Shipping Excellence.
Conversations on AI, product, and the operational reality of building software that works.
No One Cares About AI. They Care About Results.
AI doesn't fix your broken processes. It amplifies them. Jason Macht (Whitespace Solutions) joins Andrew Duncan to break down what actually changes — and what doesn't — when you build with AI. Chapt...
The Real Competitive Advantage in an AI World (It’s Not Tech)
In this episode of Shipping Excellence, Andrew Duncan sits down with Christopher Jarvis (former AWS manager, worked on CDK) to unpack a core reality of the AI era: AI makes speed cheap, judgment priceless. They start with the practical: how experienced builders are using AI day to day, why “skills” (constrained context + tools) are emerging as the next standard beyond agents, and what happens when heavy integrations like MCP feel slow or token expensive. From there, the conversation shifts to the business implications. If AI compresses the time to ship, teams hit decision points faster, with less time to react. That makes judgment and ownership the highest leverage skills. They discuss why AI amplifies whatever process you already have, why “vibe coding” often hits a ceiling without scar tissue, and why the durable moat is still culture: integrity, follow through, and loving the customer by truly understanding them. They close on the human side of technology: authenticity in a world where it’s harder to know what’s real online, the importance of “third places,” and why remote teams need intentional in person time to build trust and momentum. Topics covered - Why AI makes speed cheap, and why judgment becomes the premium skill - Skills vs agents: constrained context, tool boundaries, and predictable workflows - Parallel AI workflows: running multiple streams across code and content - MCP vs lightweight tools: when a CLI beats a server integration - Emergent behavior: when the model bypasses tools for simpler paths - AGI and what “human” means beyond text: embodiment, emotion, and social bounds - AI amplifies process: discipline compounds quality, chaos compounds failure - Why ownership still matters: “AI isn’t responsible for outcomes, humans are” - Vibe coding, security gaps, and what breaks at real customer scale - The new moat: integrity, customer support, follow through, and reputation - Authenticity vs perfection in an AI saturated internet - Remote work done right: high bandwidth FaceTime, offsites, and trust currency - Community and “third places” as technology reshapes connection Key takeaways - AI accelerates execution, but it does not remove the need for judgment and ownership. - The faster you can ship, the faster weak assumptions and bad decisions compound. - Strong engineering discipline gets supercharged with AI; weak discipline gets exposed. - Technology is commoditizing, so culture and integrity become defensible advantage. About the guest Christopher Garvis is a veteran engineer and former AWS engineering leader who led the AWS CDK team. He focuses on practical AI workflows, tool constrained systems, and shipping with strong engineering fundamentals. About Shipping Excellence Shipping Excellence is a podcast about building exceptional software products: practical engineering, strong delivery, and the systems that help teams ship. Links Vertice Labs: https://verticelabs.io Follow Andrew Duncan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/ #ShippingExcellence #AINative #SoftwareEngineering #ProductDevelopment #Leadership #RemoteWork #Agents #Skills #MCP #AWS #StartupExecution
Why Most Software Vendors Fail Operators — And What Good Actually Looks Like (CEO Perspective)
Most software projects drift — scope grows, timelines slip, and clients spend more time managing the vendor than shipping product. Robert Randolph, CEO of Executive Linguist Agency, hired Vertice Labs to build two apps. Both shipped on time. Both on budget. Here's what made it different. Robert runs a professional language services firm with a remote team of interpreters. He needed a HIPAA-compliant messaging platform and an internal iOS app — and he needed them fast. The experience became a useful lens on what actually makes software partnerships work: not charisma, not promises, just execution, clarity, and trust. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:07 The first problem: getting an app in the App Store fast 01:34 What made the scope of work work 02:50 Hesitations before starting — and why there weren't many 05:30 Found Vertice Labs on Instagram: "your pitch had no BS in it" 07:38 HIPAA-compliant interpreter messaging: the gap in the market 08:26 "You got us to market so fast I didn't have time to build a sales strategy" 10:01 What no-BS looks like in a pitch 12:20 $40K consulting with nothing to show for it 14:33 Executive Linguist: Vertice Labs' ideal client 15:19 "Easy" — the one-word summary 17:29 How a Stripe security incident revealed the team's character 19:01 Speed and organization: the biggest differentiator 21:00 "You could have milked us — and you didn't" 24:20 Who should hire a software partner 27:10 What Vertice Labs turns down and why 31:15 What made this client relationship work 35:00 How watching the process improved their internal operations Topics • What makes a software partnership actually work • Clear scope of work as a trust foundation • Transparency, autonomy, and accountability on a dev team • Speed without sacrificing quality • What to look for in a software partner — and what disqualifies one • Building HIPAA-compliant apps for specialized industries Guest Robert Randolph, CEO — Executive Linguist Agency https://www.executivelinguist.