After three years coaching engineers and leaders on mindset and wellbeing, I’m now combining that experience with my deep software engineering background as a Software Engineering Manager at OVO Energy.

Our work empowers customers to transition to greener energy by guiding them through the process of selecting and installing EV chargers. With ChargeAnytime, they benefit from cheaper, smarter charging, and through partnerships with industry leaders like Volvo and VWG, we extend this even further—offering new EV owners thousands of free miles alongside ongoing cost savings on their EV charging.

I work closely with my head of engineering to help shape our engineering strategy and model architecture. Through continuous improvement and a strong engineering culture, we continue to move toward our vision.

I’ve grown my fully remote team from four to ten engineers. This involved hiring and onboarding top talent and ensuring the right balance of technical expertise, mindset, and collaboration. 

I employ strategies such as dysfunction mapping to highlight areas for improvement within my teams. We also hold weekly continuous improvement sessions to provide feedback, engage team members, and track progress toward our technical and behavioural goals.

I focus on a coaching approach for my engineers, encourage taking responsibility and insist on fostering a psychologically safe environment were we can give and receive feedback, talk about mistakes and learn from them without the blame and judgement.

I work closely with nearshore partners, seamlessly integrating them into our work processes to extend our capabilities.

I recently represented OVO at Volvo’s Stockholm HQ, taking part in a two-day kickoff workshop for a multi-business collaboration project.

Contributed to ISO acreditation process for ChargeAnytime.

Software Engineering Manager

RD Coached Ltd

As the director of RD Coached Ltd, I provide mindset workshops and talks to software development teams and I provide 1-2-1 coaching to software developers and software development leaders.

Delivered a 2-hour workshop and delivered a talk on the main track at the C3 Dev Festival 2024 held in Amsterdam and the TechLead Conference 2024.

I also provide software development consultancy services via outside IR35 Contracts.

As part of my role, I continue to build automation systems to streamline my business, including integrating Notion and LinkedIn to save time scheduling and posting social media content.

I've also built a wellbeing hub for software developers and leaders with tools to help with mental and physical wellbeing. One of my tools integrates with the OpenAI Api.

Key technical skills:
C# Net 7, .Net Core, EF, ASP.NET, MVC, WebAPI, Microservices, HTML, CSS, Javascript, JQuery, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns, Azure DevOps, Azure Services, Docker, SCRUM, Agile, Apps Script, SQL Server, coaching, training, speaking

Director

Mindspan

As a Peak Performance Mindset Coach, I delivered Talks, Workshops and 1-2-1 coaching based on Mindspan's Peak Performance Mind Programme.

Peak Performance Mindeset Coach

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) 

During my time with BEIS, I wrote a support application in React to streamline queries from the Government's Help To Grow programme, often reducing the effort from hours to minutes.

I saved the department nearly £20k by reviewing their caching strategy of the main Help to Grow system and providing feedback.

I later moved to the initial stages of the government's Energy Support scheme, in which I communicated with cross-functional teams to solidify the team's understanding of requirements as well as guided those less technical teams on the art of the possible, given the requirements and the time pressures we were under.

I onboarded and mentored new team members and took an active role in ensuring everyone had a voice in our meetings.

Senior Software Engineer

Aviva

Technical:
As part of a small team of software architects, I was responsible for overseeing the work of up to 200 developers who delivered our suite of digital online applications globally. 

I introduced consistent patterns and practices to ensure efficient and consistent development across our teams. 

I defined and implemented coding standards, peer reviews and integrated new technologies into the ecosystem.

Key projects include:
Migration to .NET Core and a containerized, cloud-based architecture.

Migration of our source control and build system from Atlassian Stash and Jenkins to Microsoft Azure DevOps, introducing comprehensive CI/CD processes

Developed and maintained a microservice-based API layer using .Net Core 3.1/Net 5.

Full re-write of a legacy payment application into .NET Core 3.1.

Key Skills:
C# Net 5, .Net Core, ASP.NET, MVC, HTML, CSS, Accessibility, Javascript, JQuery, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns, Azure DevOps, Docker, SCRUM, Agile

Thoughts:
I recognised the struggles I'd had during my career, in the developers I worked with, and started to think in terms of positively impacting those around me.

I realised that mindset and mental health were being overlooked, and companies didn't seem to be aware of the specific challenges developers face on a daily basis. 

I wanted to change this. It started with the impact that technical decisions could have and later moved into a focus on mindset, wellbeing and engineering excellence.

Software Architect

Technical:
Many developers and BAs were just starting an agile transformation and struggled to grasp the benefits. 

By building trust and showing rather than telling, I brought them along on our agile journey.

A big turning point was gaining the trust of the Product Owner, who had been very sceptical under the previous leadership. 

The team was growing fast, which meant I had to improve at delegating and trusting my team, too.

With so many engineering teams across the organisation, communication was a struggle. 

To improve the situation, I arranged a bi-weekly meeting for team leads to discuss upcoming work and share technical best practices or concerns.

The result was improved communication and collaboration across teams, better reuse of code and designs, a more consistent code base, and improved knowledge sharing.

Key skills
C#, ASP.NET MVC, JQuery, HTML, CSS, Accessibility, SQL Server 2012, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns, TDD, Moq, LINQ, Structure Map, BDD, Selenium, SCRUM, Agile, Javascript, Knockout, CSS

Thoughts:
Having recently been made redundant, I struggled with my self-belief and confidence when I started this role. I felt like I bundled my way through the interview, and when I actually started my role, I had massive feelings of imposter syndrome. 

I doubled down on areas of mindset and mental health to improve self-belief and confidence. Very quickly I was leading by example and driving the team to the successful completion of two major projects.

Team Lead

BGO Studios

Technical:
As a Senior Software Engineer at BGO Studios, I was the lead server developer on the Remote Gaming Server (RGS) project.  

The team: 3 server-side developers, 2 mathematicians and 4 front end developers based in London. 

My responsibilities:
• Design and implement the Remote Gaming Server roadmap
• Report project status to senior management 
• Distribution of development tasks 
• Interpret complex math models and create server-side implementation
• Integrate with an admin system to view spin data
• Create simulation programs to spin the slot machine up to 500 million times to generate statistics 
• Liaise with internal and external QA teams
• Expose a REST API to be consumed by Flash/HTML5 client
• Consume REST services of gambling platform to provide user account and wallet facilities.

Games released to live::
•	Jurassic Island 
•	Jungle Trouble 
•	Satsumos Revenge 
•	Murder Mystery 
•	Aladdin and The Wild Genie
•	Jekyll & Hyde 

* Slots engine was subsequently sold.

Key skills
HTML, CSS, C#, ASP.NET MVC, SQL Server 2014, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns, DDD, SOA, WCF Services (REST/Soap), Test Driven Development, Rhino Mocks, LINQ, Structure Map

Thoughts:
In this role, I was once again tested from a mental strength and mindset perspective. It was both very stressful and extremely technical. I key part of dealing with the pressure and stress of this role was prioritising my physical health and really leaning on my mindset.

This helped me massively in dealing with what started out as some quite challenging relationships. I gained a great appreciation for the importance of relationships in work and also in my personal life.

Proteo

Technical:
I was responsible for delivering the product road map, defining product architecture and the functional design of new product capabilities. 

I produced technical specifications, development estimates and participated in implementation, overseeing the work of the team. 

Key skills included object-oriented design, asynchronous programming, design patterns and database design. 

I also got involved in pre-sales by providing product demonstrations to potential new clients.

Key skills
C#, ASP.NET Webforms/MVC, JQuery, SQL Server 2012, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns, SOA, WCF Services (REST/Soap), Entity Framework, LINQ, Bing Maps/Virtual Earth, Active Reports.NET, Telerik controls and reporting, Silverlight, MVVM, JavaScript

Thoughts:
I was the  Team Lead/Architect of the Proteo product development team. 

This was the first time I had led a team and I really started to see the importance of patience, support and the massive significance of mindset and mental health. 

This was both from my own perspective and from the perspective of my team members too. 

Leaning on my mentors, I started to develop my leadership style but more importantly, I started to develop my self-belief, confidence and communication skills.

Team Lead / Architect

Tournament.com

Technical:
Tournament.com was an online gaming site where customers paid to compete and potentially win money based on their performance in the game. 

