PODCAST · business
Stellar Work
by Benjamin Igna
Work is broken. Not in a LinkedIn-thought-leader way. In a "we spent 18 months on a transformation and nothing changed" way. Ben unpacks what actually moves the needle with practitioners, engineers, and leaders who've been through it. New episodes every two weeks.
Episodes
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#67 Prateek Karnal - Orchestrating the Agent Army
Most people lose track at three coding agents. Prateek Karnal runs ten to twenty at once.Prateek built Agent Orchestrator (AO) after working on AI infrastructure at Composio, where the company was already running agents at scale. His personal fix for a crowded laptop went viral at launch, passed...
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#66 Petra Wille - How to lead a product org in the age of AI
Petra Wille thinks measuring your team's token usage is one of the worst things a leader can do right now. She explains what to measure instead.Petra is a product leadership coach, author of STRONG Product People, and co-organizer of Product at Heart, one of Europe's largest product conferences....
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#65 Matt LeMay - The Low-Impact AI Death Spiral
Matt LeMay thought product teams had finally outgrown the feature factory. Then AI handed everyone a faster conveyor belt.Matt is a product consultant and author who has worked with Google, Spotify, and MailChimp. His book Impact-first Product Teams gave a name to what happens when teams optimize...
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#64 Laura Tacho - You weren't measuring well before AI either
AI did not break engineering metrics. It made it obvious that most companies never had any worth trusting.Laura Tacho spent 15 years building developer tools, ran DX as CTO, and now works on developer experience at AWS. She has seen the measurement data from hundreds of engineering organisations,...
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#63 Teresa Torres - Taste won't save your product
Teresa Torres calls the "all you need is taste" narrative what it is: Silicon Valley elitism dressed up as product wisdom.Five years after Continuous Discovery Habits, Teresa has gone from product discovery coach to building AI products herself. In this conversation she explains why that…
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#62 Barbara Lampl - There is no such thing as AI strategy
If your leadership is discussing which AI tool to buy, they are having the wrong discussion.Barbara Lampl has built and fixed data and AI strategies for over 20 years. Behavioral mathematician, known on LinkedIn as AI Babsi. Her diagnosis of failed AI adoption is blunt: organizations refuse to...
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#61 Thomas Dohmke - Let the rebellion begin
Thomas Dohmke predicted AI would write 80% of code within five years. The number held. The timeline didn't. It took three.Thomas ran GitHub as CEO through the Copilot years. Now he's building Entire, a developer platform for the era where agents write the code. In this episode he explains why…
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#60 Benjamin Igna - The substitutes for real work
Every industry has invented a substitute for the actualwork, and the best practitioners have quietly stopped using it. Sixty episodes in, Ben spends a solo episode tracing onepattern that showed up across 40-plus practitioners in five countries. The"sticker in the drawer" wears different clothes...
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#59 Carsten Kraus - Industrial AI, keep the data in-house
Carsten Kraus's pitch for the German Mittelstand isn't to build foundation models. It's to keep the data in-house and let other people's models run on it.Kraus has founded 12 companies and is opening the 13th. He sold a programming language to Atari at 17, built FactFinder (similarity search two...
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The Psychology of AI-Driven UX
AI tools increase time-on-task by 20 to 40%. That's not a bug report, that's a UX research finding.Sophie is a UX Researcher at Citigroup with a background in Chemical Engineering. She has built and scaled research practices in both start-ups and large organisations, embedding human-centred ways…
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Engineering Management In The Age Of AI
Most engineering teams using AI are about 2x faster. Not 10x. The bottleneck moved, but nobody optimized the rest.Jeff Lee-Chan spent 10 years at Google working on YouTube, then seven years at Snapchat. He went from IC to staff engineer to engineering manager. Now he spends 20 to 30 extra hours a...
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#56 Derek Borthwick On The Psychology of Selling
Summary In this episode, Ben sits down with Derek Borthwick — sales expert, bestselling author, and founder of Power2Mind — to talk about what actually makes people buy. Spoiler: it's not your pitch deck. Derek dismantles the classic "sales playbook" approach and explains why scripts, product...
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#55 Allen Holub About The Evolution Of Agility And Its AI Future
Summary Agility was supposed to change everything. And it did — just not always in the way we hoped. In this episode, Ben sits down with Allen Holub to talk about how agile methodology shaped the software industry, where it went off the rails, and why AI might be repeating the same mistakes. From...
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#54 Matas Rastenis On Augmenting Engineers At Uber
Summary In this episode, Ben talks with Matas Rastenis, Senior Staff Engineer at Uber's Developer Platforms team, about what it actually looks like to bring AI tools to one of the world's largest engineering organizations not as a flashy demo, but as production-grade infrastructure that delivers...
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#53 Matthias Wagner From Flux On AI For Hardware Engineers
In this episode, Ben sits down with Matthias Wagner, founder and CEO of Flux AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is finally making its way into hardware engineering — a field where design tools have barely changed in decades. While software development has seen wave after wave of…
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#52 Harry Max On Managing Priorities
Summary In this episode, I sit down with Harry Max, author of Managing Priorities, to explore why prioritization is one of the most critical — yet frustratingly difficult — skills in work and life. We unpack what makes managing priorities so challenging, and how the game changes as you move from...