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-randolph-a86ab4111 Resources mentioned Linear — https://linear.app Stripe — https://stripe.com TestFlight — https://developer.apple.com/testflight/ Boostlingo — https://www.boostlingo.com Connect Andrew Duncan — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/ Vertice Labs — https://www.verticelabs.io Subscribe Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/64yoHwDdhBd0vik2sev6xs Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/shipping-excellence/id1794200466 YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@shippingexcellence RSS Feed — https://media.rss.com/shippingexcellence/feed.xml #SoftwareDevelopment #OperatorExperience #ScopeOfWork #ShippingExcellence #ClientPerspective #AppDevelopment #HIPAACompliant #TechLeadership #Founders #Execution #SmallBusiness #RemoteTeams #ProjectManagement #SoftwarePartner #BuildAndShip
AI Coding Agents: How Engineers 10x Their Output
In this episode of Shipping Excellence, Andrew Duncan sits down with Aram Hammoudeh, a Principal AI-Native Engineer at Vertice Labs, to explore how AI coding agents are transforming the way software gets built. Aram shares what it feels like to go from “grunt developer” to directing a team of AI agents, how tools like Cursor, Copilot, and Claude accelerate delivery, and why the real role of engineers today is shifting toward strategy, architecture, and orchestration. We cover: How AI coding agents give engineers 10x productivity gains The difference between GPT-4.0 and GPT-5 in real development work Why AI is best thought of as a “junior developer” you can delegate to How MCP servers and Linear integrations automate project management Guardrails and feedback loops that keep AI-generated code reliable The mindset engineers need to thrive in an AI-native world Whether you’re a technical leader, founder, or engineer in the trenches, this conversation shows what it really looks like to deliver production-ready software with AI agents as part of the team.
Is GenAI Digital Cocaine? Lessons from a CTO with Sergio Visinoni
In this episode of Shipping Excellence, Andrew Duncan sits down with Sergio Visinoni — a seasoned technology leader turned solopreneur, advisor, and fractional CTO. Sergio shares insights from his provocative article “Is GenAI Digital Cocaine?” and explores the parallels between generative AI, social media, and productivity hacks that may carry hidden costs. We dive into: - Why Sergio believes over-reliance on GenAI could weaken cognitive skills - The lessons he brings from 20+ years as a software engineer, VP of Engineering, and CTO - His journey from corporate leadership to solopreneurship and advisory work - How his newsletter Pseudo Make Me a CTO helps engineering leaders grow - The balance between productivity gains and long-term impacts of new technologies About Sergio Visinoni: Sergio is a solopreneur in the tech space with over two decades of experience. He advises companies as a fractional CTO, coaches engineering leaders, and writes the popular newsletter Pseudo Make Me a CTO. Links & Resources: - GenAI is Digital Cocaine Article: https://makemeacto.substack.com/p/is-genai-digital-cocaine - Connect with Sergio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piffio/ - Read Pseudo Make Me a CTO: https://makemeacto.substack.com/ - Subscribe to Shipping Excellence for more conversations on building and shipping exceptional software products. #SocialMedia #TechLeadership #FutureOfWork #DigitalWellness #AI #GenerativeAI #Productivity #TechPodcast #CTO #ShippingExcellence #SergioVisinoni #AIandSociety #DigitalCocaine
From Startup Chaos to $50M: How Wonder Cave Built a World-Class Tech Team
What does it take to turn a struggling product launch into a $50M success? In this episode, Wonder Cave President Webb Bostick reveals the leadership moves, technical pivots, and team-building strategies that made it happen. You’ll learn: - How to embed technical leadership that drives focus and results - The keys to building a lean, high-performing engineering culture - Why “hire the right people” beats “hire more people” every time - How Wonder Cave scaled to handle Fortune 50-level clients - Real-world examples of moving fast without sacrificing quality Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a product team, or navigating complex builds, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply right now.
