<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms">Send a text</a>Engineering culture is a system: incentives, habits, standards, and how decisions get made when things break. On SphereCast, host <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'>Adin Heric</a> sits down with <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/krzysztofras/'>Krzysztof Ras</a> to explain how to design that system from zero – and evolve it through scale across the Middle East and China.Kris breaks down what “culture” really looks like before the first engineer is hired, how the first 100 days set long-term norms, and how leadership must shift as teams grow from a handful of builders into distributed organizations.In this episode, we cover:<ul><li>What “culture” means before the team even exists</li><li>The first 100 days: what to prioritize (hiring, values, process, delivery)</li><li>How culture is defined through daily behavior, not decks</li><li>Speed vs. stability: architecture, testing, and discipline under pressure</li><li>Lessons from building teams in the Middle East</li><li>What China’s execution pace changes about leadership expectations</li><li>Leading across languages and time zones while maintaining trust and shared values</li><li>How AI is reshaping engineering culture – where it helps, and where it can harm collaboration</li></ul>Whether you’re a founder hiring your first engineers, a CTO scaling a team, or a leader managing globally distributed development, this episode offers practical frameworks for building a culture that holds up under growth.Key Topics: engineering culture, scaling engineering teams, first 100 days, hiring and values, engineering leadership, clean architecture, testing discipline, startup vs scale-up, distributed teams, cross-cultural leadership, Middle East tech leadership, China tech leadership, AI in software development, SphereCast, Sphere Inc.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms"&gt;Send a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Engineering culture is a system: incentives, habits, standards, and how decisions get made when things break. On SphereCast, host &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Adin Heric&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; sits down with &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/krzysztofras/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Krzysztof Ras&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; to explain how to design that system from zero – and evolve it through scale across the Middle East and China.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kris breaks down what “culture” really looks like before the first engineer is hired, how the first 100 days set long-term norms, and how leadership must shift as teams grow from a handful of builders into distributed organizations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we cover:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;What “culture” means before the team even exists&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The first 100 days: what to prioritize (hiring, values, process, delivery)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How culture is defined through daily behavior, not decks&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Speed vs. stability: architecture, testing, and discipline under pressure&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lessons from building teams in the Middle East&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What China’s execution pace changes about leadership expectations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Leading across languages and time zones while maintaining trust and shared values&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How AI is reshaping engineering culture – where it helps, and where it can harm collaboration&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you’re a founder hiring your first engineers, a CTO scaling a team, or a leader managing globally distributed development, this episode offers practical frameworks for building a culture that holds up under growth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Key Topics:&lt;/b&gt; engineering culture, scaling engineering teams, first 100 days, hiring and values, engineering leadership, clean architecture, testing discipline, startup vs scale-up, distributed teams, cross-cultural leadership, Middle East tech leadership, China tech leadership, AI in software development, SphereCast, Sphere Inc.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send a text Engineering culture is a system: incentives, habits, standards, and how decisions get made when things break. On SphereCast, host Adin Heric sits down with Krzysztof Ras to explain how to design that system from zero – and evolve it through scale across the Middle East and China. Kris breaks down what “culture” really looks like before the first engineer is hired, how the first 100 days set long-term norms, and how leadership must shift as teams grow from a handful of builders int...

