What if AI isn’t here to replace us, but to connect us?

Imagine students and professionals solving real problems side by side, using AI to break habits, not just automate them.

The future of work isn’t waiting. It’s being built right now—by those bold enough to collaborate across generations.

For years, the conversation around AI has been dominated by big, sweeping promises—transforming industries, revolutionizing work, and driving exponential efficiency. But as McKinsey’s latest State of AI report highlights, the companies actually seeing bottom-line impact aren’t the ones dabbling in pilot projects. They’re the ones actively rewiring their workflows to embed AI at the core of how they operate. And where is this happening fastest? Developer Experience (DevEx).

Does this sound familiar? You spend your day jumping between different applications, searching for information scattered across email threads, spreadsheets, and shared drives. You're constantly chasing updates from colleagues, struggling to keep track of project progress, and feeling like you're drowning in a sea of manual tasks. You know there has to be a better way, but you're not sure where to start.

It's been a while since I've put pen to paper, or rather, fingers to keyboard, in this way. But after some time away, I'm back and more excited than ever to share my passion for a topic that's near and dear to my heart: Developer Experience. And I'm not just back with a single post; I'm kicking off a long-running series dedicated to exploring the multifaceted world of DevEx, and how it intersects with change management, software development, and operations.

It's the start of my day, and I've just brewed my first cup of coffee. Is it time to dig into deep work? Not yet. In an office, this would be when I'd wander to the break room, catch up with a colleague, and share a casual chat. So that's what I do, virtually. I scan the list of online colleagues on Slack and reach out to one I haven't connected with recently, "Coffee chat?"

Ever-boarding is about creating a culture of continuous learning and growth, where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. It's about recognizing that the world is constantly changing, and your company needs to adapt and evolve to stay ahead of the curve.

Is your team struggling to achieve ambitious goals? Are your efforts scattered and unfocused? It's time to introduce Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), a powerful framework that transforms how teams set and achieve goals.

Yesterday, the world held its breath as CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm, accidentally unleashed a software update that triggered a cascade of system failures across the globe. Flights were grounded, hospitals scrambled, and even 911 services were disrupted in some areas. The culprit? A seemingly routine update that contained a critical flaw.

Ever had a tech support call that left you in stitches? In the early days of dial-up internet, I fielded a call from a sweet southern lady whose "foot pedal" had stopped working. Turns out, she was using her computer mouse like a sewing machine pedal! 😂 This hilarious experience taught me some valuable lessons about user experience, the importance of humility in learning, and why we should never assume anything when it comes to technology.

The other night at IHOP, while pancakes steamed on the griddle, I watched my mother-in-law unlock her phone with a broad smile. Chuckling, I asked, "Having fun with FaceID?" Her laughter filled the booth, "I thought I had to smile for it to work!" We both dissolved into giggles, a reminder that technology often surprises us, sometimes in the most delightful ways.

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, modernizing operations is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. It's about more than just implementing shiny new technology – it's about empowering your people, fostering collaboration, and creating a thriving digital workplace. In this post, we'll delve into the timeless wisdom of Dale Carnegie, exploring how his principles of human connection and influence can be your secret weapon for navigating the complexities of digital transformation. Meet Sarah, an IT consultant who masterfully blends technical expertise with emotional intelligence, showcasing how Carnegie's teachings can revolutionize your approach to modernizing digital operations.

Let's be real, being a manager often feels like a never-ending circus act of juggling emails, meetings, and the occasional existential crisis. But legendary Intel CEO Andy Grove dropped some serious wisdom in his book, "High Output Management," and it's got me rethinking how we approach leadership.

Grove's big idea? Your success as a manager isn't about how much YOU do, it's about how much your TEAM does. That means your wins are directly tied to their wins, and your biggest impact comes from helping them shine. But with the daily grind of endless meetings, emails, and fire-fighting, how can we possibly make time for that kind of high-impact leadership? The answer lies in leverage and the smart use of technology.

The modern workplace is undergoing a seismic shift. We're moving away from the traditional 9-to-5, office-bound model toward a more flexible, human-centric approach. But how can we navigate this changing landscape while ensuring our teams thrive?

The wisdom of legendary Intel CEO Andy Grove, as outlined in his book "High Output Management," and the forward-thinking insights of Atlassian's Dom Price offer a powerful framework for building a sustainable future of work that goes beyond mere productivity.

The buzz of TEAM 24 wasn't just about new features or AI demos (though those were thrilling!). What truly stood out was the energy of connection – the Atlassian community, partners, and customers coming together in person after so long. It was a powerful reminder that even in a tech-driven world, change is ultimately a human endeavor. The most brilliant tools can't replace the relationships and collaboration that drive true transformation.

Atlassian's TEAM 24 conference was packed with exciting announcements, but one that has the potential to be a game-changer is the unveiling of Rovo. While still in its early stages, Rovo promises a unified search experience across the entire enterprise, powered by cutting-edge AI capabilities. This goes beyond simply finding that elusive document faster. Rovo has the potential to revolutionize how we address one of the biggest challenges of remote work: knowledge accessibility and breaking down information silos that can stall progress and hinder collaboration.

Change management often feels like herding cats: too many moving pieces, endless emails flying, and that constant question of "is this the latest version of the plan, or...?" The right tools can be the difference between chaos and a smooth transition. If your company already uses the Atlassian suite, you're unknowingly sitting on a change management powerhouse. Let's dive into how Confluence, Atlas, and Jira can work together to streamline those complex changes and help your teams thrive.

Imagine your team heads out on an epic camping trip. You've got the fancy gear, a killer destination, and even a shiny set of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to guide you. But here's the problem: Everyone packed in isolation, assuming they knew best what to bring. Now you're overloaded with three camp stoves, no matches, and somehow everyone forgot the bug spray. Welcome to strategic planning at way too many companies, folks!

Remember those old "Wild West" ads with tumbleweeds blowing by? That was my team at Good Technology a decade ago. We were the internal tools group – a bit stuck in our ways, more focused on maintaining our dusty software setup than embracing anything new. Boom. Enter me, a fresh-faced Scrum Master secretly tasked with shaking things up. Little did I know I was about to embark on an Atlassian adventure that would shape my career.

Let's get real: is your on-premise Atlassian server holding your team back? Sure, if you've got an IT department with endless resources and love managing hardware, maybe it works. But for most of us, clinging to on-prem Atlassian is like refusing to ditch that old Nokia brick phone.

Forget the robots taking over the world. There's a much sneakier revolution happening in business, and it's got everything to do with AI. This isn't the scary AI of the movies; this is the kind making everything smoother, faster, and yeah, even a little more personal.