How AI Agents Will Reshape Business & Software Development w/ Drew Burdick
In this episode of Shipping Excellence, host Andrew Duncan sits down with Drew Burdick, Managing Partner of StealthX, and co-author of the AI North Star Playbook. They dive into how businesses should think about AI adoption, the rise of AI agents, and how solopreneurs and enterprises alike can leverage AI to drive efficiency and growth. The discussion covers everything from practical AI implementations, agentic workflows, the evolution of work, and the massive opportunities AI presents for early adopters. Key Topics Discussed ✅ AI North Star Playbook – Why most companies approach AI the wrong way and how the playbook helps leaders identify high-impact opportunities. ✅ Experimentation Over Hesitation – Why business leaders need to test and learn with AI tools rather than waiting on perfect clarity. ✅ AI Agents & Workflows – Understanding what makes an AI implementation an "agent" vs. just AI augmentation in workflows. ✅ Real-World AI Success Stories – From legal redlining automation to AI-powered RFP evaluation and outbound sales AI. ✅ The Future of Work & Solopreneurship – How AI will enable one-person unicorns and disrupt industries that rely on manual digital labor. ✅ Strategic Thinking for Builders – Why software engineers, product leaders, and businesses must rethink how they deliver value in an AI-powered world. ✅ AI’s Role in Product Development – How AI is reshaping design, engineering, and shipping software at an accelerated pace. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI and the North Star Playbook 03:02 Current Trends in AI Adoption 05:53 AI in Business Processes 08:37 Success Stories in AI Implementation 10:59 The Future of AI in Customer Service 13:26 The Evolution of Business with AI 15:51 Mapping Value Streams with AI 18:40 The Role of Human Insight in AI Development 20:38 Embracing Change in the Age of AI 23:56 The Rise of Solopreneur Unicorns 26:18 AI in Education: A Real-World Success Story 28:40 Democratization of Business: The New Age of Entrepreneurship 30:37 Differentiation in a Noisy Market 32:34 Understanding Customer Needs for Product Success 33:29 Agentic Workflows: The Future of AI 39:06 The Evolution of AI Agents in Business 41:57 Building AI Workflows: From Simple to Complex 44:15 The Future of AI: Hands-Off Interfaces and AGI Resources Mentioned 📖 AI North Star Playbook – Get the roadmap for building AI-powered solutions. https://stealthx.ai/north-star-playbook/ 📚 Range by David Epstein – A must-read on why generalists thrive in specialized fields. https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214506/ref=sr_1_1?crid=INVJNKAO799T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KxUMmChuYvH48L7ImPWipZd0ove3CpKBXq76N9QIN8TrnX3OPVqGdmd3YwLiR_uVJX97xckNnqN2M4lZkEX5voRZEH7G91pcMe5OGSMCfRHGcrNQ1yMhMwgFsigarUs3oQV_mu9ybIqXVsYh3VTLM0Tj95xACjEe-yBzI2i2F7-tZCMfyeUKbrM5Ly4-QmiPT-vbrew837fdEqczX0w9J5rBKSjTAzYHgEw_ITndRYU.uR1Z50NlSsa4Q6oR27bTPYL0xcDIZoSqHqmWuW6JFFU&dib_tag=se&keywords=range&qid=1738349969&sprefix=range%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1 🔗 More resources & insights: verticelabs.io
From CFO to CTO: Building High-Impact Teams with John Main
In this episode of the Shipping Excellence Podcast, Duncan speaks with John Main, founder of Farsight, about his journey from finance to technology leadership. John shares insights on building effective teams, navigating the challenges of product management, and the importance of aligning finance with development. He discusses his experiences at Modernizing Medicine and Strax, emphasizing the need for clear communication, prioritization of features, and maintaining team morale in high-stress environments. The conversation highlights the critical balance between innovation and resource management in tech startups. Takeaways - John transitioned from finance to product management, learning to communicate effectively with developers. - Building a supportive team culture is essential for innovation and success. - Understanding business value is crucial for delivering features that meet customer needs. - Prioritizing work requires balancing immediate customer demands with long-term product vision. - Leadership involves getting in the trenches with the team and understanding their individual goals. - Effective communication between finance and development can drive better product outcomes. - Investing in QA and automation is necessary for scaling development processes. - Trust and transparency within the team foster a high-performance environment. - Finding common ground between visionary ideas and practical execution is key to success. Chapters 00:00 Building a Team at Modernizing Medicine 09:28 Transitioning from Finance to Product Management 17:02 Prioritizing Features and Managing Expectations 27:07 Finding Common Ground Between Development and Finance