Engineering Culture from Zero to Scale

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms">Send a text</a>In this episode of SphereCast, host <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'>Adin Heric</a> sits down with <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolascava/'>Nicolas Cava</a> — serial founder, former Zendesk engineering leader, and now a fractional CTO and executive coach helping tech teams scale without burning out.Nicolas has built startups, led engineering organizations through hypergrowth, and personally experienced burnout twice. Today, he shares practical insights on how tech leaders, CTOs, founders, and engineering managers can build sustainable systems for growth.In this episode, we cover:<ul><li>What burnout really looks like for engineering leaders</li><li>The subtle early warning signs most founders ignore</li><li>How “grind culture” still shapes tech organizations</li><li>Delegation as a burnout-prevention tool</li><li>Leadership habits for scaling teams 500%+</li><li>How AI and uncertainty contribute to stress and “AI anxiety”</li><li>Why fractional CTO roles are rising</li><li>How to stay ambitious without sacrificing wellbeing</li></ul>Whether you’re a founder navigating rapid scaling, a CTO managing distributed teams, or a leader struggling to balance ambition with sustainability, this episode offers actionable strategies and real-world stories to help you lead with clarity — not burnout.Key Topics: Burnout in tech, CTO burnout, engineering leadership, startup scaling, tech leadership podcast, hypergrowth teams, fractional CTO, AI anxiety, engineering management, leadership wellbeing, sustainable tech culture, avoiding burnout in startups, leadership coaching, Nicolas Cava, SphereCast.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms"&gt;Send a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SphereCast, host &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Adin Heric&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; sits down with &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolascava/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Nicolas Cava&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; — serial founder, former Zendesk engineering leader, and now a fractional CTO and executive coach helping tech teams scale without burning out.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nicolas has built startups, led engineering organizations through &lt;b&gt;hypergrowth&lt;/b&gt;, and personally experienced burnout &lt;em&gt;twice&lt;/em&gt;. Today, he shares practical insights on how tech leaders, CTOs, founders, and engineering managers can build sustainable systems for growth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we cover:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;What burnout really looks like for engineering leaders&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The subtle early warning signs most founders ignore&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How “grind culture” still shapes tech organizations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Delegation as a burnout-prevention tool&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Leadership habits for scaling teams 500%+&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How AI and uncertainty contribute to stress and “AI anxiety”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why fractional CTO roles are rising&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to stay ambitious without sacrificing wellbeing&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you’re a founder navigating rapid scaling, a CTO managing distributed teams, or a leader struggling to balance ambition with sustainability, this episode offers actionable strategies and real-world stories to help you lead with clarity — not burnout.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Key Topics&lt;/em&gt;: Burnout in tech, CTO burnout, engineering leadership, startup scaling, tech leadership podcast, hypergrowth teams, fractional CTO, AI anxiety, engineering management, leadership wellbeing, sustainable tech culture, avoiding burnout in startups, leadership coaching, Nicolas Cava, SphereCast.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send a text In this episode of SphereCast, host Adin Heric sits down with Nicolas Cava — serial founder, former Zendesk engineering leader, and now a fractional CTO and executive coach helping tech teams scale without burning out. Nicolas has built startups, led engineering organizations through hypergrowth, and personally experienced burnout twice. Today, he shares practical insights on how tech leaders, CTOs, founders, and engineering managers can build sustainable systems for growth. In th...

Beyond the Hustle: Preventing Burnout in Tech Leadership

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms">Send a text</a>In this episode of SphereCast, we sit down with <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-ezzeddine/'>Wes Ezzeddine</a>, a seasoned technology leader who’s built and scaled engineering teams across startups and growth-stage companies. Joined by Sphere’s COO and Director of Talent Delivery, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/katya-savenkova-3a3414a4/'>Katya Savenkova</a>, we explore what it really takes to scale tech organizations sustainably – balancing speed, quality, and culture.From knowing when to hire internally versus bringing in external experts, to identifying high performers, to keeping accountability clear across blended teams: this conversation dives deep into the real-world challenges behind rapid growth in tech.💡 You’ll learn:<ul><li>How to structure scaling beyond headcount — and where most teams go wrong</li><li>When to leverage external talent delivery to move faster without compromising quality</li><li>How to spot and nurture true high performers</li><li>How to keep execution sharp and accountability clear as teams grow </li></ul>Whether you’re a CTO, COO, or founder, this episode offers practical frameworks and lessons to help you scale smarter, not just bigger.🎧 Tune in and get insights you can put to work right away.#SphereCast #TechLeadership #TeamScaling #EngineeringManagement #AI #TalentDelivery #Sphere

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms"&gt;Send a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SphereCast, we sit down with &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-ezzeddine/'&gt;Wes Ezzeddine&lt;/a&gt;, a seasoned technology leader who’s built and scaled engineering teams across startups and growth-stage companies. Joined by Sphere’s COO and Director of Talent Delivery, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/katya-savenkova-3a3414a4/'&gt;Katya Savenkova&lt;/a&gt;, we explore what it &lt;em&gt;really&lt;/em&gt; takes to scale tech organizations sustainably – balancing speed, quality, and culture.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From knowing when to hire internally versus bringing in external experts, to identifying high performers, to keeping accountability clear across blended teams: this conversation dives deep into the real-world challenges behind rapid growth in tech.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;💡 You’ll learn:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to structure scaling beyond headcount — and where most teams go wrong&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;When to leverage external talent delivery to move faster without compromising quality&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to spot and nurture true high performers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to keep execution sharp and accountability clear as teams grow&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you’re a CTO, COO, or founder, this episode offers practical frameworks and lessons to help you scale smarter, not just bigger.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎧 Tune in and get insights you can put to work right away.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;#SphereCast #TechLeadership #TeamScaling #EngineeringManagement #AI #TalentDelivery #Sphere&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send a text In this episode of SphereCast, we sit down with Wes Ezzeddine, a seasoned technology leader who’s built and scaled engineering teams across startups and growth-stage companies. Joined by Sphere’s COO and Director of Talent Delivery, Katya Savenkova, we explore what it really takes to scale tech organizations sustainably – balancing speed, quality, and culture. From knowing when to hire internally versus bringing in external experts, to identifying high performers, to keeping accou...

