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The CTO Show with Mehmet GonulluAuthor: Mehmet Gonullu
Broadcasting from Dubai, The CTO Show with Mehmet explores the latest trends in technology, startups, and venture funding. Host Mehmet Gonullu leads insightful discussions with thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries. From emerging technologies to startup investment strategies, the show provides a balanced view on navigating the evolving landscape of business and tech, helping listeners understand their profound impact on our world. mehmet@yassiventures.com Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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#527 Building for Tomorrow: Sebastian Gierlinger on Engineering Agility, AI, and the Composable Future
Tuesday, 14 October, 2025
In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Sebastian Gierlinger, VP of Engineering at Storyblok, to explore what it really takes to build software and teams that stand the test of time. From composable architectures to developer-first design, Sebastian shares practical wisdom for engineering leaders navigating complexity, scalability, and AI adoption.The conversation moves beyond code—into mindset, balance, and how curiosity fuels sustainable innovation in a fast-changing world.⸻👤 About the GuestSebastian Gierlinger is the VP of Engineering at Storyblok, the leading headless CMS platform empowering developers and marketers to create, manage, and scale digital experiences seamlessly. At Storyblok, Sebastian leads teams across product, design, developer experience, and infrastructure—driving the evolution of modern content architecture and developer workflows.https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgierlinger/⸻💡 Key Takeaways • Composable Thinking: Why modular architectures give freedom, flexibility, and future-proof scalability. • Developer-First Philosophy: How to balance developer experience with marketing and design usability. • AI in Engineering: Where AI adds real value—from bug hunting to workflow acceleration—and where caution is still needed. • Fighting Complexity Creep: Why simplicity in infrastructure often wins over “trend-driven” tech adoption. • Building for Tomorrow: How to leave your path open—designing systems that adapt rather than age. • Shape Up Methodology: How Storyblok keeps developer motivation high and stress low with six-week build cycles. • Leadership in Tech: From learning Rust to staying relevant—why curiosity is a core trait of modern engineering leaders.⸻🎯 What You’ll Learn • The mindset shift from monolithic systems to composable, headless architectures. • The role of developer-first platforms in scaling innovation. • Real-world examples of cost and performance gains from digital modernization. • How to lead engineering teams through AI-driven change without losing quality or morale. • Why being technology-agnostic is essential for long-term sustainability.⏱️ Episode Highlights00:00 — Introduction and guest overview02:00 — What is Storyblok and how headless CMS transforms content delivery04:30 — Moving from legacy to composable architecture06:00 — What “developer-first” really means09:00 — The secret to creating unfair advantages in engineering11:00 — When to trust AI—and when to stay cautious14:00 — The rise of “bug hunting” with LLMs15:00 — Understanding “complexity creep” in DevOps19:00 — Building today with tomorrow in mind22:00 — Customer success story: Diamond Shipyards transformation25:00 — How AI and automation are reshaping content workflows27:00 — Balancing delivery pressure and team motivation30:00 — Using Shape Up methodology for sustainable pace31:00 — How engineers can grow into leadership34:00 — Framework fatigue, tech choices, and staying agnostic40:00 — Why outdated libraries can break your security frameworks42:00 — Final advice: stay curious, stay flexible, build sustainably🧭 Resources Mentioned • Storyblok: https://www.storyblok.com/ • Shape Up Methodology by 37signals • ISO/IEC 27001 Security Certification Framework
