In this episode of Software Without Borders, hosts Thomas Hilliard and Olivier Pollard sit down with Ben Coffman, SVP of Engineering and Product, to break down how AI is being implemented inside modern software organizations. From computer vision and 3D modeling workflows to large-scale data infrastructure, Ben shares real-world insights on scaling engineering teams, improving system performance, and building AI-driven platforms. This conversation dives into software development, engineering leadership, artificial intelligence, and the strategies teams are using to turn emerging technology into real business results.

Guest Introduction:

Ben Coffman is the SVP of Engineering and Product at STACK Construction Technologies, where he leads high-performing teams at the intersection of software development, product strategy, and business execution. With a background spanning engineering leadership, AI-driven platforms, and large-scale data systems, Ben brings a practical, real-world perspective on how modern software organizations are built and scaled. Known for combining technical depth with strategic thinking, he focuses on improving workflows, accelerating performance, and helping teams turn complex systems into measurable business outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• How AI is actually being deployed inside real software systems, not just discussed in theory
• What it takes to scale engineering teams from early-stage builds to complex, high-performance platforms
• How computer vision, 3D modeling, and data infrastructure are shaping the future of software development
• The mindset leaders need to successfully implement AI and adapt to constant technological change
• Why improving system speed and performance is critical when building AI-driven platforms
• How modern engineering teams are turning emerging technology into measurable business results
• What separates teams that successfully build AI systems from those that get stuck in experimentation
• How early curiosity in technology can shape a career in engineering leadership and innovation

Chapter Markers:

00:00 – Introduction to the Show

00:45 – Ben’s Background and Leadership Experience

01:10 – How Did Your Career in Technology Begin?

03:00 – What Shaped Your Professional Journey?

05:00 – What Drew You to Software and Engineering?

07:00 – Early Inspiration: Thinking About the Future of Technology

09:00 – Transitioning from Interest to Real-World Systems

11:30 – What Does It Take to Build Real Software Systems?

14:00 – How Is AI Actually Implemented in Production?

17:00 – Where AI Fits in Modern Software Architecture

20:00 – Challenges of Integrating AI into Existing Systems

23:00 – How Do You Scale Engineering Teams Effectively?

26:00 – Improving Speed, Performance, and Output

29:00 – Leadership Lessons from Scaling Complex Systems

32:00 – How Do You Drive Real Business Results with Technology?

35:00 – The Mindset Required to Lead Through Change

38:00 – What Teams Get Wrong About AI and Innovation

41:00 – Looking Ahead: The Future of AI and Software

43:30 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Keywords:

AI, artificial intelligence, software development, software engineering, engineering leadership, AI in production, machine learning, data infrastructure, scalable systems, system architecture, computer vision, 3D modeling, tech leadership, engineering teams, building AI systems

AI is accelerating software development at a pace most organizations aren’t ready for. In this episode of Software Without Borders, Duncan Grazier, Chief AI Officer at Build, breaks down what happens when code creation becomes nearly free—and why that doesn’t translate to better outcomes. From broken pipelines to misaligned metrics, this conversation explores how AI is forcing leaders to rethink how teams operate, how performance is measured, and what actually drives value.

Duncan shares why judgment and “taste” are becoming the most important skills in engineering, where AI is delivering real impact today, and how companies can avoid the trap of moving faster without moving smarter.

Guest Introduction:

Today’s guest is Duncan Grazier, Chief AI Officer at BuildOps, where he’s helping lead the shift from traditional software companies to AI-native organizations. Duncan has spent his career scaling engineering teams and building high-performance systems, including taking an organization from roughly 30 engineers to over 300 through hypergrowth and IPO.

Beyond his leadership roles, Duncan is known for his deep thinking around engineering, AI, and how companies actually operate under rapid change. He’s focused on how AI is reshaping not just how software gets built, but how teams are structured, how performance is measured, and how businesses create real leverage in this next era of technology.

