Episode 3: Dev Team Assemble!

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#Tech #Mentorship #Ben Gohlke #Brian Gates #Software Development #Self-Improvement #Podcasting Education #Ben Gohlke And Brian Gates

39:30

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with David Brem, Managing Director of the University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund. David offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a student-led endowment fund focused on early-stage, sector-agnostic investments primarily in the Michigan ecosystem. He shares insights on their unique, founder-first investment approach, how they navigate pre-seed to Series A venture opportunities, and the rigorous due diligence process involving qualitative analysis over pure numbers. David also discusses his roles with global VC networks including Electro Ventures, the London Venture Capital Network, and Level Up Ventures, illustrating how he bridges U.S., European, and Australian venture ecosystems with a special focus on mobility and transportation tech. Highlights include deep dives into emerging trends like eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), smart city infrastructure, and safety innovations in aviation technology. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on how diverse expertise—from military intelligence and management consulting to academic ventures—shapes David’s investment thesis and community-building efforts. The episode also explores the importance of networking, adding value in the startup ecosystem, and practical advice for aspiring investors or entrepreneurs navigating the venture capital world. With stories of successes, challenges, and future outlooks, this episode is a must-listen for innovators, founders, and investors aiming to understand the intersection of academia, technology, and venture capital in today’s dynamic landscape. Learn more about David's work at https://zli.umich.edu/zell-lurie-commercialization-fund/ Connect with David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lowell-brem/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/ Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com…

7 years ago 52:57

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Ben and Brian discuss the pros and cons of working in groups as a junior developer. They continue by imagining the ideal characteristics of a group dynamic to foster juniors and build up their skills. Lastly, they give some advice on how to recognize and leave a bad dev team as well as some tips on how to build your online reputation.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:40 - Working in groups
05:26 - Reality TV of learning
11:27 - Ideal group characteristics for juniors
33:02 - Pros/cons of working in groups
39:20 - Rescuing yourself from a bad team
45:02 - Build an online reputation

36 episodes

Episode 3: Dev Team Assemble!

Model View Conversation

0-10 subscribers

published 7 years ago

MP3•Episode home

Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:40 - Working in groups
05:26 - Reality TV of learning
11:27 - Ideal group characteristics for juniors
33:02 - Pros/cons of working in groups
39:20 - Rescuing yourself from a bad team
45:02 - Build an online reputation

36 episodes

#Tech #Mentorship #Ben Gohlke #Brian Gates #Software Development #Self-Improvement #Podcasting Education #Ben Gohlke And Brian Gates

All episodes

1
36: Bama's On It! 59:44

5 years ago59:44

59:44

On the latest episode, Podcast Brian interviews his former student Testing Brian on his career, from starting out in the kitchens of Alabama to going back to school in his late 30's, to becoming a successful QA engineer. The guys chat about testing and its importance to the modern software ecosystem, and the challenges involved with learning how to break things in a structured manner. NOTE: This episode was recorded at the end of February. The live company event mentioned in this episode was cancelled and the hosts are WFH full time now. Fortunately the podcast was always remotely recorded, so no interruption to our schedule! Please stay safe and hopefully this podcast gives you something fun to listen to while you're staying inside. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:47 - Bama's backstory 00:06:11 - Back to school later in life 00:08:45 - Swamp coolers to dev jobs 00:16:38 - How to write your own job description 00:24:49 - What is QA? 00:30:31 - What is automated testing? 00:41:17 - Bama's latest challenge 00:52:18 - Don't be the deer? 00:58:26 - Outro…

1
35: The Old Man and the SQL 56:16

5 years ago56:16

56:16

Ben's dad Joe just had to make it a three-peat. He's back again with updates on what it's like to look for a new job at 60, how to deal with recruiters, how to promote yourself online, and most importantly, whether the advice we gave him was actually any good! Advice and experience is shared that's applicable for professionals at any point in their career. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:42 - Job search update 00:10:54 - 20th vs. 21st Century job searching 00:23:45 - Getting practice at finding a job 00:38:59 - Emotional journeys 00:41:32 - We actually give good advice? 00:55:08 - Outro…

1
34: Almost Software 1:07:44

5 years ago1:07:44

1:07:44

1
33: The NFL or the A-Team 36:58

5 years ago36:58

36:58

1
32: The iPhone is a Submarine 43:41

5 years ago43:41

43:41

1
31: A Textbook Case of Developer 52:10

5 years ago52:10

52:10

Ben and Brian sit down with Brandi Bailey, a lifelong learner and a current iOS student at Lambda School. Brandi recounts her earliest memories of exploring the world of programming all the way to her current struggles and triumphs of learning iOS programming as a second career. She has lots of great advice to impart to others who may be on the same journey or about to start down the path of learning to code. Big thanks to @blubrandi for coming on the show and sharing her story! Sorry for missing our previous episode date. Ben was under the weather, but we're back on track. Talk to you again you in two weeks! Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:31 - Brandi gets the programming bug 00:04:41 - Brandi's professional journey 00:10:58 - Developer training and the Ivory Tower 00:23:32 - Imposter Syndrome: for junior and senior devs alike 00:42:27 - Brandi paints her perfect picture of life post-Lambda School 00:51:29 - Outro Links Lambda School Apple IIc Try Guys play chess with a chess master: 4 on 1!…

