Meet Charlie Isaacs, CTO for Customer Connection at Salesforce.
Charlie helped develop the Connected Car platform, connecting cars directly with Salesforce technology. He also led the creation of healthcare solutions during the pandemic, including systems for Remote Patient Care and Vaccine Management. He has been instrumental in promoting the Internet of Things within Salesforce for over eight years, securing more than 20 patents in the process.
In this episode, we explored how a remarkable 2-month hackathon, initiated by Marc Benioff, led to a groundbreaking connected-car product showcased at major events. The hackathon's success highlights the importance of focusing on proving business value rather than just building flashy demos, or in Charlie’s words, “spaghetti on the wall hackathons vs. valuable hackathons.”
We also discussed strategies for increasing software development velocity. Key tips include using existing platforms to avoid reinventing the wheel, leveraging AI code assistants to write better code faster, and securing strong executive sponsorship to rally support and resources.
Interestingly, the discussion revealed how taking good care of the development team during intense periods, such as providing meals and creating a supportive environment, can significantly boost productivity and morale. By combining the energy of hackathons, the capabilities of AI tools, a focus on business impact, and a commitment to developer wellbeing, software teams can dramatically increase velocity.
Links from Charlie:
The codebuilder: