3474: Mendix CTO on Closing the Gap Between University and Industry

There was a time when a computer science degree almost guaranteed a fast track into a well-paid career. But that promise is slipping. In today's Tech Talks Daily episode, I reconnect with Hans de Visser, Chief Technology Officer at Mendix, to discuss why recent graduates are finding it more challenging than ever to secure their first role in technology, and what they can do about it. Hans brings decades of experience in software engineering and low-code innovation, and his perspective on today's market is both sobering and optimistic. We discuss new research indicating a sharp decline in junior developer openings since 2024 and explore how the rapid rise of AI has altered the hiring equation.  The expectation now is that young developers arrive fluent in automation, generative AI, and multidisciplinary tools —skills that few university programs can thoroughly teach. Yet, as Hans points out, this doesn't mean opportunity has vanished. It just looks different. Our conversation unpacks what this new reality means for aspiring developers. Hans explains how Mendix evaluates candidates by testing their ability to think critically about AI-assisted code rather than generate it.  He explains why graduates must master both traditional software foundations and modern tools, such as low-code platforms and agile applications. And he offers advice on building a mindset of lifelong learning, staying curious, experimenting with new tools, and understanding how AI can amplify rather than replace human creativity. For anyone feeling disheartened by the tightening job market, Hans offers balance and hope. He believes that as the definition of software developer evolves, new hybrid roles will emerge at the intersection of business, creativity, and technology. The graduates who will thrive are those who treat AI as a collaborator, not a competitor. Listen to this episode to hear how Mendix is helping redefine what it means to build software in the age of AI, and why today's tech graduates may need to think less about securing a single job title and more about creating a career that never stops learning. Tech Talks Daily is Sponsored by NordLayer: Get the exclusive Black Friday offer: 28% off NordLayer yearly plans with the coupon code: techdaily-28. Valid until December 10th, 2025. Try it risk-free with a 14-day money-back guarantee.    

What does cybersecurity look like beyond Earth's atmosphere? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Kristiina Omri, Vice President of Special Programs at CybExer Technologies, and Aare Reintam, the company's COO. We met in Tallinn on the eve of the Software Defined Space Conference to explore how Estonia, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, is helping define the future of space cybersecurity through the world's first Space Cyber Range. The story begins unexpectedly—with a childhood memory of marmalade in a tube, the same kind sent to Soviet astronauts in orbit. For Aare Reintam, that small detail became the first spark of fascination with space, one that decades later evolved into CybExer's partnership with ESA. Together they've created a digital testing environment where satellites, ground stations, and communication protocols can be stress-tested for cyber resilience long before launch.  It's a bold move in an era when satellites underpin everything from GPS and precision farming to air travel and climate observation, yet often rely on decades-old technology vulnerable to attack. Kristiina Omri explains how the Space Cyber Range replicates real-world missions, allowing engineers and analysts to train under simulated attack conditions that feel indistinguishable from their actual control systems. The range combines the precision of digital twins with the competitive intensity of cyber exercises, preparing teams for threats that can ripple from orbit to everyday life on Earth. The conversation covers everything from the growing space-debris crisis to the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals, and the urgent need to blend space engineering with cyber education. We also discuss the deeper strategic implications. What happens when quantum computing enters the battlefield? How should Europe prepare for the convergence of cyber and kinetic threats in orbit? And what lessons can be learned from Estonia's leadership in NATO cyber defense as it extends that expertise to the stars? By the end of the discussion, one theme stands out clearly: the future of cybersecurity is no longer confined to our planet. From digital twins to orbital trust networks, CybExer Technologies and the European Space Agency are proving that the next frontier for cyber readiness lies in space itself.

In this episode, I sit down in Tallinn with Madis Võõras, Head of the Estonian Space Office at Enterprise Estonia, to unpack how Estonia is carving out a real role in the European space sector through brains, code, and smart partnerships. Madis explains how his team connects Estonian companies with the European Space Agency, brings public investment back into the local economy, and uses space projects as a launchpad for globally competitive products and services. He shares why Estonia's sweet spot is software, how the country's digital public infrastructure became a reference point for European programs, and why the next wave of value will come from data, cybersecurity, and rapid deployment rather than rockets alone. We also talk about what it takes to build a space economy in a market of 1.3 million people. Madis walks through lessons from early contracts, the rise of an Earth observation data hub, and a business incubator that has already helped dozens of founders move from idea to revenue. He is candid about the gaps too, including the need for more hardware depth and the reality that international cooperation is the fastest route to scale. From optical communications between Tallinn and Helsinki to the practical use of AI inside satellite programs, you will hear a pragmatic roadmap rather than hype. If you want a grounded look at how space policy meets startup grit, and why collaboration with the European Space Agency is a catalyst rather than a finish line, this conversation is for you. What should Estonia prioritize next to punch above its weight in the global space economy, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for software and AI in space services? Share your thoughts and join the discussion.