1
30: A Festivus for the Restivus 45:30

6 years ago45:30

45:30

1
29: Don't Join the Nerd Wars 1:01:25

6 years ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Ben and Brian discuss the age-old and never ending debate on code structure and organization. They help disambiguate requirements from conventions and some stuff that's just one person's opinion. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00 - Intro 01:36 - Code syntax 04:17 - Code formatting 11:59 - Coding with your team, not against it 28:45 - Coding to conventions 41:01 - Personal preferences 59:38 - Outro Links Wikipedia article on indentation styles Airbnb JS style guide Ray Wenderlich's Swift style guide Google's Swift style guide…

1
28: You Can't Make a Second First Impression 58:07

6 years ago58:07

58:07

Ben and Brian discuss the happy news of Brian's new job and what might be the best practices for starting off a new job on the right foot. They chat about everything from making a good first impression, to relationship building with co-workers and leadership, to work in your personal life that can lead to more happiness at your job. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:45 - Making a good first impression 00:14:29 - Managing your manager 00:26:37 - Building relationships in-person 00:35:18 - Attributes of a quality co-worker 00:44:58 - Happy and fulfilled person, happy employee 00:56:36 - Outro…

1
27: The Old Man and the C 45:53

6 years ago45:53

45:53

Ben and Brian chat with their first returning guest of the podcast, Ben's dad Joe! He's back and he's got news (and a little wisdom) to share with everyone. Listen to find out what it's like to be on the job hunt at 60 years old and how the challenges faced in that scenario are in some ways remarkably similar to when you're just starting out in your career. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:17 - Joe's career news 00:06:03 - 21st century job search 00:17:16 - Marketing yourself 00:27:40 - Finding a new job in your sixties 00:44:55 - Outro Links Joe's resume - check out his 30+ years of experience!…

1
26: Jump in an Elevator and Talk to Yourself 1:06:03

6 years ago1:06:03

1:06:03

Ben and Brian dive into a discussion about how to sell yourself during the interview process. They talk about the importance of having a personal elevator pitch, how to change your approach with each kind of person you'll encounter in the interview, and how best to approach each step to ensure you've done your best to showcase your skills and abilities. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:35 - Adapt your story to different audiences 00:06:38 - The phone screen 00:42:25 - Selling yourself to individual contributors 00:53:54 - Talking to a (or the) manager 00:59:23 - Executive review? 01:04:41 - Outro Links Mila Kunis interview with inexperienced reporter…

1
25: Refill Your Social Battery 59:49

6 years ago59:49

59:49

The guys run through the advantages and usefulness of attending and potentially speaking at technical conferences. They provide advice on how to find the right conference and techniques for maximizing your experience while you're there. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:15 - Cost of attending conferences 05:32 - Conferences we've attended 14:01 - Which conferences to attend? 16:51 - Networking benefits at conferences 36:54 - Speaking at conferences 46:49 - What should you talk about? 57:40 - Outro Links Ancient City Ruby Conference in Jacksonville, FL RailsConf RWDevCon Conference The Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC)…

1
24: A Need to Nerd Basis 58:29

6 years ago58:29

58:29

The guys sit down with Lee Warrick, a junior front end web developer who recently attended a local bootcamp after years of being a firefighter and nurse. They talk about his transition from healthcare to programming, how the college experience differed from his development training, how he keeps his skills sharp on the job, and how you can run a bunch of extracurricular activities for developers, but maybe just attending some is at least as effective a use of your time. We really enjoyed having Lee on the show and hope that his story can inspire our listeners who might be on the fence about learning programming. Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Lee's developer story 09:31 - Biggest surprise of developer life 13:56 - Advice to your younger self 23:08 - How do you keep learning after school? 38:14 - Can your job actually be fun? 40:36 - How to keep from burning out? 46:44 - Choosing the right extracurriculars 56:53 - Outro Links Lee's website Lee on Twitter Tech Jr. Podcast Tech Jr. on Twitter You Don't Know JS - Kyle Simpson React Newsletter featuring Lee's article Stefan Mischook on YouTube Paul Hudson's cautionary comments about using too many learning systems at once Ray Wenderlich's tutorials Free Code Camp Tyler McGinnis Wes Bos Carol Dweck's research into the Growth Mindset Dr. Dweck's fantastic TED Talk about the Growth Mindset…

1
23: Refill Your Tank with Fun 56:28

6 years ago56:28

56:28

Ben and Brian discuss the importance of nurturing other interests besides coding, and how to maintain a healthy work/life balance. Whether you're just starting out, in the middle of an intense school program, or involved in a busy work schedule, it's important to give yourself opportunities to engage in life outside of code. Also, it's our 1 year anniversary! Thanks so much for listening, and we're super excited for the next year of the podcast! Follow us on Twitter @mvcpodcast . Chapters 0:00 - intro 0:48 - work/life balance and why it’s important 7:05 - exercise 14:00 - socializing with other humans 29:45 - mindless and mindful entertainment 47:03 - cultural experiences 51:30 - build a new and healthy habit 54:08 - outro…

1
22: Jack of All Trades, Master of One 1:02:29

6 years ago1:02:29