AI Hype vs. Reality: Lessons from 2024 and Predictions for 2025
In this episode, Andrew Duncan discusses the emerging trends in AI and software development as we approach 2025. He highlights the shift towards in-house AI solutions, the importance of ecosystems in maximizing AI's impact, and the evolving nature of training architectures. The conversation emphasizes the need for interconnected frameworks that foster collaboration and innovation in the tech ecosystem. Takeaways - We're entering the year of agent experimentation. - Companies are building in-house AI solutions at nearly double the rate. - The hype around AI is similar to blockchain. - Ecosystems are more important than ever. It's about creating interconnected frameworks. Successful ecosystems allow for seamless collaboration. - Training architectures are evolving to work with what's possible. - We're seeing a slowing pace of new AI capabilities. - Bespoke solutions tailored to their needs are essential.
Building AI-Friendly Cultures w/ Malvika Jethmalani
In this episode of the Shipping Excellence Podcast, Andrew Duncan speaks with Malvika Jethmalani about the importance of building AI-friendly cultures within organizations. They discuss the critical role of trust in AI transformations, tactical approaches to fostering trust, and the impact of AI on employee experience. The conversation also covers how organizations can navigate AI transformations successfully, the significance of power skills in the age of AI, and the future of human connection in a technology-driven world. Takeaways - Culture is about how leaders manage the business. - Trust is essential for successful transformations. - Engagement is linked to trust and productivity. - AI can enhance employee experience significantly. - Organizations need to define the business problem before adopting AI. - Power skills will be crucial in the future job market. - Human connection is vital in a tech-driven world. - AI can help HR focus on human aspects. - Leaders must align their actions with their words. - Building trust requires transparency and consistency. Chapters 00:00 Building AI-Friendly Cultures 03:24 The Role of Trust in AI Transformations 06:18 Tactical Approaches to Building Trust 09:02 AI's Impact on Employee Experience 11:56 Real-World Applications of AI in HR 15:13 Navigating AI Adoption Challenges 18:00 Power Skills in the Age of AI 21:03 The Future of Work and AI 24:04 Human Connection in an AI World 36:20 New Chapter
Transforming Real Estate sales w/ Jason Macht
@jmacht discusses the transformative role of AI in the real estate sector. He shares real-world examples of how technology and data are being leveraged to optimize marketing, sales, and operational efficiency. From enhancing lead scoring to improving call monitoring, Jason emphasizes the importance of AI in driving business growth and efficiency. The conversation also touches on the future of AI in customer interactions and the ongoing evolution of technology in the business landscape. Takeaways - AI can significantly improve the efficiency of engineering teams.The future of customer interactions may increasingly involve AI agents. - Driving for dollars is a traditional real estate practice that can be optimized with AI. - Using AI for lead scoring can help prioritize sales efforts effectively. - AI can transform unstructured data into actionable insights for businesses. - Call monitoring with AI can enhance quality assurance in customer interactions. - The integration of AI into existing workflows can lead to substantial productivity gains. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Real Estate 03:17 Driving for Dollars: AI in Property Assessment 06:10 Optimizing Marketing Efforts with AI 08:59 Lead Scoring: Prioritizing Sales Efforts 12:03 Enhancing Sales Processes with AI 15:05 Operational Efficiency: Call Monitoring and QA 19:06 The Future of AI in Customer Interactions 24:56 Integrating AI into Business Workflows 29:46 Conclusion and Future Outlook 36:51 New Chapter