As a software engineer, I was responsible for the full development life cycle of the Tournament.com client, a downloadable windows forms application. The purpose of the application was to register and launch third party games. It also provided a wealth of information to customers about services available including promotions, offers and tournaments. It allowed users to chat and join scheduled tournaments for their chosen game.  My key responsibilities were:

Producing technical specifications for the Tournament.com client.
Designing and implementing a multi-threaded application.
Usage of design patterns.
Usage of object oriented design to streamline the application code and ensure that it was concise and maintainable.
Release management.

Key skills 
C#, Winforms, ASP.NET, SQL Server, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns, Multi-threading

Thoughts:
This role turned out to be a technically challenging and high pressure job. I learnt a lot about how not to achieve work/life balance. Luckily, the work was really interesting and the people were good fun.

Software Engineer

Homeserve

Reward Scheme project

Key skills 
VB.NET, Winforms, ASP.NET, SQL Server, OO design, SOLID principals, Design patterns

The aim of this project was to motivate engineers to reduce remedial call outs by awarding\deducting points which translated into a regular bonus. This saved the company significant costs and increased productivity in 75% of the depots up and down the country. Key aspects of my role were:

Object orientated programming, n-tier architecture.
Adhering to strict coding standards, participating in peer code reviews.
Transformation of functional requirement documents into technical specifications and designs.
Accurate time keeping as all time was logged to monitor costs of different projects.
Communicating effectively with depot users, other developers and senior management.
To provide regular statistical analysis of the performance of all aspects of the job tracking system.

IT Systems Developer

💚 Helping Developers & Leaders Balance Wellbeing and Success 🚀 | Software Developer | Leader | Mindset Coach | Personal Trainer | Mental Health First Aider

With over 24 years of software engineering experience and 3 years spent coaching software engineers and software engineering leaders on their mindset and wellbeing, I'm currently combining this skill set as a Software Engineering Manager.

I aim to positively impact the Software Engineering industry by highlighting the importance of mindset, mental health and wellbeing within high-performing teams.

My ambition is to run the software engineering function for a huge company so that I can shape the culture and ways of working on a large scale and hopefully gain wider traction across the industry.

I've spoken at an international tech conference about the importance of mindset, wellbeing and mental health in the software engineering industry.

In my teams:

I value great communication, collaboration and empathy.

A growth mindset, a positive attitude, and a thirst for continuous improvement are key qualities I look for.

Taking responsibility for our thoughts as well as our actions is extremely important.

I encourage my team to prioritise their wellbeing and their physical and mental health.

We focus on what we CAN do, not what we can't...

We focus on small individual habits...

And small team-level habits...

That compound over time...

The direction of travel is the most important thing. 
Always improving, even by the smallest amount. 
The speed at which we improve can vary massively, but we consistently move in the right direction.

Richard Donovan

Better Software

"99% of new software products built by agencies requires rebuilding when it's to time scale or make changes to it. The rest 1% is built by us."

As the founder of Better (Prev: Jalan Technologies), I have been instrumental in building and growing this premier software development company from its inception. With a strong vision and relentless dedication, I have nurtured the company into a successful venture that delivers top-notch solutions to clients.

Key Achievements:

1. Personally interviewed and selected over 400+ engineers, sales, and marketing candidates to curate a world-class team of 40+ professionals.
2. Spearheaded product development efforts for more than 15 venture-backed startups and medium-sized enterprises, taking complete ownership of the projects.
3. Remained actively involved in coding, dedicating at least 8 hours a day to hands-on development work.
4. Led the strategic direction of the company, aligning it with industry trends and client needs.
5. Oversaw project execution, ensuring high-quality and timely deliverables.
6. Fostered a collaborative and innovative work culture within the team.
7. Established strong relationships with clients, driving customer satisfaction and repeat business.

By leveraging my technical expertise and leadership skills, I have positioned Better as a reliable partner for businesses seeking cutting-edge software solutions. I continue to drive the company forward, embracing new challenges and opportunities to deliver excellence in the software development space.

Founder

Better Marketing

Champions Studio

Champions Studio is kids exclusive club where kids can not only have fun, but also learn, grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment.

