In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Mike Maynard, the Managing Director/CEO of the Napier Group, a PR firm.

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.

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.

Mike discusses the lack of planning in his career and how opportunistic decisions led him to buy a tech agency just before the dot-com crash in 2001.

He elaborates on the challenges and importance of bridging the empathy gap between engineers and marketers, emphasizing communication as a crucial factor.

The episode also explores the impact of regulatory processes on hardware companies, the importance of diligent marketing in the age of AI, and the evolving landscape of B2B podcasts.

Mike wraps up by offering career tips for those transitioning to marketing, underscoring the value of data analysis skills over traditional creative skills.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:27 Mike's Journey into Technology

01:54 Transition to Marketing

04:22 Challenges in Marketing and Engineering

09:00 Bridging the Gap Between Teams

13:27 Handling Hardware and Software Delays

18:56 Lean Approaches and Reputation Management

21:45 The Hype and Reality of Tech Products

22:10 The Silicon Valley and Bangalore Comparison

23:07 The Importance of Perseverance for Founders

24:51 Product-Led Development vs. Marketing

27:11 The Role of Gen AI in Marketing

34:20 The Future of Podcasting in B2B Marketing

38:47 Career Tips for Aspiring Marketers

42:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Note – above timings are approximate; exact timing may be off by a minute or so

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemaynard/

In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Prasad Chodavarapu, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Aganitha.ai

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.

The conversation dives into the challenges and learnings from shifting into the bio-pharma industry, the impact of AI in this space, the complexities of scientific data, and the nuances of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Prasad also offers valuable career advice for newcomers and those experiencing a mid-career crisis, emphasizing the importance of combining disciplines and lifelong learning.

We wrap up with personal insights on how Prasad maintains balance in his life through music and family support.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:54 Career Beginnings in Software and Technology

04:04 Transition to Life Sciences and Biotech

07:25 Challenges and Innovations in Scientific Computing

09:51 The Role of AI and Data in Modern Science

16:29 Preserving and Digitizing Knowledge Systems

19:42 Startup Journey and Entrepreneurial Insights

24:17 Scientific Collaboration and Practical Applications

32:42 Modeling and Prediction Cycles

33:37 Validating Predictions in the Lab

33:42 Solving Customer Problems with Algorithms

35:33 Understanding the Drug Development Value Chain

37:41 Challenges in Clinical Trials

40:06 The Impact of AI on Science and Technology

45:19 Career Advice for Life Sciences and Computing

51:18 Personal Techniques for Managing Uncertainty

Prasad Chodavarapu is a hands-on tech business exec with 25+ years of exp. in growing tech businesses from start-up stage to a billion-dollar scale

His expertise and track record is in building multi-disciplinary teams

He is a published author, with patents in Data and Process engineering

He is a Co-Founder & Managing Director at Aganitha.ai

His interests include: Deep Science (Comp Bio & Quantum Chem) + Deep Tech (AI/ML, LLMs, Data, Cloud) for accelerating R&D at global BioPharma, Re-imagining with Agentic & Generative AI, every process & app in disease studies, therapeutic design & dev, synthesis, clinical, medical & regulatory affairs.

Among his earlier roles: HCL Tech: SVP & Global delivery head for Transformation Services

He is an alumnus of Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) & IIT Kharagpur

Channels to reach him:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chprasad/

@Omics_Chap on X,

@omics-chap.bsky.social on Bluesky

In this special episode celebrating seven years of the 'Software People Stories

podcast, hosts Anita Shiva, Shiv, Gayatri, and Chitra reflect on their journey. They

discuss the origins, challenges, milestones, and personal experiences of managing

the podcast, offering insights into what kept them motivated. The conversation also

touches on the evolution of the podcast, notable guests, and some of the humorous

behind-the-scenes moments. Looking ahead, the hosts share their vision for the next

phase, including ideas for new formats and expanding the podcast's reach to a

broader audience.

00:00 Introduction and Nervous Beginnings

00:25 Celebrating Seven Years of Podcasting

01:29 The Origins of Software People Stories

02:55 Why Podcasting? Personal Journeys

06:29 Consistency and Habits for Success

12:11 Preparation and Rituals Before Recording

16:54 Tips for Aspiring Podcasters

22:59 Funny and Memorable Moments

31:25 The Power of Storytelling

31:49 Revealing Untold Stories

32:34 Insights from Guests

33:31 Personal Journeys and Reflections

34:42 Influences and Upbringing

37:34 Memorable Guests

44:01 Podcasting Habits and Observations

52:22 Future Aspirations and Gratitude

Thank you Listeners for making this happen

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 cross-industry learning.

00:00 Introduction and Special Episode Announcement

00:12 Welcoming the Guest: KP from Full Stack Leadership Cast

01:29 KP's Podcasting Journey and Inspirations

04:46 The Concept of Full Stack Leadership

10:57 Insights from Season One

15:47 Plans for Season Two and Listener Feedback

21:05 Where to Listen and Final Thoughts

Note – above timings are approximate; exact timing may be off by a minute or so

You can listen to the Full Stack leadershipcast on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4XtBUzCNYXDusMt0HS-T6-hl1BHXpyN9

Or on the PM Power website

https://www.pm-powerconsulting.com/full-stack-leadershipcast/

More on KP at: https://www.pm-powerconsulting.com/experts/krishna-prasad/

In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Naresh Choudhary, Senior Vice President, Quality & Productivity, Infosys Ltd.