Key Takeaways:

• AI has made code creation fast and cheap, but it has exposed bottlenecks in validation, alignment, and decision-making across teams.
• More output does not guarantee better outcomes; organizations must shift from measuring activity to measuring real business impact.
• The gap between junior and senior engineers is shrinking, which puts greater emphasis on judgment, context, and decision quality.
• The biggest breakdowns are not technical—they come from misaligned metrics and lack of coordination between leadership, product, and engineering.
• Companies that win with AI will focus on integrating it into systems that drive core business results, not just using it to increase speed or volume.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 – Intro & Guest Introduction

02:30 – Why AI Is Breaking Traditional Software Models

05:00 – The First Bottleneck: From Code to Production

08:30 – Why More Output Doesn’t Mean Better Results

10:00 – Rethinking Teams, Roles, and Headcount

11:30 – Where AI Is Actually Delivering Value

13:30 – The Gap Between Prototype and Production

15:00 – Where Companies Are Getting AI Wrong

18:30 – The Real Challenge: Organizational Alignment

21:30 – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

Keywords:

AI, artificial intelligence, software development, engineering leadership, AI tools, machine learning, software engineering, product development, tech leadership, startups, scaling teams, automation, developer productivity, SaaS, digital transformation

In this episode of Software Without Borders, Andy and Tomás sit down with Justin Bankston, CTO of South by Southwest (SXSW), to explore the remarkable evolution of one of the world’s most influential cultural and technology events. Justin shares his journey from playing in rock bands and reviewing demo CDs to leading the software, IT, and innovation groups that power SXSW’s massive annual footprint. We dig into the behind-the-scenes engineering challenges, the explosive impact of Twitter’s 2007 debut at SXSW, and the technical coordination required to support tens of thousands of attendees across multiple venues. Justin reflects on leadership, scaling teams, and what it takes to deliver a flawless experience when failure becomes instantly public. If you’ve ever wondered how innovation, culture, and infrastructure collide at global scale, this episode pulls the curtain back.

Guest Introduction:

Justin Bankston is the Chief Technology Officer at South by Southwest, where he has spent nearly 20 years shaping the technical backbone of one of the world’s premier events in music, film, and technology. From his early days as a full-stack developer to leading SXSW’s software, IT, and innovation teams, Justin has guided the organization through explosive growth, digital transformation, and cultural shifts — all while ensuring the attendee experience remains seamless and world-class.

Key Takeaways:

• SXSW’s uniqueness creates massive technical complexity. Three industries, three conferences, one seamless attendee experience.
• Justin’s journey was entirely organic. From musician → volunteer reviewer → contractor → leader → CTO.
• Twitter’s 2007 debut changed SXSW forever. Attendance spiked, expectations shifted, and technical resilience became paramount.
• Custom software was born from necessity. When SXSW started, no event platform could handle its hybrid creative/tech experience.
• Invisible infrastructure is intentional. If the Wi-Fi isn’t perfect, attendees notice — and complain loudly.
• Remote and global teams helped SXSW scale sustainably. Nearshore partners expanded engineering capacity without sacrificing collaboration.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 — Andy welcomes listeners to Software Without Borders

01:12 — Guest introduction: Justin Bankston, CTO of SXSW

03:18 — Justin’s backstory: bands, demo CDs, and first touchpoints with SXSW

04:16 — Contracting beginnings and early software challenges

07:58 — The unique blend of artist, audience, corporate, and technical needs

08:35 — How SXSW grew organically — and fast

10:32 — Leadership lessons from early career mentors

11:32 — The uniqueness of SXSW vs. other global festivals

13:13 — Stakeholder alignment and balancing competing priorities

14:57 — Inside SXSW’s custom software ecosystem

15:49 — The complexity of event IT & multi-venue Wi-Fi at scale

17:57 — The stakes of real-time attendee experience

18:58 — PanelPicker: the origin story

22:16 — Twitter’s SXSW launch and the ripple effects

24:14 — Strengthening infrastructure amid explosive growth

26:34 — Beginning remote/global engineering partnerships

29:26 — Process, communication, and the reality of global development

31:00 — How remote teams support SXSW’s “lights-on” needs

Keywords:

Software Without Borders, SXSW, Justin Bankston, Andy Hilliard, Tomás Hilliard, Accelerance, event technology, global engineering teams, festival tech infrastructure, Twitter SXSW launch, custom software development, nearshore engineering, CTO insights, large-scale event operations.