Datum Source

Chief Technology Officer

Salad and Go

For this amazing and fast-growing salad business, I oversaw technology initiatives including a SAP ByDesign ERP implementation for supply chain, development of a native Android mobile app for inventory tracking in Salad and Go's distribution centers, and Microsoft Powerapp-based store inventory tools, helping Salad and Go grow from 70 to 150 stores.

Head Of Software

Cory Berg Consulting

Head Player/Coach

Allstate Identity Protection

☑ High-EQ leader, coach, and morale booster for a team of 75 amazing software engineers and technical QA.
☑ Primary driver, exec sponsor, chief architect, and evangelist for a major platform rebuild ~40 budget. Moved the entire application stack from legacy PHP to Java/Spring Boot, Node.js deployed as business services in containers (Docker, Quay) on an on-prem kubernetes environment (Styra + Auth0 for service auth) with full CI/CD based on Buildkite and a large array of support tooling.
☑ Heavily engaged with infosec teams to push security concerns left, as close as possible to the developer horizon.

SVP, Product Delivery and Architecture

AgileField

☑ CTO of a leading provider of field service management solutions for the mid-market.
☑ Driver of all things technology for the business.
☑ Platform included a mobile app (based on ionic), a Java-based back end, and a back office web stack to facilitate work scheduling and reporting. 
☑ All software was deployed on AWS (CloudFront, S3, EC2, RDS).
☑ Heavily engaged with Sales/Marketing to ensure that the right things were being built inline with customer expectations.

Iris PR Software

☑ Built a full-stack engineering team that re-engineered the IrisPR stack for a successful launch in a two month time frame.
☑ Extended development team capacity using offshore resources; transitioned from an MVP to a decoupled micro-services architecture on the AWS cloud platform
☑ Built a continuous development culture and process to deliver features to customers daily (integrated using Slack bots)
☑ Coordinated with the executive team with the technical review of the platform through two successful funding events.

VP of Engineering

Pearson

☑ System architect for the Pearson higher-education next generation LMS integration design.
☑ Interacted extensively with globally dispersed technical and business groups, including outside integration partners.
☑ Introduced and evangelized microservice thinking, including the first design of an operational prototype of an LMS integration using Netflix components: Zuul, Eureka, and Hystrix.
☑ System architect for the cloud global rollout of a third-party identity and access management system that will serve Pearson’s internal staff and students around the world.

Sr. Software Architect

☑ Key player in the development and release of a modernized version of BSI’s supply chain security applications. 
☑ Drove product development through a global team of in-house and third-party software engineers to deliver vital functionality on-budget; key role in project planning, requirements management, architecture,  design/code activities, test automation, and deployment (SaaS model on Rackspace); accountable to executive management for on-time product delivery.

System Architect

Infusionsoft

☑ Senior Engineer on the Infusionsoft flagship product serving small businesses worldwide. 
☑ Responsible for refactoring of the CRM product (Java 7/Spring) and key UX initiatives with technical leadership. 
☑ Evangelized separation of concerns and stateless services.  Wrote the initial design for the new Infusionsoft RESTful API.

Senior Software Engineer

☑ Implemented web services and associated functionality for a proprietary identity and access management (IDAM) system.
☑ Designed and implemented an upgrade path from Solr 1.4 to Solr 3.6.
☑ Cured a severe performance issue in a production multi-million document Solr index.

Consulting Software Engineer

Obsessed with...
1. Building great and useful software.
2. Helping tech leaders become 10x better in their communication skills.
3. Setting clear goals.
4. Fixing broken trust, processes, and technology teams.
5. Helping people transform themselves through awareness and putting in The Work.

Yes, I can speak your Java, JavaScript, Python, and most other programming languages. I WILL look at your PRs.

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thecoryberg

Schedule time with me here: https://calendly.com/the-cory-berg/15min

Attention job seekers, especially software engineers, data scientists, anybody in tech...

After helping a colleague review about 50 resumes yesterday, here are some easy things you can do to help your resume/CV:

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞
When you upload your resume (pdf, word doc, whatever) make sure your 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 is part of the uploaded file name.

This helps ensure that your resume does not get lost. Sometimes, hiring managers see a directory full of resumes along with a checklist. You want to be in that directory.

For example, don't upload a resume called "OMG April 2024 Please Hire Me.pdf" if your name is Sally Smith. Call it "Sally_Smith_2024.pdf" or something close to that.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤
I don't know why tech people don't seem to get the memo about this, but most tech resumes look exactly the same - a jumble of tech skills, education, experience that says pretty much the same thing. It is hard to discern one from another.

