Pragmatism in Practice

Hosted by Thoughtworks

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Apr 2026

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About the show

Pragmatism in Practice addresses the challenges facing today's digital leaders and gives practical approaches to overcoming them. We have candid conversations with a range of inspiring change-makers who share stories of becoming a modern digital business. 334660

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60 recent

April 10, 202640 min

AI and the workforce: Beyond efficiency to real value creation

Join Laura Burger, Global Head of Employer Brand and Recruitment Marketing, Rachel Laycock, Thoughtworks CTO and former Chief Talent Officer Joanna Parke for a discussion on why AI success fundamentally depends on people, not just tools. Together, they debunk the "job theft" myth, highlight why junior talent remains a vital engine for innovation and explore how to shift the executive conversation from mere cost-cutting to long-term value creation.

April 8, 202656 min

The velocity trap: Why GenAI is exposing broken foundations

While 2025 was the year of shopping for AI, 2026 is the year of ROI. In this episode, Thoughtworks and CircleCI leaders discuss the 2026 State of Software Delivery Report, revealing why AI-generated code is creating bottlenecks rather than business value. Learn how elite teams are distancing themselves from laggards by rethinking compliance and testing, and why a Tiger Team approach is the fastest way to expose hidden technical debt and accelerate delivery.

March 26, 202651 min

Navigating the messy middle: A guide to real product organization transformation

Join product experts John Cutler and Ivana Ciric as they deconstruct the "messy" reality of product org transformation. Moving beyond rigid frameworks and feature factory mentalities, explore how leaders can embrace complexity, use AI for strategic sense-making and finally bridge the gap from simply shipping code to delivering genuine business value.

November 24, 202531 min

The soul in the system: Humanizing AI Strategy

As companies race to adopt AI, many overlook the hardest part — the human one. In this conversation, we unpack the principles behind Humanizing AI Strategy and discuss how creativity, critical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration shape the success of any AI initiative. This episode is for decision-makers who want AI that works in the real world, helping them design systems that are responsible, effective, and grounded in their organization's purpose.

September 16, 202527 min

Measuring what matters in the age of AI

Many engineering leaders are eager to embrace AI, but few have a clear way to measure what's working. In this episode, we dig into how teams can track AI adoption, assess the real impact of AI tools and agents, and make smarter decisions about where to invest. You'll hear from Abi Noda, CEO and Co-founder at DX, and Chris Westerhold, Global Practice Director at Thoughtworks, as they share how leading engineering orgs are turning AI hype into measurable value. Host: Kimberly Boyd Guests: Abi Noda, CEO & Co-founder at DX Chris Westerhold, Global Practice Director at Thoughtworks

July 30, 202538 min

From bronze bullets to big impact: AI-first software delivery

Join Thoughtworks CTO Rachel Laycock for a candid look at what AI-first software delivery really means, beyond the buzzwords. In this episode, she discusses how this emerging technology is reshaping software development life cycles, and how it can be used to tackle the most complex modernization challenges. If you're navigating the fast-changing landscape of tech strategy, this one's for you. Host: Kimberly Boyd Guest: Rachel Laycock, CTO at Thoughtworks

April 25, 202534 min

Powering innovation: Thoughtworks' AI journey

AI promises to reinvigorate the way we work, and many organizations are already seeing its potential come to life. In this podcast, we explore how we at Thoughtworks are transforming our own operations with AI. This episode is packed with insights for leaders who are embarking on a similar AI journey within their own organization. Host: Kimberly Boyd Guests: Jessie Xia, Global Chief Information Officer at Thoughtworks Sara Michelazzo, Head of Innovation and Strategy at Thoughtworks Global IT Services

March 26, 202536 min

The change agent's playbook: How to lead bold transformations

It's often said that the only constant for organizations is change. In this episode, we speak to Shawn Mandel about what makes a great change agent, how to achieve buy-in for change initiatives at a team and leadership level, and how to initiate a culture shift to become an organization that embraces continual change. If you're a business leader looking to make an impact in your own organization, this podcast is for you. Host: Kimberly Boyd Guests: Shawn Mandel - Chief Digital & Data Officer, Parkland

March 12, 202544 min

The ethics of data

In the much-anticipated final episode of our Humanizing Data Strategy takeover series, we're exploring the ethics of data. If you're a data leader considering how to strike the right balance between advancing your organization's data capabilities while maintaining ethical integrity, this episode is a must-listen. Host: Markus Buhmann, Data Strategy Principal, Thoughtworks Guests: Tiankai Feng, Head of Data Strategy & Governance, Thoughtworks Emily Gorcenski, VP of Service Lines, Thoughtworks

February 25, 202540 min

The human side of data

When we think of data, we think about numbers and statistics, but we don't often think about people. In the second episode of our Humanizing Data Strategy series, we discuss why storytelling, empathy, and creativity are all crucial parts of a successful data strategy. This podcast is for you if you're a data leader looking to communicate and influence data strategy more effectively in your own organization. You can explore more about data gamification here. Host: Markus Buhmann, Data Strategy Principal, Thoughtworks Guests: Tiankai Feng, Head of Data Strategy & Governance, Thoughtworks Sebastian Kaus, Head of Data Governance, Vattenfall