Internal vs. External: Finding the Right Balance When Scaling Tech Teams with Wes Ezzeddine

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms">Send a text</a>In this episode of SphereCast, host <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'>Adin Heric</a>, Head of Marketing at <a href='https://www.sphereinc.com/'>Sphere</a>, and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioschwarts/'>Mario Schwartz</a>, Director of Data and AI, sit down with <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenpickering/'>Ken Pickering</a>, Chief Technology Officer at <a href='https://www.scriptainsights.com/'>Scripta Insights</a>, to explore the real-world balance between innovation, risk, and responsibility in AI adoption.Ken brings decades of experience leading engineering teams at Hopper, Starburst, and now Scripta Insights, where he’s helping organizations use data and AI to transform decision-making in healthcare and beyond.Together, we dive into:  - How Ken’s leadership style evolved across fast-growth tech environments.  - The most practical, immediate use cases of AI in business today.  - The trade-off between stability and experimentation in AI-driven systems. - Building strong data governance frameworks for trustworthy AI. - How the role of the CTO is evolving as AI becomes central to every product and process.From lessons in leadership to the realities of implementing AI responsibly, this episode offers a candid look at what it really takes to lead through technological transformation.If you’re a CTO, tech founder, or business leader looking to understand how to balance AI innovation with reliability and governance — this episode is a must-listen.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms"&gt;Send a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of SphereCast, host &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Adin Heric&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, Head of Marketing at &lt;a href='https://www.sphereinc.com/'&gt;Sphere&lt;/a&gt;, and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioschwarts/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Mario Schwartz&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, Director of Data and AI, sit down with &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenpickering/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ken Pickering&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, Chief Technology Officer at &lt;a href='https://www.scriptainsights.com/'&gt;Scripta Insights&lt;/a&gt;, to explore the &lt;em&gt;real-world balance between innovation, risk, and responsibility in AI adoption&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ken brings decades of experience leading engineering teams at Hopper, Starburst, and now Scripta Insights, where he’s helping organizations use data and AI to transform decision-making in healthcare and beyond.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Together, we dive into:&lt;br/&gt; - How Ken’s leadership style evolved across fast-growth tech environments.&lt;br/&gt; - The most practical, immediate &lt;b&gt;use cases of AI &lt;/b&gt;in business today.&lt;br/&gt; - The trade-off between &lt;b&gt;stability and experimentation&lt;/b&gt; in AI-driven systems.&lt;br/&gt; - Building strong &lt;b&gt;data governance frameworks&lt;/b&gt; for trustworthy AI.&lt;br/&gt; - How &lt;b&gt;the role of the CTO&lt;/b&gt; is evolving as AI becomes central to every product and process.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From lessons in leadership to the realities of implementing AI responsibly, this episode offers a candid look at what it really takes to lead through technological transformation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re a CTO, tech founder, or business leader looking to understand how to balance AI innovation with reliability and governance — this episode is a must-listen.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send a text In this episode of SphereCast, host Adin Heric, Head of Marketing at Sphere, and Mario Schwartz, Director of Data and AI, sit down with Ken Pickering, Chief Technology Officer at Scripta Insights, to explore the real-world balance between innovation, risk, and responsibility in AI adoption. Ken brings decades of experience leading engineering teams at Hopper, Starburst, and now Scripta Insights, where he’s helping organizations use data and AI to transform decision-making in healt...

