Ask Your Developer

How to Harness the Power of Software Developers and Win in the 21st Century

By: Jeff Lawson

Narrated by: Jeff Lawson

Jeff Lawson, developer turned CEO of Twilio (one of Bloomberg Businessweek's Top 50 Companies to Watch in 2021), creates a new playbook for unleashing the full potential of software developers in any organization, showing how to help management utilize this coveted and valuable workforce to enable growth, solve a wide range of business problems, and drive digital transformation.

From banking and retail to insurance and finance, every industry is turning digital, and every company needs the best software to win the hearts and minds of customers. The landscape has shifted from the classic build vs. buy question, to one of build vs. die. Companies have to get this right to survive. But how do they make this transition?

Software developers are sought after, highly paid, and desperately needed to compete in the modern, digital economy. Yet most companies treat them like digital factory workers without really understanding how to unleash their full potential. Lawson argues that developers are the creative workforce who can solve major business problems and create hit products for customers—not just grind through rote tasks. From Google and Amazon, to one-person online software companies—companies that bring software developers in as partners are winning. Lawson shows how leaders who build industry changing software products consistently do three things well. First, they understand why software developers matter more than ever. Second, they understand developers and know how to motivate them. And third, they invest in their developers' success.

As a software developer and public company CEO, Lawson uses his unique position to bridge the language and tools executives use with the unique culture of high performing, creative software developers. Ask Your Developer is a toolkit to help business leaders, product managers, technical leaders, software developers, and executives achieve their common goal—building great digital products and experiences.

How to compete in the digital economy? In short: Ask Your Developer.

Amazing read for every professional who has to interact with Tech professionals

Jeff builds a solid case for build software vs buy of the shelf.
Beautifully written, every word resonated with me.
Highly recommended for folks in Tech sector.

Fantastic book on how software should be done

Really enjoyed it and confirmed 90% of what I believed as well as learned a few new things!

SK

I enjoyed this book very much. I have been in technology sales leadership for more than 20 years and never made the connection between the C-suite executives and how that translates with the builders of digital transformation making that happen. Ask Your Developer is a must read (or listen).

I would give this book 10 Stars if I could.

my company currently has 50 developers across five different SAAS platforms and I've learned a ton from this book. Highly recommended

Informative

The book was fantastic, I would highly recommend any software engineers or managers read this.