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Tech Effect

TestDevLab

TestDevLab's Tech Effect is a podcast where host Josh explores software engineering and tech innovation through conversations with diverse industry professionals. Covering testing, development, and emerging trends, each episode delivers insights valuable for both technical and business roles—ideal for anyone interested in technology's impact across industries

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  • 23 episodes
  • Avg 46 min
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • Thursday · 52 min

    #41 Jan Daniel Sulaiman (1NCE): He Detects Network Outages Before the Operator Even Knows

    Season 2 Episode #22: What happens when a kid whose only goal was to become his dad's boss accidentally falls into IoT through a missing sensor reading? Jan Daniel Sulaiman, VP of Global IoT Solutions at 1NCE, shares how he helped build a global connectivity platform from a single room with fewer than 20 people.We explore what it takes to operate 15 million connections across 175 countries, why 1NCE built custom network probes that detect outages before the local operator does, and how the platform evolved from basic connectivity to device-level awareness. We also dig into where AI is already delivering real value in IoT and the big question Jan is watching: is AI truly transformative like electricity, or will it go through the classic hype cycle like everything else? 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • Monday · 52 min

    #40 Ergo Esken (Microsoft): The Hardware and Science Behind Sounding Good on a Call

    Season 2 Episode #21: What happens when a hi-fi hobbyist who was manufacturing driver's licenses gets a tip from his brother about a new audio lab being built at Skype? Ergo Esken, Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft, shares how that moment launched nearly two decades of ensuring the call quality millions of people take for granted every day.We explore why getting hardware right still matters more than most people realise, how design teams wanting thinner devices force engineers into impossible tradeoffs, and what it actually looks like to test a call using head and torso simulators in anechoic chambers. We also dig into why users blame the platform, not the device, how you write test specs for ML features that behave differently every time, and why algorithms will happily calculate numbers from completely scrambled audio that only a human can catch. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • August 12 · 54 min

    #39 Dennis Thisner (Rebtel): Code First, AI Second - Why Knowing the Basics Matters More Than Ever

    Season 2 Episode #20: Dennis Thisner quit his first job out of pride, called his mom to brag, and realized he had no plan. A friend's tip and some truly terrible bug reports later, he was a QA engineer. Ten years on, he's built quality processes from the ground up across gaming, enterprise SaaS, agency work, and now telecom at Rebtel.We explore what it takes to build QA where none exists, why developer buy-in is the hardest first step, and why he tells his team to code first and use AI second. Dennis also shares where test automation is heading when you can just hand AI your test cases, and why quality has less to do with attention to detail and more to do with the atmosphere around your team.You can check out Dennis's work on his GitHub: https://github.com/dthisner 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • August 10 · 1 hr 11 min

    #38 Fawzi Mesmar: A Burger King Booth to Award-Winning AAAs— 20+ Years in Game Design

    Season 2 Episode #19: Fawzi Mesmar wrote "I want to make games in Japan" in kindergarten. That compass took him across five countries and studios like King, DICE, and EA.We explore why leadership is servitude, why defining the problem matters more than judging the idea, and Creative Sobriety, his framework for understanding why thousands of people keep having the same ideas. Fawzi also shares how he fit an orchestral soundtrack into 500 kilobytes, why constraints breed the best solutions, and why AI will own the inevitable ideas but can never replicate a lived human experience.Check out Fawzi's blog here: https://fawzi.zone/awards/ 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • July 28 · 39 min

    #37 Vaidas Kavaliunas (CUJO AI): Test Inflation, Flaky Tests & How AI Won't Save Test Automation

    Season 2 Episode #18: The 2008 financial crisis forced Vaidas Kavaliunas to choose between switching to QA or losing his job. That decision launched a 17-year journey across fintech, insurance, gaming, and cybersecurity, each teaching him something different about quality. We explore what stays the same when you test across radically different domains, what makes a test automation framework succeed or fail, and why AI is like a drunken genius in your passenger seat. Vaidas also shares the real risk of test inflation in CI/CD pipelines and why quality engineers will be in higher demand than ever. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • July 24 · 1 hr 5 min

    #36 Aleodor Tabarcea (Stripe): AI, Burnout, & Why Great Work Doesn't Speak for Itself

    Season 2 Episode #17: What happens when a kid whose family wanted him to become a priest falls in love with code and ends up managing engineering teams at one of the world's most respected fintech companies? Aleodor Tabarcea, Engineering Manager at Stripe, shares how curiosity, resilience through 23 failed interviews, and a willingness to burn out and learn from it shaped his approach to leadership.We explore what it really takes to go from developer to leader, how Stripe's Bucharest office grew from 26 people copying US culture to 120 building their own identity, and why the DISC personality framework matters when assembling high-performing teams. We also dig into why AI is commoditizing execution and what that means for engineers, how Aleodor evaluates whether AI tools are genuinely helping his team or just adding noise, and why he believes humanity is facing a choice between a creative renaissance and a million more notifications on our phones.Follow Aleodor:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleodor-tabarceaWebsite and Sunday Field Notes: https://aleodor.com/ 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • July 17 · 44 min