Balancing Risk and Reward: The Realities of AI in Business – Ken Pickering

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms">Send a text</a>In this powerful episode of SphereCast, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'>Adin Heric</a> (Head of Marketing at Sphere) and <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioschwarts/'>Mario Schwarts</a> (Director of Data &amp; AI Practice at Sphere) sit down with <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-kiely-mba-pmp-46314b22/'>Erika Kiely</a> — a transformational tech leader, AI advocate, and founder of ProTechtive Strategies. From growing up in politically unstable Peru to driving AI transformation in insurance and launching her own purpose-led venture, Erika’s story is a masterclass in resilience and intentional leadership.The conversation spans AI in enterprise project management, ethical innovation, and building technology with a human lens. Erika breaks down real-world use cases from her time at American Fidelity, how she personally leveraged AI tools like ChatGPT and low-code platforms to launch her business, and why she believes AI should expand human capacity — not replace it.We also dive into global perspectives: Erika and her daughter travel the world with a mission to give back and grow. She shares how emerging tech, especially AI, can help bridge inequality and accelerate global development — and what legacy she hopes to leave behind.Whether you&apos;re a CTO, AI strategist, insurance innovator, or purpose-driven founder, this episode unpacks practical lessons on using AI at scale, building with ethics in mind, and leading through disruption.Topics covered:<ul><li>Resilience in leadership: Erika’s journey from Peru to tech leadership</li><li>Why she founded ProTechtive Strategies and its mission</li><li>The role of AI in enterprise project management (insurance &amp; regulated industries)</li><li>Using AI tools (ChatGPT, automation, site builders) to launch and scale a business</li><li>Ethical innovation and Erika’s vision for a national AI program</li><li>AI as a force multiplier, not a replacement for people</li><li>Global development, tech inclusion, and Erika’s legacy</li></ul>Listen to this episode if you:<ul><li>Want to understand how AI can be used responsibly in highly regulated industries</li><li>Are building or scaling a tech-enabled business with ethical foundations</li><li>Care about global impact, inclusion, and leaving a legacy through innovation</li></ul>Special Guest: Erika Kiely — Founder of <a href='https://protechtivestrategies.com/'>ProTechtive Strategies</a>, Former Enterprise Tech Leader at American FidelityHosts: Adin Heric — Head of Marketing at <a href='https://www.sphereinc.com/'>Sphere </a>Mario Schwarts — Director of Data &amp; AI Practice at <a href='https://www.sphereinc.com/'>Sphere</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1844715/open_sms"&gt;Send a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this powerful episode of &lt;em&gt;SphereCast&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/adinheric/'&gt;Adin Heric&lt;/a&gt; (Head of Marketing at Sphere) and &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioschwarts/'&gt;Mario Schwarts&lt;/a&gt; (Director of Data &amp;amp; AI Practice at Sphere) sit down with &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-kiely-mba-pmp-46314b22/'&gt;Erika Kiely&lt;/a&gt; — a transformational tech leader, AI advocate, and founder of ProTechtive Strategies. From growing up in politically unstable Peru to driving AI transformation in insurance and launching her own purpose-led venture, Erika’s story is a masterclass in resilience and intentional leadership.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The conversation spans AI in enterprise project management, ethical innovation, and building technology with a human lens. Erika breaks down real-world use cases from her time at American Fidelity, how she personally leveraged AI tools like ChatGPT and low-code platforms to launch her business, and why she believes AI should expand human capacity — not replace it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We also dive into global perspectives: Erika and her daughter travel the world with a mission to give back and grow. She shares how emerging tech, especially AI, can help bridge inequality and accelerate global development — and what legacy she hopes to leave behind.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you&amp;apos;re a CTO, AI strategist, insurance innovator, or purpose-driven founder, this episode unpacks practical lessons on using AI at scale, building with ethics in mind, and leading through disruption.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Topics covered:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Resilience in leadership: Erika’s journey from Peru to tech leadership&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why she founded ProTechtive Strategies and its mission&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The role of AI in enterprise project management (insurance &amp;amp; regulated industries)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Using AI tools (ChatGPT, automation, site builders) to launch and scale a business&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ethical innovation and Erika’s vision for a national AI program&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI as a force multiplier, not a replacement for people&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Global development, tech inclusion, and Erika’s legacy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Listen to this episode if you:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Want to understand how AI can be used responsibly in highly regulated industries&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Are building or scaling a tech-enabled business with ethical foundations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Care about global impact, inclusion, and leaving a legacy through innovation&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Special Guest:&lt;br/&gt;Erika Kiely — Founder of &lt;a href='https://protechtivestrategies.com/'&gt;ProTechtive Strategies&lt;/a&gt;, Former Enterprise Tech Leader at American Fidelity&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosts:&lt;br/&gt;Adin Heric — Head of Marketing at &lt;a href='https://www.sphereinc.com/'&gt;Sphere&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Mario Schwarts — Director of Data &amp;amp; AI Practice at &lt;a href='https://www.sphereinc.com/'&gt;Sphere&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send a text In this powerful episode of SphereCast, Adin Heric (Head of Marketing at Sphere) and Mario Schwarts (Director of Data &amp; AI Practice at Sphere) sit down with Erika Kiely — a transformational tech leader, AI advocate, and founder of ProTechtive Strategies. From growing up in politically unstable Peru to driving AI transformation in insurance and launching her own purpose-led venture, Erika’s story is a masterclass in resilience and intentional leadership. The conversation spans ...

Resilient Leadership, AI in Regulated Industries, and Ethical Innovation – Erika Kiely

SphereCast is a podcast all about technology — technology advice, technology inspiration, and how real entrepreneurs have used technology to build their businesses from the ground up. If you’re wondering how technology can support your business goals, rest assured. Our guests have been there and done that.

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