From a series of startups to the giant Amazon Web Services, this week’s guest, Jeff Lawson, CEO of Twilio and author of the new book Ask Your Developer: How to Harness the Power of Software Developers and Win in the 21st Century, has figured out a way to bridge the divide between developers and business executives to create successful solutions and customer experiences.
Jeff explains how the best companies utilize their technical partners as creative problem solvers rather than just digital assembly workers. When companies share the challenges that they and their customers face with their software developers, while embracing a culture of experimentation, the collaboration can result in ingenuity and success.
Jeff discusses how the need to better utilize technical partners for success drove him to write his new book in order for businesses across industries to successfully transition into thriving digital companies.
Meet our guest:
Jeff Lawson is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded the cloud communications company Twilio during the Great Recession of 2008. Since then, TechCrunch named him Founder of the Year, Fortune named him to their 40 Under 40 List, and Twilio is now among the world’s five fastest growing tech companies with a valuation that tripled over the course of the pandemic since March due to companies turning to them for survival by software.
Prior to co-founding Twilio, Jeff was Founder & CTO of NineStar, Founding CTO of Stubhub.com and Founder, CEO & CTO of Versity. He was also one of the original product managers for Amazon Web Services. Jeff grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, started his first company in middle school, and earned his BS in Computer Science & Film/Video from University of Michigan.
He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller ASK YOUR DEVELOPER: How to Harness the Power of Software Developers and Win in the 21st Century (January 12, HarperBusiness) with a foreword by Lean Startup author Eric Ries. Lawson is donating the proceeds of the book to organizations that teach underrepresented populations to code.
For media and speaking requests, and to suggest a guest for the show, please email letsconnect@patrickmcginnis.com.
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