    #35 Luke Gill (Zego): The Hidden Complexity of Insurance Tech and What AI Makes Possible

    Season 2 Episode #16: What happens when a Flash developer with a passion for problem-solving ends up reshaping how an entire insurance company thinks about technology? Luke Gill, Head of Product and Technology at Zego, shares how curiosity, creativity, and a love for talking to customers led him to one of the most data-rich industries in tech.We explore why motor insurance demands a different standard of product quality, how Zego is using telematics and driver behavior data to price risk more fairly, and why Luke believes building great teams always starts with people, never tooling. We also dig into the real challenges of deploying AI responsibly in a regulated industry, and what it actually takes to measure whether it's working. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • June 3 · 54 min

    #34 Tsahi Levent-Levi (BlogGeek.me): The Hidden Infrastructure Behind Every Video Call You've Made

    Season 2 Episode #15: Most of us use Zoom, Google Meet, or similar tools every day without thinking about what is actually happening under the hood. Tsahi Levent-Levi, independent consultant and founder of BlogGeek.me, has spent 25 years working on exactly that - the technology that makes real-time communication work.We get into what WebRTC actually is, why building with it is harder than it looks, and what most companies get wrong when they try. We also talk about how AI is changing real-time communication, why latency is back as the central problem to solve, and what it takes to test and monitor communication products properly.Follow Tsahi:Main website and articles: https://bloggeek.me/Courses on WebRTC: https://webrtccourse.com/Tools for debugging WebRTC applications: https://www.rtcstats.com/ 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • April 21 · 45 min

    #33 Kinga Asbóth (YouTube): What Users Say vs What They Do - A Psychologist PM's Perspective

    Season 2 Episode #14: What happens when a trained psychologist takes on the fast-paced Tech Industry? Kinga, Product Manager at YouTube, shares how studying human behaviour shaped her approach to building products at global companies like Spotify and YouTube.Kinga also explains how her psychology background helps give her a deeper understanding of what users actually need versus what they say. How AI and vibe coding are reshaping how PM leads development, and why taste and quality are the most underrated skills a product manager can develop. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • March 30 · 42 min

    #32 Boban Ljubinoski (Klarna): The "Vibe-Coding" Revolution & The New Technical Skills for PMs

    Season 2 Episode #13: What happens when your mother’s career advice, “Have you tried computers?”, leads to a decade-long journey through foodtech and fintech? Boban Ljubinoski, Senior Product Manager at Klarna, shares how he accidentally fell into tech and what he's learned navigating one of the most rapidly changing roles in the industry.We explore what the post-COVID AI boom did to team structures, why most companies get AI strategy completely wrong, and where shopping is headed with agentic commerce. Boban also gets into the tough calls between shipping fast and shipping right, and why the answer almost always starts with fixing what's already broken. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • March 9 · 43 min

    #31 Fiona Ryder (Bonza Music): From Film School to Music Tech - Building for Creativity in the Age of AI

    Season 2 Episode #12: What happens when an entrepreneur with roots in film, music, and physics sets out to solve one of music tech's hardest problems? Fiona Ryder, Co-Founder and COO of Bonza Music, shares how decades of building companies across music, media, and broadcasting shaped her approach to creative collaboration. We explore why existing tools fail creative professionals, how spatial audio and digital twin acoustics bring back the "feel" that musicians depend on, what role AI should and shouldn't play in the creative process, and why the best technology should be invisible. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • February 24 · 44 min

    #30 Nikolaj Tolkačiov (Nord Security): We Are All Selfish: Game Theory, Trust, and Building Better QA Teams

    Season 2 Episode #11: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Nikolaj Tolkačiov. Nikolaj is an Engineering Manager at Nord Security, an Independent QA Consultant, and an Executive Board Member at LTSTQB with extensive experience in software quality assurance and engineering leadership. Join us as Nikolaj shares his unconventional journey from QA to leading engineering teams and the hard lessons learned from an ambitious leap to CTO that didn't work out. He reveals insights from game theory about why we're all naturally selfish and how leaders can build cooperation through trust and incentives. We also explore the art of balancing quality with delivery speed when shipping features with known bugs, the security challenges of testing zero-knowledge architecture at Nord Security, and his advice for QA professionals on building their skills before relying on AI. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • February 3 · 51 min

    #29 Gunnar Brune (Tricolore Strategy): Beyond ChatGPT Hype & Building Real AI Value

    Season 2 Episode #10: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Gunnar Brune. Gunnar is a Business Strategy Consultant, Founder, and AI expert with over 2 decades of experience. He is the author of "AI Today" and founder of Tricolore strategy and Narrative Impact, a storytelling company for brands and organizations. Join us as Gunnar takes us through his journey from marketing consultant to AI expert and delivers his insights on why most people misunderstand AI beyond the ChatGPT hype, how companies can identify real bottlenecks where AI creates value instead of getting lost in buzzwords, the challenges of managing hybrid human-AI teams when everyone's role changes, and real-world AI applications from ripening fruit to building digital twins of cities. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • January 12 · 55 min