What role does cybersecurity play when the battlefield extends beyond Earth's atmosphere? In this special episode recorded live in Tallinn for the fifth anniversary of the Software Defined Space Conference, I sit down with Kalev Koidumäe, CEO of the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association, to explore how software and security are transforming the future of space and defense. Kalev shares how Estonia, a nation of just 1.3 million people, has built global credibility through innovation, collaboration, and cyber resilience. From the lessons of the 2007 state-level cyberattack to the country's integration of space technologies within NATO's defense framework, Estonia has developed a model that combines agility with strategic foresight. Our conversation spans everything from the evolution of Estonia's space sector to its growing ecosystem of AI-driven defense technologies, autonomous systems, and satellite solutions. Kalev also explains how lessons from the war in Ukraine are reshaping Europe's defense landscape and accelerating the need for resilient, software-defined systems. What makes this discussion particularly fascinating is the balance Estonia maintains between national sovereignty and international cooperation. Kalev explains how the country's reserve army model, cyber education initiatives, and public-private partnerships have created an ecosystem where innovation is both strategic and deeply rooted in civic responsibility. It's a blueprint for how smaller nations can play a meaningful role in global security through ingenuity and collaboration. As the world navigates an era of heightened geopolitical tension and rapid technological advancement, this discussion offers a glimpse into how small nations can make a big impact in securing both cyberspace and outer space. So what can larger nations learn from Estonia's approach to innovation, readiness, and cyber defense? And how might software continue to redefine the future of space security? Share your thoughts after listening.

Artificial intelligence has changed how we think about service, but few companies have bridged the gap between automation and genuine intelligence. In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Puneet Mehta, CEO of Netomi, to discuss how customer experience is evolving in an age where AI doesn't just respond but plans, acts, and optimizes in real time. Puneet has been building in AI long before the current hype cycle. Backed by early investors such as Greg Brockman of OpenAI and the founders of DeepMind, Netomi has become one of the leading platforms driving AI-powered customer experience for global enterprises. Their technology quietly powers interactions at airlines, insurers, and retailers that most of us use every day. What makes Netomi stand out is not its scale but the philosophy behind it. Rather than designing AI to replace humans, Netomi built an agent-centric model where AI and people work together. Puneet explains how their Autopilot and Co-Pilot modes allow human agents to stay in control while AI accelerates everything from response time to insight generation. It is an approach that sees humans teaching AI, AI assisting humans, and both learning from each other to create what he calls an agentic factory. We explore how Netomi's platform can deploy at Fortune 50 scale in record time without forcing companies to overhaul existing systems. Puneet reveals how pre-built integrations, AI recipes, and a no-code studio allow business teams to roll out solutions in weeks rather than months. The focus is on rapid time-to-value, trust, and safety through what he calls sanctioned AI, a framework that ensures governance, transparency, and compliance in every customer interaction. As our conversation unfolds, Puneet describes how this evolution is transforming the contact center from a cost center into a loyalty engine. By using AI to anticipate needs and resolve issues before customers reach out, companies are creating experiences that feel more personal, more proactive, and more human. This is a glimpse into the future of enterprise AI, where trust, speed, and empathy define the next generation of customer experience. Listen now to hear how Netomi is reimagining the role of AI in service and setting new standards for how businesses build relationships at scale.

What if the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn't the technology itself, but our ability to learn, adapt, and reskill? That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Sagar Goel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, who leads the firm's global work on digital workforce development and reskilling. Speaking from Singapore, Sagar brings a rare combination of data, strategy, and humanity to the discussion on how AI is reshaping the global workforce—and why the frontline is struggling to keep up. Drawing on BCG's latest "AI at Work" research, Sagar reveals a surprising trend: frontline AI usage has stalled at around 50 percent for the first time. He explains why many companies are still approaching AI as a tool rollout rather than a behavioral and cultural shift. According to him, employees often don't know where or how to use AI effectively, leadership support is lacking, and training programs are too shallow to spark genuine adoption. The result is a productivity paradox—AI potential without real impact. Sagar also unpacks another counterintuitive finding: leaders are more worried than their teams about losing their jobs to automation. He attributes this to leaders' heightened awareness of structural disruption and their own vulnerability in adapting mid-career. Meanwhile, countries across the Global South are outpacing the US in AI adoption, driven by youthful populations, economic necessity, and a hunger for differentiation in tight job markets. Throughout the discussion, Sagar draws a clear line between upskilling and reskilling—two terms often used interchangeably but representing distinct needs. Upskilling, he explains, should embed AI fluency into daily workflows from the CEO down, while reskilling must redeploy people into new, higher-value roles as automation accelerates. He cites IKEA's decision to retrain 8,000 call center staff into design consultants as a model example of turning disruption into opportunity. We close with a candid reflection on leadership responsibility in the age of AI. For Sagar, the message is simple but profound: if skills don't show up on your balance sheet, they won't show up in your business performance. As the half-life of skills shrinks to five years, he urges CEOs to integrate workforce readiness directly into strategy, or risk being outpaced by those who do. This episode is a grounded, data-driven look at what it truly takes to prepare people—not just machines—for an AI-driven world.

