In this episode of Devico Breakfast Bar, Oleg Sadikov, the co-founder and CEO of Devico & DeviQA, sits down with Blake Burch, Co-Founder & CEO at Shipyard. From insights on entrepreneurship to strategies for leading data teams, Blake offers valuable lessons learned along the way. Discover how businesses can leverage data automation and AI to streamline operations and drive growth and gain practical tips for navigating talent scarcity, IT outsourcing, and integrating AI into coding practices. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a data enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and business, this episode offers invaluable insights and inspiration.
Join us as we discuss:
00:00 Could you please start by telling us about your journey from your early career experience to co-founding Shipyard? What motivated you to start this venture?
03:44 What key lessons have you learned about entrepreneurship while building Shipyard from the ground up?
04:39 What strategies have you found most effective in leading and managing data teams to ensure optimal performance and collaboration?
06:27 Can you share some practical examples of how businesses can leverage data to automate various aspects of their operations?
08:23 Could you provide insights into the specific applications and potential benefits of AI in this area?
10:41 How do you foresee technology evolving in the future enhance and automate business processes in this area?
12:14 What advice would you give to organizations looking to integrate AI-driven solution into their coding practices and business processes effectively?
14:21 What are some common challenges or misconceptions businesses face when considering the adoption of AI for code writing or business process automation, and how can they overcome them?
16:28 How do you navigate talent scarcity in the highly competitive fields of data analytics and engineering, and what strategies have you employed to attract and retain top talents, in particularly your company?
18:00 I know that in the early stages of your company, you outsourced your development needs. In your opinion, what are the main advantages and disadvantages of IT outsourcing, and how to navigate these factors to maximize the benefit while mitigating potential risk?
19:41 Reflecting on your business operations, are there specific tasks or projects that you believe could potentially benefit from outsourcing, and what criteria would you use to determine their sustainability for external collaboration?