Try to differentiate yourself. Here are some easy ways to do that:

- Include an overview statement about who you are, what you are passionate about, and what problems you love to solve. 99% of resumes I have seen either have nothing at all, or a robotic statement about being results-oriented, having a proven track record. You can be creative in this section. ChatGPT can help you on this one.

- Customize your resume to the role you are applying for. If you are applying for a role in AI, emphasize that this is what you are looking for. Move related skills to the top or make it obvious that you have some chops in that area.

- Spell check. It's 2024, there is no excuse for spelling mistakes anymore. Use spell check, have someone review your resume, and fix the easy stuff.

#techjobs
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Cory Berg

Obsessed With Building Self-Aware Tech Leaders ✪ Gen AI Architecture ✪ Ex-Fortune 50 Tech SVP ✪ SaaS Platform Pro ✪ Due Diligence for PE Firms ✪ Certified Performance Coach

How important is customizing a resume to the role?

What are some examples of AI in tech resumes?

The first piece of advice that I give to tech people to help improve their communication skills:

Stop using clever words and terminology.

Speak plainly, save the jargon for where it matters.

Simplify, simplify, simplify.

Easy to say, hard to do.

#alwayslearning

Please join me in raising awareness of the serious condition called Complexitis.

'Complexitis' strikes the unsuspecting modern professional - engineers (especially in tech), doctors, middle managers, and lawyers in particular.

Complexitis involves an uncontrollable urge to complicate the simple and cloak the clear in layers of jargon, techno-babble, and acronyms so dense - not even light can escape the confusion.

You might have Complexitis if:
- You use phrases like "synergistic management solutions" when you mean "working together."
- You sincerely think that "leveraging cutting-edge paradigms" is a substitute for actual creative ideas.
- You can’t explain what you do to yourself, let alone your friends and family.
- You have an acronym for every action, including eating lunch (Automated Sustenance Intake Protocol, anyone?)

The latest research into Complexitis points to these possible treatments:
- Simplify: Can it be said in fewer words? Say it. Your audience will thank you.
- Empathize: Imagine explaining the concept to someone outside your industry. If they're glazing over, you've lost them.
- Visualize: Use diagrams or pictures. A well-placed meme is worth a thousand words.
- Humanize: Connect through stories and experiences, not just data points.
- Humility: If you need to be the smartest, stop. You're not.

As leaders or team members, it's vital to ensure that 'Complexitis' doesn't spread to epidemic proportions. The cure isn't found in a boardroom, policy document, or mission statement. It's in clarity, simplicity, and the brave act of asking, "Sorry, can you explain that like I'm not an expert?"

To keep 'Complexitis' at bay, let's pledge to put down the thesaurus and pick up plain language. After all, if we're not clear, are we even communicating?

Remember, fellow professionals, in the battle against 'Complexitis,' clarity is our weapon, brevity is our shield, and common sense is our battle cry. 

Save the sophisticated words for Scrabble and debate club. 

Keep communication direct and simple and effective. Easy to understand, energizing to the soul. 

Your colleagues' cognitive health is in your hands!

(Disclaimer: No professionals were confused in the making of this post. 'Complexitis' is a fictitious condition used humorously to advocate for clearer communication.)

Obsessed With Making More Engaged Tech Leaders ✪ Gen AI Architecture ✪ Fractional CTO ✪ SaaS Platform Technology Pro ✪ Due Diligence for PE Firms ✪ Discipline, Desire, Determination

I could have taken it easy in Q1, but...

I'm not really wired to "take it easy."

So, I spent three straight months and a fair chunk of my own money to study Flow State and how to coach it in others. I did it while moving halfway across the country for a different role and a big life change.

Thank you Flow Research Collective, Rian Doris, Steven Kotler and the HFC coaches for all the detailed and interesting neuroscience content, teaching how to unlock the secrets and biology of human performance.

At the end of the program, I had to submit an actual research paper.
My topic? "Unlocking Flow in Software Engineering." I know, you're shocked 😎 

I rarely say this to myself or to anyone else...but... I'm proud of this.

How are you doing on those 2024 goals? Let's go!

What is the Flow Research Collective known for?

What are some ways to unlock Flow in Software Engineering?

What are some tips for achieving Flow State?

Things that no technical people seem to ask:

"Was I too technical in that meeting?"
"Did my audience understand the topic as I presented it?
"How can I communicate better?"
"How did I contribute to this problem?"
"Are we all understanding this topic the same way?"
"How can I help?"

Yes, that means you, software pros, data scientists, IT tech people, and database folks.

If you want to evolve beyond technical skills, start asking yourself these kinds of questions.

--
👆 This post was written by a human.

Why is communication important for technical professionals?

What are the most important skills for data scientists?

What are the most important skills for IT tech people?

Some perspective from Gabor Mate.