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#50 Sander Hoogendoorn on what it takes to run tech teams at iBood
Summary In this episode, Benjamin interviews Stuart Munton, CIO at AND Digital, discussing the transformative impact of AI on the consulting industry and software development. They explore how generative AI is reshaping business models, the importance of adapting to new technologies, and the...
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#49 Stuart Munton on the adoption of AI
In this episode, Benjamin interviews Stuart Munton, CIO at AND Digital, discussing the transformative impact of AI on the consulting industry and software development. They explore how generative AI is reshaping business models, the importance of adapting to new technologies, and the challenges...
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#48 Darja Smite on the evolution of remote work
In this conversation, Benjamin and Darja Smite explore the evolution of remote and hybrid work over the past five years, particularly in light of the pandemic. They discuss cultural differences in work practices, the impact of remote work on team dynamics and productivity, and the challenges of...
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#47 Magnus Östberg on The Heartbeat of Automotive Innovation
This episode features Magnus Östberg, Chief Software Officer at Mercedes-Benz, discussing how the company is transforming its approach to software and innovation. Magnus explains the development of MB.OS, their custom software platform, and how Mercedes is syncing hardware and software teams with...
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#46 Dr. Karen Eilers and Christiaan Verwjis on researching team effectiveness
This episode dives into the substance behind “agile mindset,” stripping away jargon to uncover what really makes teams effective in complex, fast-moving environments. Karen and Christiaan share findings from their ongoing research, revealing four shared dimensions of agility within teams.…
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#45 Marcelo Lopez on critical thinking in business
Summary This episode features a conversation between Marcelo Lopez and Benjamin, exploring themes of professional growth, the impact of AI, and the importance of critical thinking. Marcelo shares his journey as a Certified Scrum Trainer and his experiences in the tech industry, emphasizing the...
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#44 Philipp Guth - Transforming R&D at Rittal
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Philipp Guth, the CTO of Rittal, about the company's transformation journey. Rittal, a leader in electrical enclosures and cooling solutions, is evolving from a product-centric to a solution-oriented company. Philipp discusses the...
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#43 Henrik Kniberg - Agentifying Software Development
Summary In this episode Henrik shares his journey from software development to AI, discussing the evolution of coding practices and the impact of AI on the software industry. He delves into the Spotify model, the importance of Agile methodologies, and how AI is transforming coding and software...
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#42 Philipp Raasch - The Autopreneur
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Philipp Raasch, a prominent automotive newsletter podcaster. They discuss the current transformations in the automotive industry, including the shift from combustion engines to electric vehicles, the challenges faced by legacy...
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#41 Gitte Klitgaard - Beyond the spreadsheet- Humanizing Large Organizations
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Gitte Klitgaard, an agile coach, discusses the importance of human behavior in organizations, the role of emotional intelligence in professionalism, and the challenges managers face in creating safe and engaging work environments. She emphasizes the…
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#40 Timm Richter - Managing The Paradox
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin and Timm delve into the complexities of systemic paradox management within organizations. Timm shares insights from his experiences and his book, discussing how paradoxes are inherent in decision-making processes and how organizations can…
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#39 Eva PenzeyMoog on designing safe products
Description In this episode of the Stellar World Podcast, Benjamin interviews Eva PenzeyMoog, author of 'Design for Safety'. They discuss the various ways technology can be weaponized for interpersonal harm, particularly in the context of domestic violence and abuse. Eva shares insights on how…
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#38 Stefan Roock - Scrum Guide Expansion Pack
Description In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin and Stefan Roock discuss the recently published Scrum Guide Expansion Pack. They explore its key features, challenges, and the implications of AI in Scrum practices. The conversation delves into the complexity of the expansion…
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#37 Alisa Stolze - 20 Habits for Leading Teams
In this episode of the Stellarwork Podcast, Benjamin interviews Alisa Stolze, a Scrum at Scale trainer and author, discussing practical leadership tips, the importance of habits in team dynamics, and effective time management strategies. Alisa emphasizes the need for transparency in teams and how...
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#36 Nicolas Brown - Real World Agility
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, host Benjamin and agility consultant Nick Brown discuss the practical application of agile methodologies in real-world contexts. They explore the importance of understanding organizational dynamics, the significance of context in agile practices, and…
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#35 Andrei Savine on agentifying Consulting and Management
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Andrei Savine, a transformation leader with over 20 years of experience. They discuss the challenges of digital transformations, the importance of data in decision-making, and how AI can enhance management practices. Andrei shares...
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#34 Christian Piechnick - Building Tech Companies in Europe
In this episode, Christian Pichnick, co-founder and CEO of Wandelbots, discusses the future of robotics and automation, the challenges and opportunities for tech startups in Europe, and the impact of AI on manufacturing. He emphasizes the need for a shift in mindset towards innovation and the...
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#33 Holger Heinze - The Drama Free Workplace
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Holger Heinze, a management consultant and author of 'Drama Free Workplace.' They explore how to create a less stressful and more empowering work environment by understanding the drama triangle, the connection between mindset and...