    # 28 Uldis Tēraudkalns (NexPay, OkoRide): Leading Tech Innovation: Fintech, AI, & Beyond

    Season 2 Episode #9: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Uldis Tēraudkalns. Uldis has extensive experience in fintech and crypto, having worked on projects that merge cryptocurrency with traditional banking systems. He previously held management roles at Nexpay and is now building OkoRide, a ride-hailing fleet focused on maximizing car utilization through technology. Join us as Uldis takes us through his journey from fintech to crypto and back to local innovation, and shares his insights on crypto regulation in the Baltics, managing risk in fintech startups, building teams with limited resources, using AI for business growth, and why the Baltic states are punching above their weight in the tech industry. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

    # 27 Varun Singh (Daily): Building Real-Time Communication & The Future Of Voice-AI

    Season 2 Episode #8: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Dr. Varun Singh. Varun is the Chief Product Technology Officer at Daily, with over 2 decades of experience in software development. His career spans from hardware engineering on smartphone cameras to founding callstats.io, which was acquired by 8x8. Varun has contributed to WebRTC standards built into major browsers and now works at Daily, making voice, video, and AI tools accessible to developers. He is passionate about building infrastructure for voice as the next major computing interface. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • Nov 24, 2025 · 48 min

    # 26 Danny Preussler (SoundCloud): From Android to Full Stack & Everything In-between

    Season 2 Episode #7: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Danny Preussler. Danny has over 25 years of experience in software development and is a full-stack engineer at SoundCloud. Which many people know as the online audio and music streaming platform that allows users to upload, share, and listen to music, podcasts, and DJ sets. Danny’s time in the software development scene has seen him jump from a dedicated Android Developer to a Full-Stack Engineer. With experience at eBay, Groupon, and Viacom International Media Networks, Danny joins us in this episode to take us through his journey, covering everything from career changes, AI, testing in the media streaming industry, and beyond. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • Oct 10, 2025 · 43 min

    # 25 Pekka Pönkänen (Wolt): Maintaining Quality While Scaling: Wolt's Experience

    Season 2 Episode #6: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Pekka Pönkänen. Pekka has 10 years of experience in software testing and is the QA Competence Lead at Wolt. A Global, Helsinki-based technology company that has developed a local commerce platform that connects people looking to order food, groceries, and other goods. Pekka has been touring Europe, talking at tech conferences to explain how his quality-first mindset has transformed Wolts' mobile release process. So join us in this episode, where Pekka takes us through his testing journey, explains how Wolt is able to maintain quality as it keeps scaling, the importance of integrating QA into the Software Development Life-Cycle, how to combat long release cycles, and the skills QA professionals need in the age of AI. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • Aug 25, 2025 · 26 min

    # 24 Chris Woods (Ex-BeReal, Operations VP at Prelude): Solving Problems For Fast-Growing Companies

    Season 2 Episode #5: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Chris Woods. Chris has over 16 years of experience in the delivery of global executive search & selection assignments for high-profile blue-chip clients, having worked for the likes of Santander, Vodafone, Saudi Aramco, Dell, Omio, and BeReal. He has also made the transition from Tech Talent Lead to VP of Operations at Prelude, a company that specialises in advancing SMS and OTP verification infrastructure. Join us as Chris takes us through his journey and delivers his insights on what to look out for when it comes to tech talent, effectively empowering teams with AI, SMS & OTP verification, and how Prelude became such a success. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • Jul 25, 2025 · 47 min

    # 23 Ģirts Graudiņš (Ex-Twilio, Investor & Expert): Breaking Into US & Global Markets As A Startup

    Season 2 Episode #4: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Ģirts Graudiņš: A Latvian-American technology entrepreneur, who is an expert in building and running engineering teams at Silicon Valley startups as well as an active investor in the Baltic early-stage startup ecosystem - individually, as a Venture Partner at Change Ventures, and an Investment Committee member at BADideas.fund. Join us as Ģirts takes us through his journey, gives insights into the what and how a startup can break out of its local market, how smaller startups can gain a competitive edge, and what KPIs to look for. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

  • May 14, 2025 · 46 min

    #22 Goda Go (AI Productivity Hub): The Value Of Data & AI Implementation For All

    Season 2 Episode #3: In this episode of Tech Effect, we meet Goda Go: An AI Advocate and founder of AI Productivity Hub. Goda is also a content creator on YouTube, reaching 3,4 million people globally. Join us as Goda takes us through her journey, discusses the triumphs and challenges of AI implementation, the importance and value of data, and how AI can help even the smallest business gain a competitive edge. 👉 Hit "Follow" on our podcast page to receive updates on future episodes of "Tech Effect," where we bring you the latest news, trends, and expert insights from the world of technology. Together, let's unlock the potential of software solutions and embrace the future of innovation. 🔔 Follow TestDevLab for more technology & software related content: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testdevlab/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TestDevLab/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testdevlablv/#TechEffect

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