One of my favorite quotes of his:

“When I am sharply judgmental of any other person, it's because I sense or see reflected in them some aspect of myself that I don't want to acknowledge.”

CEO & Creative Director of Good Shout / Bestselling author & poet / Sociologist / Satirist / LinkedIn Top Voice / TYCOON / Campaign ‘Trail Blazer’ / BIMA Hall of Fame /The psychology of voices 👄

“I was so driven by justifying my existence in the world that I forgot to play.” 

At 80 years old, the inspiring Gabor Maté reflects on how he’d live his life, if he could do it all over again. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Remember to be a little bit more like Winnie the Pooh.

As a general rule, don’t drive through standing water. But if you do, maybe do it like this.

Communication tip for tech leaders who are looking to work on their exec interactions:

The question "Can this be done?"

is 𝐍𝐎𝐓 code for

"Tell me every technical obstacle you can think of that will make it a 'no'."

True, it is a yes or no question.

Before you answer, consider who is asking, why they are asking, and what is at stake for you and your team. How you respond can determine the path your career takes.

The ability to do this is called "𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦" and is one of the most lacking skills of all tech professionals. I know, because I see it everywhere and I still work on it in myself.

Potential ways to answer (not an exhaustive list):

"Yes."
"Yes. That said, if we can secure resources A, B, and C by such-and-such a date, we can lower the risk."
"No, and if you'd like to know how to make it a 'yes,' I'd love to discuss it, because I want to figure out a path forward."

Remember this one next time you want to answer a blunt question from your boss' boss with a long technical TED talk.

#leadershipdevelopment  #techleadership
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Why is reading the room important in executive interactions?

What are some best practices for improving executive interactions?

What are some common skills that tech professionals lack?

There is no better “team building exercise” than to have a clear vision and shared purpose.

Give some smart people the same goal, get out of the way, and watch magic happen.

Why is having a shared purpose important for a team?

What are some effective team building exercises?

The root of the word "stagnation" is the Latin word for "standing water."

When we stagnate, we are making no forward progress. Standing still, just like the water.

Want to know how to stagnate? It's very easy:

- Only learn new things when they are within your comfort zone
- Interrupt until the world takes notice
- Don't ask for feedback on how you communicate
- Listen to the lies your ego tells you
- Stop trying to make things "better"
- Do the same thing, the same way tomorrow that you did today and yesterday
- Speak so that you are heard, rather than to be understood

Tired of stagnating?

Try doing the opposite of some or all of the above.

#leadershiplessons #personalgrowth

Obsessed With Building Self-Aware Tech Leaders ✪ Gen AI Architecture ✪ Fractional CTO & Ex-Fortune 50 Tech SVP ✪ SaaS Platform Technology Pro ✪ Due Diligence for PE Firms ✪ Discipline, Desire, Determination

Getting feedback is one thing. Taking action on that feedback is another.

Action is where the growth happens.

#personalgrowth

No alternative text description for this image

Notice anything in common here?

"Never mistake activity for achievement." -John Wooden

"Do nothing which is of no use." -Miyamoto Musashi

Want to know the number one challenge I see while coaching other leaders?

They are stuck in a pattern...and they don't know they are stuck in a pattern.

What does a pattern look like? Here are a few:

- Reacting based on past experience, wounds, or trauma.
- Reacting based on technical competence without considering the time/place.
- Having blind spots, and being totally unaware of them.
- Unintentional, addictive, or unexplainable behavior.

We all have patterns.

It helps to have an observer or a coach who will notice the pattern, and bring it to your awareness.

Awareness is the first step.

#growth #leadershiplessons
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If you want a chance to stretch out your skills, mix it up with LLMs and Generative AI in some real-world scenarios, check out this opportunity (note: it's an on-site role).

Are you a data enthusiast seeking an opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking initiatives and drive decisions for millions of Walmart associates and customers? This role offers you the chance to join a highly skilled team at Walmart, utilizing your data prowess to support the deployment of next-generation GenAI and MLOps solutions.

In this critical role, you will:
◆ Leverage your proficiency in Python and SQL to meticulously analyze and interpret vast datasets.
◆ Demonstrate a strong understanding of cloud architectures gained through practical application.
◆ Collaborate effectively with diverse teams across the organization to translate data insights into actionable strategies.
◆ A proven track record with Large Language Models (LLMs) will be highly considered.

This position is located on-site in Bentonville, Arkansas (no exceptions). We encourage qualified and motivated individuals to submit their applications.

https://lnkd.in/gFPAmJJD

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States (On-site)

This is a great reminder of the super important topic of rest.

Taking the time and space to recharge is vitally important if you want to approach the world at your best.

