Nick Bialaszewski is an experienced IT leader with a passion for building high-performing teams. Currently, he serves as an operating partner at Orchid Black, a consultancy firm, and VP of Engineering at Restore for Retail, a retail tech software company.
Nick’s background as a software engineer and his expertise in lean methodologies inform his leadership approach, which emphasizes collaboration, quality, and team well-being.
In this episode of Dissecting Popular IT Nerds, Doug Camin sits down with Nick Bialaszewski, an Operating Partner at Orchid Black and VP of Engineering at Restore for Retail, to explore the nuances of leadership in the IT space. Nick shares his personal journey, highlighting early mistakes and pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of leading with empathy, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing team well-being over technical prowess alone. This episode offers valuable insights for IT executives and decision-makers seeking to build high-performing teams and navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology.
Anytime I feel like griping to somebody it’s probably just because I need to take care of myself a bit
Nick’s background and passion for lean methodologies [00:01:38]
Early leadership experiences and lessons learned [00:05:52]
Working at Carnegie Mellon and focusing on software quality [00:08:28]
Achieving 18 months of zero defects at Confluence [00:10:25]
Contrasting leadership styles and the importance of empathy [00:13:39]
Recognizing and addressing past leadership mistakes [00:14:41]
Current leadership approach and focus on team support [0:21:12]
Restore for Retail and its role in streamlining retail operations [00:24:40]
Leading multinational teams and overcoming challenges [00:27:42]
First experiences with technology and early influences [00:31:27]
Transition from aspiring neurosurgeon to computer scientist [00:33:48]
Importance of self-care and reflection for leaders [00:44:35]
Leadership Articles / Emerging Topics / Nagging Issues
A revolutionary podcast focused on solving IT challenges and growing the value of IT.