The Art of Validation in Software Development
In this episode of the Shipping Excellence Podcast, Chris Jaynes, a former VP of product and fractional CTO, shares his journey and insights into product management, the importance of validation in software development, and the role of AI in modern business. He discusses the challenges of navigating legacy systems, the significance of customer feedback, and the iterative process of building scalable software. Chris emphasizes the need for curiosity and customization in leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, while also reflecting on the personal challenges of being a fractional CTO. Takeaways Chris emphasizes the importance of exploring various experiences to foster innovation. Product management is fluid and adapts to the organization's needs.Validation is a critical phase that often gets overlooked in product development.AI can help bridge the gap in legacy systems by providing insights and solutions.Building scalable software requires a clear understanding of business goals and user needs.Feedback from users is essential for improving software and ensuring it meets their needs.Curiosity drives the exploration of new technologies and solutions.Customization of SaaS products is key to addressing specific business challenges.Constraints can foster creativity and innovation in problem-solving.The journey of being a fractional CTO involves balancing technical delivery with personal freedom. Books Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldKill It with Fire - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1718501188?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_sms_apin_dp_1PZAC7JRRWYFT66NZYVD&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_sms_apin_dp_1PZAC7JRRWYFT66NZYVD&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_sms_apin_dp_1PZAC7JRRWYFT66NZYVD&peakEvent=5&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=1&bestFormat=true Manage Aging Computer Systems (and Future Proof Modern Ones) - https://www.amazon.com/Range-David-Epstein-audiobook/dp/B07N6MPWLS/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WC4wO7rwJLUjMhdyhVsuilZzFf72ijC5hWq_8034U2vRgohh-QEwJLzNCDEL6YTTYm8-C4pC1PNy0lLdSPk9qYyMPZTe9TvgeetHsDAiteZ5h6Rom9GDjEceFbfovTfE89EaJJeFt0JMtONjQ1EBaWT35pNco4CD4aFC4osiB1woTSGkkwqy81sJZB_Hegb-d5g2pOMBx9D7-pRYV1tLDizhOeMkDsBRpEL-5zNPgEQ.SoScQ9BPVCAxjuNDX1IACcwuMCtvjmcdx9ZWGbuIX9M&dib_tag=se&hvadid=580646594595&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9192487&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14541802081740715212&hvtargid=kwd-667781210311&hydadcr=2762_13534690&keywords=range+by+david+epstein&qid=1734026313&sr=8-1 AI North Star Playbook - https://slthx.co/get-ai-playbook Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chris Jaynes and His Journey 04:58 The Product Management Philosophy 10:08 The Importance of Validation in Product Development 15:19 Leveraging AI in Legacy Systems 20:57 Navigating the AI Landscape for Businesses 26:39 Balancing Technical Delivery and Leadership 32:08 Conclusion and Future Aspirations
Harnessing AI for Business Success
In this conversation, Assaf Weinberg discusses the practical applications of AI in building technology and software products. He emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, the role of proprietary data in business, and how AI can enhance operational efficiency and content generation. The discussion also highlights the need for businesses to identify their unique processes and data to leverage AI effectively. Takeaways - AI has the potential to revolutionize business processes. - Understanding AI's limitations is crucial for effective implementation. - Proprietary data is a key differentiator in the age of AI. - AI should complement human tasks, not replace traditional computing. - Businesses must identify unique processes to leverage AI effectively. - AI can automate content generation and marketing strategies. - AI can help in mapping data fields and automating processes. - The integration of AI in business requires a clear understanding of value add. - AI can enhance operational efficiency in various industries. - Collaboration between AI, humans, and traditional software is essential for success.
Ready to talk.
The first call is 20 minutes. We'll figure out quickly whether this is the right fit for both sides.