The Story of Software
Software is changing the world in many powerful ways. This podcast aims to understand the impact of software from an evolutionary perspective - what came before, what is now and what will be in the future. The Story of Software is a bi-weekly podcast looking at the people and technology that have transformed our world. It is hosted by Ricky Hill, Commercial Director at Zartis.
The Story of Software
S04E31 Managing Blended Teams
Philip Gill, CTO at Smartbox Group, speaks about his experience in leading globally distributed blended teams.
The Guest:
Philip Gill has over a decade of experience in cultivating high-performing multinational software teams. He is now the CTO at Smartbox Group, a European leader in experience gifting, offering curated travel, dining, and adventure packages across multiple countries.
Phil shares the evolution of his career from QA engineer to CTO, and the operational philosophies that have shaped Smartbox’s growth. He discusses the company’s blended team model, the importance of cultural fit, building trust across borders, and how rigorous processes have enabled major software rollouts under pressure. Phil also offers a grounded view on the current and future impact of AI in software development, highlighting both its promise and its hype.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Building and Leading Globally Distributed, Blended Teams
- Culture-First Hiring and Team Psychology
- Cycle Time and Quality Engineering Metrics
- Practical View on AI in Software Development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com