Technology. Leadership. Culture.
I'm an international public speaker - focusing on topics such as engineering leadership, system design, and the JavaScript programming language. Through my work at Till, I'm most adept at the intersection of innovation and rental housing.
What People Are Saying
“Johnny Ray kept the room engaged and entertained while simultaneously communicating complex ideas that resonated with the audience. We look forward to having him speak at our events again.”
— Martha Burwell, Modev
“He brought a lot of great experiences to the classroom, which helped to distinguish the class from any book or online learning resource. He was great to work with.”
— Patrick DePuyt, General Assembly Course Producer
“I had really good experiences with two of them (Johnny and Mike). They were knowledgeable and patient and really made some of the struggles I was having manageable.”
— Anonymous Front-End Web Development Student
“He's an impactful and inspiring people manager…he brought out the best in me and our coworkers. Johnny makes doing good work in a complicated space feel easy.”
— Tarani Duncan, Product Development Leader (Uber | JUMP)
The Death of the Full Stack Developer
What does it even mean to be a full stack developer in 2019? Can one developer realistically have a solid understanding of all the components of a modern web stack? Let's zoom out and talk about just how far we've come, and how to set realistic expectations for developers.
Leadership Lessons from the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
What does engineering leadership have in common with an ancient, interdimensional war between the forces of good and evil? Tune in to hear me talk about why I think the hit 90s television show "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" is THE great underappreciated leadership roadmap of the last thirty years.
Podcasts & Such
I don’t like talking about myself, but sometimes, inquiring minds want to know.
Engineering Leadership Summit Podcast
Once again, teaming up with the Engineering Leadership Summit folks, I talked about Till being acquired by Best Egg. We touched on everything from choosing the right acquirer, to team transparency, cultural cohesion, and much more!
Crafted Podcast
On Crafted, host Dan Blumberg speaks with engineers, designers, and product people of all stripes to explore great products and the craft of software development. In this edition, we talk about Till’s mission and the challenges of building in the rental housing industry.
Hatch IT Interview
I talked to Tim Winkler about my experience coming into Till and taking over for a fractional CTO. We discussed the challenges and lessons learned, as well as what we did well. We also touched on hiring, inheriting an existing product, and interviewing.
Simple Leadership Podcast
Simple Leadership is designed for both new and experienced software & technology managers who want to build high-performing teams, better motivate & mentor their employees, reduce attrition and advance their career. It is for people who want to go beyond just being a manager and become a true leader.
Sound promising?
Your audience deserves something better than an individual reading their slides - they want stories to which they can relate. They don’t want someone to talk at them, they need someone to speak with them. I might be your guy.