From COBOL to AI with Allen Cooper

From COBOL to AI with Allen Cooper

Author: PM Power Consulting May 9, 2025 Duration: 47:49

Shiv is in conversation with Allen Cooper, President and CEO of Ancilla Ventures. Their focus

is in providing tools to healthcare support staff to improve patient outcomes.


In this conversation, Allen talks about:

  • Allen’s Origin Story: Transitioning from accounting to computer science, and entering the consulting world at Anderson Consulting (now Accenture).
  • Consulting to Startups: The transition from corporate consulting to entrepreneurship.
  • Building Ancilla: How Allen became a partner and eventually the sole proprietor.
  • Choosing Healthcare Tech: The path to focusing on healthcare IT solutions.
  • Finding Industry Problems: How products like WriteList and VR-90 were born.
  • User Adoption Challenges: Strategies for getting hospital staff to engage with software solutions.
  • Managing Development Team Motivation: Keeping engineers engaged despite stable enterprise tech.
  • Scrum & Agile Benefits: How these methodologies helped balance planned work and incoming client requests.
  • AI & Coding: How AI might change development roles, but won't replace programmers entirely.
  • Advice for IT Careers: Guidance for both new entrants and mid-career professionals wondering about their next steps.
  • Personal Productivity & Balance: Allen’s tips for staying organized, healthy, and grounded while running a company.

Allen Cooper is the Co-Founder and CEO of ReadyList, Inc., a mobile-friendly software that transforms how hospital ancillary and support service teams operate. Allen co-founded ReadyList with a deep passion for helping the behind-the-scenes workers who keep hospitals running smoothly. ReadyList’s software modules guide them through best-practice cleaning and room prep protocols, resulting in cleaner, safer facilities for both patients and staff. Allen believes the right kind of software can save hospital systems money, time, and even lives. 


https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-cooper-4a07598


Behind every line of code, there's a person with a story. Software People Stories, from PM Power Consulting, moves beyond abstract theory and polished case studies to explore the real, human experience of building technology. This isn't about hypotheticals; it's a collection of candid conversations with the practitioners themselves-developers, designers, product managers, and architects-who share firsthand accounts from the trenches. They talk about the paths that led to success and, just as importantly, the unexpected detours and failures that provided the most valuable lessons. Each episode delves into the nuanced journey of discovering what users need, designing elegant systems, navigating complex development, and ultimately delivering solutions that matter. By focusing on these personal narratives, the podcast reveals the core of software creation: a blend of technical skill, creative problem-solving, and team dynamics. Listeners gain practical wisdom and relatable perspectives on the challenges and triumphs inherent in the tech industry. Tune in for an honest look at the craft, where the stories of people are just as crucial as the software they build. You'll find this podcast a refreshing source of insight for anyone involved in or curious about the technology and business landscapes, offering career lessons learned the hard way.
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