New data from DataStax has found that consumer patience for retail is wearing thin, especially during the holiday season where no one has time to waste. Key findings include: Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) international adults are willing to spend extra to reduce their wait times for services.  Those who are willing to pay more will shell out, on average, 21% extra to reduce their wait In the United States, millennials (age 18-34) who are willing to pay more, on average, will pay 40% over the regular price Online service issue complaints likely need to be responded to while the issue is still top of mind, as nearly half (48%) of international adults will only wait 30 minutes or less Only 3% of international adults are willing to wait more than 30 minutes for service at a brick-and-mortar retail store German adults are least likely to wait 30 minutes (1%), followed by French adults (2%), UK adults (3) and US adults (7%) I invited Eric Brown, VP of Corporate Marketing and Communications at DataStax onto my daily tech podcast to explore the findings of the report and learn more about where personalization matters most. About DataStax DataStax delivers the always-on, Active Everywhere distributed hybrid cloud database built on Apache Cassandra. The foundation for personalized, real-time applications at massive scale, DataStax Enterprise makes it easy for enterprises to exploit hybrid and multi-cloud environments via a seamless data layer that eliminates the issues that typically come with deploying applications across multiple on-premises data centers and/or multiple public clouds. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLAmsoBd3Ew

I chat with Søren Meyer, CEO at ZeroNorth, the maritime technology company leading the green transition of global trade. As the world faces an existentially challenging environment, Søren discusses the critical role that data and digital technologies play in ensuring sensible decision-making within the shipping industry. Learn how data can provide stability in times of radical transformation, as it remains impartial and immune to the volatility of the global economy. Søren highlights the importance of leveraging data for transparent and measurable decision-making, particularly when human decision-making falls short. Join us as we explore how data-driven insights can identify and eliminate inefficiencies in the shipping sector, leading to more profitable operations and genuine progress on decarbonization. Don't miss this enlightening conversation on the future of global trade and the green transformation of the shipping industry! ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNGdC9jNiZE

San Francisco-based EdTech company, Quizlet is the largest user-generated online learning platform in the U.S. Every month, over 20 million active learners from 130 countries practice and master more than 200 million study sets of content on every conceivable subject and topic. Their mission is simple: To help people practice and master whatever they are learning. Quizlet provides engaging, customizable activities with contributions from people everywhere. Many of Quizlet’s most popular features have stemmed from hackathons – including Quizlet Live (a collaborative learning game), Quizlet Flashcard Themes and the scan feature, which makes it easy to create flashcard sets from printed worksheets – the company closes down the last two weeks of December so its employees can work on personal projects from home. A sort of informal hackathon! I chat to Quizlet CEO Matt Glotzbach about why hackathons have become a Silicon Valley staple, and how employees from all departments at Quizlet (not just tech!) have contributed to products that have been released to users. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14iV2dUnKKM

Today, I am joined by Adam Wolf, the Head of Software Infrastructure at Bloomberg—a company renowned for delivering data, news, and analytics through groundbreaking technology. With more than 17 years at Bloomberg and a strong academic background from Yale, Adam is a veritable treasure trove of insights when it comes to software engineering and innovation. Bloomberg may be a titan in providing professional services that connect decision-makers, but did you know that its true "superpower" lies in its engagement with the open-source community? In a thought-provoking dialogue, Adam uncovers how Bloomberg leverages open-source technology to catalyze true technological innovation, compelling why this open approach has more benefits than meets the eye. We dive into Bloomberg’s transformative journey in the adoption of open source, examining the company's cultural metamorphosis. Was it a natural evolution or did it necessitate a seismic shift? How critical is it for businesses to contribute back to the community from which they draw so much? Adam touches upon Bloomberg’s efforts in language standardization and what these contributions mean not just for Bloomberg but for the tech ecosystem at large. The conversation then turns to the symbiotic relationship between open-source communities and large enterprises. We dissect the nuances of democratic funding models like Bloomberg’s FOSS Contributor Fund. They reflect on how these funding avenues are not just a give-back mechanism but also an investment in sustainable innovation. Adam highlights the array of benefits and challenges that engineers face while working on open source projects. The exchange delves into how open source can be a fertile training ground for budding engineers, offering avenues for them to sharpen their skills and broaden their horizons. But what does this mean for Bloomberg’s talent pool? Adam shares unique perspectives on Bloomberg's "visiting engineer" pilot program, aiming to infuse fresh ideas and perspectives within its technical teams. Towards the end, we explore why Bloomberg's commitment to open-source innovation has made it more popular in these circles than even the FAANG companies. What does this mean for Bloomberg’s positioning in the tech landscape? And importantly, what does it indicate about the evolving ethos in tech development? This episode is not just for the tech-savvy but also for business leaders, policy-makers, and even the casually curious. Tune in to delve into the future of open-source technology and its transformative impact on innovation in the global tech industry. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld7x4J-BX_U