What if your cybersecurity strategy could become your biggest sales advantage? In this episode, I sit down with Taylor Hersom, Founder and CEO of Eden Data, to explore how startups can transform compliance from a box-ticking exercise into a true growth engine. Taylor's journey is remarkable: a former Deloitte executive who quit his job the week before the world shut down, launched Eden Data on Upwork with just $16, and went on to build one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity advisory firms, now recently acquired by Riveron. His story blends grit, reinvention, and a deep understanding of how trust has become the real currency of modern business. We talk about how to safeguard customer data in an AI-first world and why shadow AI has become the new shadow IT problem for many companies. Taylor explains why cybersecurity can no longer sit in the IT department alone, sharing examples of how marketing and customer experience leaders are now leveraging security as a differentiator to win contracts and customer loyalty. He also opens up about the human side of cyber risk, why most breaches stem from simple mistakes, and how gamifying awareness training can be more effective than annual compliance videos no one remembers. As AI rapidly reshapes the digital landscape, Taylor shares his perspective on what future global standards for AI security could look like and how leaders can bake compliance and security into their products from day one. His view is clear: the next generation of successful startups will treat cybersecurity as both a foundation and a brand promise. How ready are you to make trust part of your growth strategy? And how will your business adapt as cybersecurity becomes not just a requirement, but a competitive edge? Share your thoughts after listening.

What happens when early-stage founders realise their go-to-market strategy just isn't working? Do they double down on outdated advice or take a fresh look at how modern buyers actually engage?  In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Richard Lowry, founder of Springboard IQ, to unpack how he's helping startups rebuild broken GTM strategies in just seven days through a crowdsourced, operator-led model that challenges everything we think we know about growth. Richard explains how Springboard IQ brings together six active operators to co-create a go-to-market blueprint that's fast, focused, and grounded in the realities of today's market. This approach delivers practical strategy and design rather than execution, giving founders clarity on where to focus their time and energy. As Richard puts it, founders should save their passion for the demo because that's where it really matters. The conversation explores why technical founders often mis-hire sales talent, why relying on outdated accelerator advice can derail growth, and why many teams hit a "GTM wall" long before real scale begins. We also discuss why the future of GTM might look very different from the digital-first strategies of the past. As inboxes flood with automated outreach and AI-generated content, Richard believes human-led activation through curated events, community experiences, and even spontaneous moments of connection will define the next era of startup growth. It's a conversation that blends practical lessons, honest stories (including one involving a soup kitchen in Lisbon), and a call to bring the human element back to how we sell, connect, and grow. So, could a crowdsourcing strategy from active operators be the smarter way for startups to go to market? And in an era of AI-saturated noise, will the next big differentiator simply be showing up in person? I'd love to hear your thoughts after you listen.

What happens when a world-class badminton player trades the court for the courtroom and then the boardroom? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Tom Dunlop, CEO and co-founder of Summize, to explore how a former Great Britain athlete became one of the most forward-thinking leaders in legal technology. Tom shares how his journey from sport to law to entrepreneurship shaped his leadership philosophy and his belief in "high agency," the mindset of taking ownership, driving action, and leading from the front. We talk about how that outlook helped him transform the traditional image of legal work into something faster, smarter, and more collaborative through Summize's AI-powered Contract Lifecycle Management platform. Rather than forcing users to adopt new software, Summize integrates directly into tools people already use like Teams, Slack, Outlook, and Word, embedding contract management seamlessly into everyday workflows. We also explore Tom's reflections on brand building in a historically conservative industry, the mental shift from risk-averse lawyer to decisive founder, and why he believes legal leaders should embrace innovation as a way to strengthen their role at the boardroom table. His story is as much about personal reinvention as it is about technological disruption, revealing how determination, discipline, and curiosity can reshape even the most traditional professions. So, how do you balance precision with risk when you move from legal advisor to entrepreneur? And what lessons from sport, law, and leadership can help us all perform better in the fast-changing world of work? I'd love to hear your thoughts after listening.

What if the key to creating cleaner, faster, and more efficient cities isn't building new infrastructure, but rethinking how we move what we already have? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Richard Savoie, co-founder of Adiona, whose AI-powered logistics platform is transforming how goods travel through urban environments. Richard's background as a patent-holding engineer and mentor in the medical device field gives him a unique perspective on precision, quality, and human-centered design. At Adiona, he applies that same discipline to logistics, helping delivery networks run smarter, leaner, and more sustainably. His FlexOps platform uses AI to optimise routes, model EV fleet conversions, and create digital twins of operations so companies can reduce emissions and increase efficiency—without replacing the people who make it all work. In our conversation, Richard shares why he believes in a humanistic approach to AI that empowers drivers, dispatchers, and warehouse workers instead of automating them out of existence. We also explore how Adiona's scenario modelling helps global brands like Coca-Cola and Australia Post cut costs while meeting 2030 sustainability goals, and what the future might hold as AI and robotics begin to converge for last-meter delivery. So, could the next big sustainability breakthrough come from reimagining the routes that already exist? And how might AI reshape the logistics networks that keep our world moving? I'd love to hear your thoughts after listening.