We launched first club (a 7000 sqft facility) in Jaipur, checkout - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuWnVDgqYga

As a parent,Sonam and I started this to reduce the over exposure of kids to digital screens after school.

Co-Founder

Various

As an Entrepreneur, I embarked on a dynamic journey of innovation and leadership, founding and leading multiple ventures that have left a lasting impact on diverse industries.

YoAccess [March 2016 – Dec 2016]
At YoAccess, I successfully built a mobile app that connected people to a global network of WiFi hotspots. Garnering support from Facebook, Microsoft, and IAMAI, the app achieved 20K+ installs with 4+ ratings, revolutionizing WiFi accessibility.

Yo Office [March 2015 – March 2016]
As the founder of Yo Office, I launched an e-commerce site for office supplies. Onboarding 1300+ SKU's, 50+ sellers, and 100+ customers, the venture achieved break-even in just 5 months, disrupting the office supplies market.

Through these entrepreneurial endeavors, I honed my skills in strategic planning, team leadership, and product development. My passion for innovation and determination to drive success led to the fruition of these ventures, creating meaningful solutions for users and businesses alike.

Independent Entrepreneur

ResolutionTube

As a Principal Software Engineer at ResolutionTube, I led a high-caliber team of 5+ engineers in the development of cutting-edge Augmented Reality (AR) applications for Android, iOS, and web platforms. 

With a focus on innovation and efficiency, I collaborated with the sales team to secure deals with Fortune 500 companies. My expertise in Objective-C, Java, C#, .NET Web API, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, WebRTC, OpenTok, Azure, and Twilio empowered me to deliver exceptional solutions. At ResolutionTube, 

I thrived on challenges and played a key role in positioning the company as a leader in AR-based field technician applications.

Principal Software Engineer

Microsoft

During my time at Microsoft, I contributed to the success of two prominent products - Xbox and Bing. As a Software Engineer, I played a key role in developing iOS apps for Xbox Music and SmartGlass Xbox 360 & XboxOne, both of which garnered 1Mn+ installs with 4+ ratings.

Additionally, I contributed to the frontend server and various features on Bing's mobile website and Android app. My expertise in C++, Objective-C, C#, ASP.NET, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript allowed me to deliver high-quality solutions for both platforms.

My experience at Microsoft exposed me to cutting-edge technologies and a dynamic work environment, shaping me into a versatile and innovative professional. I'm proud to have been part of this world-renowned organization and excited to continue making an impact in the tech industry.

Ames Laboratory

Machine Learning,  Steganalysis software for Iowa's ICAC Task Force to help with their investigations

Research Assistant

Google

Engineering Intern

Tata Consultancy Services

Software Developer

If you’ve scrolled down till here, I have already intrigued you and you know about me enough. Let’s make this part about you. 

Are you also tired of Software that’s just code and not currency? A Clutch Study conducted in 2022 says 42% businesses are dissatisfied with the Software solutions they have. 

Because those Software Products are: 

→ Clunky
→ Useless 
→ Confusing 

Which means, they: 

→ Bleed resources 
→ Frustrate users 
→ Stifle growth 

But I believe your Software product should not be a burden, but a solid foundation that:

→ Fuels your business 
→ Doesn't break in future 
→ Drives user engagement 
→ Makes lives of your team and users easier


And that’s where I come in. A 15+ years experienced Software Engineer who’s not just an IITian with fancy credentials but a passionate problem solver. 

I code not for you but for your market, your users and to solve their real-world problems. 

And here's how I have helped other Small/Mid level enterprises like you: 

- Raised a Dental Support organization over $120Mn revenue
- Drew a solar installation business to over $100Mn revenue 
- Helped a home mortgage company to become a unicorn
- Helped a Ranch management software to be acquired 


My clients say I am better than 99% others because:

I don’t build for paychecks, I build for impact
I am an entrepreneur myself and speak your language 
I write code that works not just looks good on slide deck

And, if you want your Software Product to be solid as rock, I am your person. 

Book a 1:1 call and let’s talk how we can make it happen for your business.

taplio

The Battle

Richard Donovan

Jai Jalan

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