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 through transparent communication, planning, and continuous feedback. Finally, Naresh offers personal practices like journaling, exercising, and separating work from family time to stay grounded and calm.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:23 Early Career and Education

02:00 Transition to Infosys

03:43 Roles and Responsibilities at Infosys

07:16 Mentorship and Career Growth

10:28 Defining Great Work

15:32 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome

19:28 The Importance of Mentors

24:23 Networking and Time Management

29:19 Clearing the Mind for Focus

29:51 Work-Life Balance and Breaks

30:59 Organizational Change and Trust

33:51 Planning and Transparency in Change

34:51 Process Over Tools

36:04 Sponsorship and Milestone Reviews

37:46 Encouraging Knowledge Sharing

43:58 Innovation and Idea Management

47:33 Staying Grounded Amidst Responsibilities

53:00 Personal Practices for Balance

56:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Bio:

In his stint at Infosys over 2 decades, Naresh has worked in different roles in Software Delivery, Consulting, Quality Assurance, Open Source, Enterprise Platforms, Products, Tools & Technology that have provided him opportunities to work on key transformation programs.

Naresh has experience in Software Development, Quality System Design, Process definition, Implementation and Consulting, Product & Platform Engineering, Software Reuse, Knowledge Management, Training, Audits and Assessments. He possesses a sound understanding of various quality models, methodologies and frameworks like CMMI, ISO, Six Sigma, MBNQA, AI, Automation, Agile, DevSecOps & SRE.

Naresh participates on several product councils and advisory boards with Infosys’ global technology partners and is currently leading the effort on reimagining the tooling, engineering excellence, digital platforms, Lean and automation landscape for the enterprise

He is a self confessed Foodie, History enthusiast, Amateur Chef, Motivational Speaker

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nareshchoudhary/

In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with George Mundassery, former SVP and Global head, AI and Automation with Tech Mahindra.

George shares his extensive journey in the IT industry, starting from his early days with Tatas in power systems to his role in automation and AI implementation. George recounts his experiences working with various technologies, including mainframes, real-time systems, Fortran 77, C, and C++, and later transitioning to commercial applications and enterprise solutions with Tuxedo and WebLogic. He also discusses the challenges and successes in delivering large-scale applications, the importance of data management, and the critical role of customer engagement and team collaboration. Additionally, George offers valuable advice for aspiring IT professionals and those navigating mid-career challenges, emphasizing continuous learning, teamwork, and adapting to change.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:10 Curiosity About Architects

00:29 George's Origin Story

01:12 Early Career in Power Systems

02:44 Transition to Commercial Applications

03:38 Exciting Journey with Middleware

05:23 Experience with HCL and Startups

07:13 Setting Up Automation and AI Units

10:51 Challenges in Data Management

15:49 Role as a CTO and Technology Adoption

18:43 Importance of Non-Functional Aspects

22:29 Handling Technical Risks in Projects

28:05 Building a Strong Team from Scratch

30:17 Balancing Technology, Customers, and Overheads

33:22 Challenges and Successes in Automation and AI

37:56 The Impact of Generative AI on Software Engineering

46:29 Advice for IT Professionals at Different Career Stages

53:17 Staying Grounded in a Fast-Paced Industry

56:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-mundassery-2117533/

George Mundassery is a seasoned IT leader with 40 years of global service delivery experience, recognized for his pioneering contributions in Intelligent automation and AI. He has served as Global Head of Automation and AI and held senior roles at major firms like Tech Mahindra representing the face of AI and automation initiatives. Throughout his career, he had been focused on building high-performing teams and establishing competencies to deliver value and outcome to global customers through Business and IT transformation programs. George is acknowledged as a respected thought leader and member in leading organizations and think tanks, having shaped robust AI and Automation ecosystems and mentored cross-functional international teams.

My guest today is Michael Ferranti, VP of Marketing at Unleash. In this conversation Michael recounts his journey from the banking sector to the tech world starting during the 2008 financial crisis.

He explains how the launch of Amazon's cloud services led him to join Rackspace, a leading hosting provider at the time.

Michael emphasizes the importance of culture in a company’s success and delves into his career in developer tools, touching upon the shifts in cloud computing, containerization, and microservices architecture, up to the current generative AI revolution.

He discusses the differences between building software for financial services and for developers, stressing the necessity of upskilling to maintain credible conversations with target audiences.

Key insights shared include best practices for feature management, emphasizing the importance of small batch sizes in DevOps, and the critical need for empathy and strong mission alignment in work culture.

Michael concludes with career advice for those looking to enter or advance in software marketing, highlighting the importance of curiosity and adaptability in the fast-evolving tech landscape.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:09 Michael's Journey into Tech

01:29 Early Career at Rackspace

03:28 Transition to Developer Tools

04:31 Differences Between BFSI and Developer Domains

05:42 Understanding Developer Needs

10:04 Feature Management and Testing in Production

13:10 Balancing Technical and Business Requirements

29:30 Building a Strong Company Culture

34:45 Staying Updated with Industry Trends

38:17 Career Tips for Aspiring Marketers

42:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferrantim/

Michael Ferranti is a seasoned enterprise technologist and product strategist with deep experience in the developer tools and cloud-native ecosystems. Across companies like Portworx, Teleport, and now Unleash, Michael has consistently been at the forefront of how modern engineering teams build, release, and secure software at scale.

He’s led product and marketing teams through high-growth phases, acquisitions, and major category creation efforts—often sitting at the intersection of infrastructure innovation and developer experience. At Portworx, he helped define the Kubernetes-native storage and backup category. At Teleport, he worked on reimagining secure infrastructure access by replacing legacy VPNs and PAM tools with developer-first identity-based access. At Unleash, he’s helping redefine how teams manage feature delivery with open-source roots and enterprise-grade scale.

Michael speaks the language of engineering leaders because he’s worked side-by-side with them for over a decade. His approach to go-to-market is grounded in understanding real user workflows, developer psychology, and the shifting realities of enterprise architectures—from Kubernetes to DevSecOps to open-source adoption models.