Cloud cost46:00 The second time around!Further reading:Book: https://amzn.eu/d/7vkr59mhttps://itrevolution.com/author/David-Anderson/https://theserverlessedge.podbean.com/

For some special Christmas food for thought, we focus on the far reaches of our “Realities”.  Here on the show we believe that interventional, courageous leadership combined with cloud can change the future reality of a business or human.  But, what is real? What is not? And does it matter?!We look at the thinking currently happening in the space of the Simulation Hypothesis, which suggests that we likely live in a computer simulation, and ask how it can be applied to solve “better problems” and improve our innovation ambition.Dave and Sjoukje are reunited with re:Invent Roving Reporter Rob Kernahan, who’s finally back from Vegas, and they talk to Anders Indset, Philosopher, Author and renowned speaker to get his insights following some recent research he has been participating in, in this field, as well as his thinking on The Quantum Economy (links below).Finally, in tech trends we talk about the EUs recent use of the Metaverse to engage Gen Z in the work they do.  It was ill attended sadly, so the team speculate on what might have happened.TLDR:01:36 Intros02:14 Cloud conversation with Anders IndsetEU in the MetaverseChristmas with family and a Quantum Economy trilogy!Further Reading:Do we live in a [quantum] simulation? Constraints, observations, and experiments on the simulation hypothesisAnders Inset, Florian Neukart, Markus Pflitsch and Michael Perelshteinhttps://arxiv.org/abs/2212.04921The Quantum Economy: Saving the Mensch with Humanistic CapitalismAnders Indsethttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Quantum-Economy-Saving-Humanistic-Capitalism-ebook/dp/B08MKLJJBN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FWPRKK4C9030&keywords=the+quantum+economy&qid=1671651039&sprefix=the+quantum+economy%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1Additional reading referenced in the show: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/confirmed-we-live-in-a-simulation/  https://futurism.com/sorry-elon-physicists-say-we-definitely-arent-living-in-a-computer-simulation  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/physicists-confirm-that-were-not-living-in-a-computer-simulation/  https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/simulation-theory-elon-musk-pong-matrix-b1967844.html  https://bigthink.com/thinking/why-the-simulation-hypothesis-is-pseudoscience/ 

The healthcare care industry has been disrupted, with new entrants to the industry and tech, such as wearables, providing consumers with far more information and options, huge change is occurring.  How are healthcare providers responding to their customers’ expectations and health needs?Dave and Sjoukje talk to Chief Digital & Information Officer of Baptist Health, Tony Ambrozie to hear about how they are using cloud to respond and transform their organisation, and how a step wise approach to cloud now sees them 70% migrated and well on the way to using tech to proactively improve patient health. Finally, in tech trends, they talk about how UK Government is using an innovative AI incentive scheme to help tackle decarbonisation.TLDR:01:06  Intros01:48  Cloud conversation with Tony Ambrozie20:54  AI for Decarbonisation23:25  Improving patient health!

The marketing industry has been at the spear head of digitalisation, both in how its customers are changing their expectations and in how marketing professionals work on a day to day basis, increasing both scale of reach and the ability to create meaningful experiences.   Dave and Sjoukje talk to the Founder of Rooster Punk, James Trezona, to hear his perspective on how his profession has been transformed, but also how critical it is to focus on human and customer experience.  Finally, they reflect on the implications of Elon Musks recent take-over of Twitter. TLDR:01:09 Intros02:50 Cloud conversation with James Trezona27:13 Elon musk buys Twitter31:05 The next book! Further Reading:Humanising B2B, Paul Cash & James Trezona (https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=humanising+b2b&crid=2VH7EAZFPZRWL&sprefix=humanising+%2Caps%2C68&ref=nb_sb_ss_pltr-ranker-opsacceptance_3_11)

The team are at AWS re:Invent 2022 for our first live shows!Hemant Sharma, Partner Solutions, AWS joins us to look back over the show, recap the big trends and look at their real world application.

The team are at AWS re:Invent 2022 for our first live shows!Tom Metzeler, Partner Solutions, AWS rejoins us to talk about how the cloud can help organisations reduce their impact on the environment.  And with all the talk this week of processor heavy work loads, like ML, or supermassive architectures, how can these be implemented safely?Roving Reporter Rob reports on Day 3 and the final trends emerging.

The team are at AWS re:Invent 2022 for our first live shows!Jonathan Allen, Director Enterprise Strategy, AWS joins us to talk about what drives cloud transformation and how not to sabotage yours!Rob updates us on what’s trending on Day 2 of the show.

The team are at AWS re:Invent 2022 for our first live shows!Dimitris Perdikou, Head of Engineering, Home Office, UK Government shares with us the Home Office early adoption (at scale) of the cloud, seven years ago(!) and the challenges that bring when you move to second generation cloud.Dimitris PerdikouIt’s Day 2 and the big themes of the conference are becoming clearer, our Roving Reporter Rob reports!

The team are at AWS re:Invent 2022 for our first live shows!Phil LeBrun, Enterprise Strategist, AWS, talks to us about why re-skilling your teams is critical not just to your transformations success, what it takes and why it’s such a leadership challenge.Roving Reporter Rob Kernahan updates us on what else is trending on Day 1 of the show.