From the shocking realities of technical debt in major companies to my first big win as both designer and implementer, this is my origin story as a "Technologist as a Service." I share key lessons for aspiring consultants, including the importance of listening, writing, and networking.

Thoughtfully Critical is a weekly podcast created by Chris Wahl. You can find out more about Chris by reading his newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wahl Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please subscribe and leave a review to help shape the conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:45 The Consulting Life

05:26 Learning to Design and Deliver

11:09 Key Lessons for Consultants

Links & Resources:

Technologists as a Service by Wahl Network

Every engineer should do a stint in consulting by Forrest Brazeal

Quote: "I don’t need to be the expert in all things; I just need to know who the experts are."

How do platform engineers become the "keymakers" of modern technology? In this episode, I break down the principles of platform engineering through the lens of product development—prototyping, scaling, and abstracting. You'll learn how to design platforms that empower teams to build, test, and deploy at scale while maintaining consistency and reliability across environments. From modular design to service contracts and pipelines, this episode dives into creating platforms that truly unlock success.

Thoughtfully Critical is a weekly podcast created by Chris Wahl. You can find out more about Chris by reading his newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠Wahl Network⁠⁠⁠. Please subscribe and leave a review to help shape the conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:16 Where to start

07:32 Scaling the platform

11:16 Abstracting the platform

Links & Resources:

How to Improve Documentation Practices in Engineering Teams on Wahl Network

⁠Platform Engineering⁠ topics on Wahl Network

The Matrix Reloaded IMDB Page

Quote: "Platforms are the right way to build if you want it done right."

Lessons in leadership, collaboration, resilience, and knowing when to pivot—drawn from the highs and lows of leading World of Warcraft guilds and raids—prove that even unexpected experiences can shape your career and life.

Thoughtfully Critical is a weekly podcast created by Chris Wahl. You can find out more about Chris by reading his newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠Wahl Network⁠⁠⁠. Please subscribe and leave a review to help shape the conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Raid leader

05:05 Guild leader

08:25 The pivot

Links & Resources:

World of Warcraft: Official Site

Dragon Kill Points (DKP)

Zanzer’s Z Hunter Mod: Archived Mod Information

Quote: "Don’t take your situation for granted. It can always get worse, and you rarely know you're in the good times until those good times are gone."

Understanding every layer of an organization—its processes, people, and challenges—unlocks the path to strategic leadership and impactful solutions, blending the power of Kaizen with practical insights for crafting technology strategies and building cohesive teams.

Thoughtfully Critical is a weekly podcast created by Chris Wahl. You can find out more about Chris by reading his newsletter at ⁠⁠Wahl Network⁠⁠. Please subscribe and leave a review to help shape the conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Nissan and kaizen

04:02 Returning to college

08:36 Learning the business

Links & Resources:

Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense Approach to a Continuous Improvement Strategy on Amazon

Office Space IMDB Page

Deep Work⁠⁠⁠ by Cal Newport on Amazon

Quote: “Surround yourself with good people and success will follow.”

Redefining goals, eliminating distractions, and embracing deep work pave the way for intentional growth, impactful leadership, and a career built on focus and meaningful progress.

Thoughtfully Critical is a weekly podcast created by Chris Wahl. You can find out more about Chris by reading his newsletter at ⁠⁠Wahl Network⁠⁠. Please subscribe and leave a review to help shape the conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:49 What is deep work?

06:50 Why pursue deep work?

10:59 Where to begin

Links and Resources:

An Intentional Focus on Deep Work

Deep Work⁠⁠ by Cal Newport on Amazon

Start With Why by Simon Sinek on Amazon

Quote: “If you want to win the war for attention…let that terrifying longing crowd out everything else.” – Cal Newport

This debut episode dives into the transformative journey of leading a multi-million dollar program—facing fear, building teams, and harnessing the power of mentorship and collaboration—while setting the stage for a podcast dedicated to exploring leadership, tools, and frameworks that drive meaningful change.

Thoughtfully Critical is a weekly podcast created by Chris Wahl. You can find out more about Chris by reading his newsletter at ⁠Wahl Network⁠. Please subscribe and leave a review to help shape the conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:45 Podcast goals

Links and Resources:

Timothy Cain on YouTube

Quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”