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#32 Solo - 1 Year Stellar Work Podcast
In this solo episode, Benjamin reflects on the past year of the Stellar Work podcast, discussing key insights and lessons learned about organizational transformation. He emphasizes the importance of leadership commitment, effective strategies, and understanding organizational dynamics to drive...
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#31 Tom Soderstrom II - Bringing NASA JPL up to speed
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Tom Soderstrom, former CTO at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They discuss the intricacies of working at NASA, the creative processes behind space missions, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the differences between…
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#30 Tom Soderstrom Tech Transformation Learnings from NASA JPL and AWS
In this episode, Tom Soderstrom shares insights from his extensive experience in technology transformation at NASA and AWS. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the mission, making informed decisions, and fostering a culture of experimentation. Tom discusses the critical role of AI and…
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#29 Leah Tharin - Product Led Growth and Sales
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Leah Tharin, an expert in product-led growth. They discuss the differences between product-led and sales-led growth, the importance of understanding customer needs, and the challenges of transitioning from one model to another. Leah...
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#28 Markus Andrezak - Product -Management and -Strategy
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Markus Andrezak, a product management expert, discussing the intricacies of product management and strategy. They explore Markus's career journey, the importance of a clear business model, the evolution of tech companies in Europe,...
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#27 Al Shalloway - Future of Agile Training and Coaching
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Al Shalloway, a prominent figure in the Agile community. They discuss Al's extensive journey in Agile, the challenges of training and education in the field, and the importance of integrating coaching with Agile practices. Al...
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#26 Anja Hendel - Transforming the Automotive Industry
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Anja Hendel, a seasoned expert in digital transformation within the automotive industry. Anja shares her journey from studying computer science to leading digital initiatives at major companies like Porsche and Volkswagen. The...
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#25 Niels Pfläging - Organize for Complexity
In this episode, Benjamin engages with Niels Pfläging, a thought leader in management and organizational transformation. They discuss the challenges of conventional management practices, the importance of understanding complexity in organizational problems, and the role of consultants in...
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#24 Adriana & Eduardo - Helping Law Firms through Kanban
In this episode, Benjamin interviews Adriana and Eduardo, experts in Kanban and agile methodologies, focusing on their application in the legal industry in Brazil. They discuss the challenges faced by law firms, the need for agile practices, and how Kanban can transform traditional legal…
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#23 Damian Boeselager - Fixing the EU!
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews Damian Boeselager, a member of the European Parliament and co-founder of Volt, a pan-European political party. They discuss the importance of progressive politics in Europe, the challenges posed by right-wing populism, and the need...
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#18 Luke Hohmann - Software Profit Streams™
In this episode, Benjamin interviews Luke Hohmann, a prominent figure in the Agile product development community and author of 'Software Profit Streams™'. They discuss the critical link between value and profit, emphasizing the importance of understanding profitability within Agile practices.…
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#22 Santa and Rudolph at the Kata Conference
In this festive episode of the Stellar wWork Podcast, recorded live from Sweden, Benjamin and his guests discuss the future of organizational structures, the impact of AI, and the importance of visualization in decision-making. They explore the balance between autonomy and direction in the...
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#17 Jurgen Appelo - The Unfix Model
In this episode, Jurgen Appelo discusses his journey from software engineer to agile management expert, emphasizing the importance of pattern libraries over rigid frameworks in organizational development. He explains how organizations can benefit from adopting flexible patterns that allow for...
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#16 Marc Sniukas - The better Strategy OS
In this episode of the Stellar Work Podcast, Benjamin interviews strategy advisor Marc Sniukas, who shares insights on modern strategic planning and the Better Strategy OS framework. They discuss the challenges of traditional strategy, the importance of defining strategy in terms of challenges…
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#19 Klaus Leopold - Flight Levels Case Study
In this episode of the Stellarwork Podcast, Klaus Leopold discusses the concept of Flight Levels, a framework designed to optimize agility across multiple teams and levels of an organization. He explains the three levels of Flight Levels—operational, coordination, and strategy—and emphasizes the...
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#21 Martin Wanitschke - Wandelbots NOVA
In this conversation, Martin Wanitschke discusses his role at Wandelbots and the company's mission to democratize robotics. He explains the evolution of robot programming, the introduction of the TracePen, and the challenges faced in product development. The discussion highlights the shift…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Work is broken. Not in a LinkedIn-thought-leader way. In a "we spent 18 months on a transformation and nothing changed" way. Ben unpacks what actually moves the needle with practitioners, engineers, and leaders who've been through it. New episodes every two weeks.
HOSTED BY
Benjamin Igna
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Stellar Work have?
Stellar Work currently has 66 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Stellar Work about?
Work is broken. Not in a LinkedIn-thought-leader way. In a "we spent 18 months on a transformation and nothing changed" way. Ben unpacks what actually moves the needle with practitioners, engineers, and leaders who've been through it. New episodes every two weeks.
How often does Stellar Work release new episodes?
Stellar Work has 66 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Stellar Work?
You can listen to Stellar Work on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Stellar Work?
Stellar Work is created and hosted by Benjamin Igna.
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