1% Better | Former accountant, future author | Digestible & actionable personal development content

Are you getting the 7 types of rest?

Sleep is important, but it's only one part of a much larger equation.

If you want to avoid burnout, it's important to remember that rest is multifaceted.

———
Based on the work of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith.
♻️ Repost this to your network.
👥 Follow me for daily content.

It's fascinating to reflect on how huge companies versus startups look at the same opportunities in tech (e.g. AI).

Big company lens:
- Monopolize/federate
- Manage cost, risk, exposure
- Add process friction 

Small company lens:
- Focus on the customer
- Prototype, test, iterate
- Minimize time to deliver value

What would you add to this?

What is the potential impact of AI on the workplace?

Interesting WSJ article about Benedetto Vigna's impact on Ferrari's organizational structure.

Some key points that should sound very familiar to tech leaders:

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Vigna came in from technology as an outsider (although a fan of the brand) and started off by talking to employees and quickly realized that there were too many silos and layers of bureacracy.  

Direct quote from the article:

"At one point, Vigna counted nine levels of employees in a cybersecurity meeting and noticed that only the lowest-ranking person had anything useful to say."

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭. Vigna introduced a program whereby employees working on the cars could actually experience the cars. One worker mentioned "...only after seeing her work in action—at several hundred kilometers per hour—did she really understand her job."

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Vigna "...believes that smaller, nimbler teams are capable of hitting another gear."  “People can give the best of themselves if they feel important,” he says. “The more people you have in a team, the more duplication of role, the less important the person is feeling.”

Ferrari stock has nearly doubled under Vigna's leadership.

And no, I don't own one 😎 

#leadershiplessons


What are the benefits of smaller, nimbler teams?

How has Ferrari's stock performed under Vigna's leadership?

What are some best practices for improving organizational structure?

Open article: He Loves Speed, Hates Bureaucracy and Told Ferrari: Go Faster by wsj.com • 1 min read

He Loves Speed, Hates Bureaucracy and Told Ferrari: Go Faster

What you say to yourself will often become your own reality.

Anybody who understands peak performance already knows this.

Leaders who care about the growth of individuals on their teams should listen to the self-talk within their teams, so they build awareness of its power for both positive and negative outcomes.

Research is starting to back this up. Here's a rather technical article on the power of self-talk from the standpoint of brain science.

Direct quote: "Our findings showed that positive self-talk and negative self-talk differently modulate brain states concerning cognitive performance."

How's your self-talk today? 

Can you hear it coming out in the words of your team?

#peakperformance #personalgrowth #leadershiplessons

Open article: The effects of positive or negative self-talk on the alteration of brain functional connectivity by performing cognitive tasks by ncbi.nlm.nih.gov • 1 min read

The effects of positive or negative self-talk on the alteration of brain functional connectivity by performing cognitive tasks

Four reasons why managers fail: a new article from Harvard Business Review.

This is an interesting read, but hardly shocking. The number one reason?

𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: defensiveness in the face of feedback, not delegating tasks, and seeking approval for decisions they could be making.

And, my friends, how do we solve this one?

Through self-reflection practices, establishment of clear goals, building proper feedback channels within the org (and at home, because we all bring our own baggage to work), and using intentional communication with one's own leadership.

Other reasons for failure mentioned in the article:

- Empathy In Both Directions
- Unproductive Manager-Employee Relationships
- Misaligned Goals

... yet all of these things start with 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫.

In tech organizations, this stuff is especially important, and tremendously lacking.

The good news? It is very fixable with some intentional leadership practices.

#leadershiplessons #techleadership
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What are some examples of successful leadership practices in tech organizations?

How can self-awareness improve leadership skills?

What are some effective feedback channels for managers to use?

Open article: 4 Reasons Why Managers Fail by hbr.org • 1 min read

Calling tech leaders...

Do you know what a high performer is? What about a high performer in technology?

If you've been a leader for any length of time, your company HR function has probably asked you to list your "high performers".... leaving the rest up to you to figure out.

In technology, the frequent perception among non-technical audiences seems to be that a high performer is the one who churns out the most code. I think this is hilariously simple.

But I want to know your opinion. Does a high performer....

► Write the best code? 
► Have an advanced degree?
► Show up consistently?
► Communicate effectively?
► Agree with everything you say?
► Get their work done and offer to do more?
► Dress nicely?
►Take feedback and actually do something with it?
► Do not require much of your time and attention?
► Influence others? 
► Have future growth potential?

What makes a "high performer"... a high performer, in your opinion?

Comments welcome. Go ahead. Tell me.

#techleadership #technology #softwaredevelopment

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What are the characteristics of a high performer?

How can effective communication contribute to high performance?

What are the latest trends in software development?

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