Farhan Thawar from Shopify

Farhan Thawar from Shopify

Author: Evan McCann May 6, 2025 Duration: 50:19

Farhan Thawar is a VP and Head of Engineering at Shopify.


Takeaways

- Why Xtreme Labs Was So Special

- Why Xtreme Labs Did Almost Zero Interviews

- The Role of AI in Engineering

- Pair Programming and Collaboration

- Story Behind Shopify Being One of The First Companies to Use GitHub Co-Pilot

- Why Shopify Uses GitHub Co-Pilot and Cursor

- Why Shopify Doesn't Use Jira or Linear

- AI and Toil Reduction in Software Engineering

- The Evolution of Prompting in Engineering

- Why Tobi Has The Best Prompts

- Vibe Coding

- Shopify's Delete Code Club - Deleting 5M Lines of Code

- Maintaining a Hacky Culture in a Large Organization

- The Meaning of Elegance in Engineering


Chapters

00:00 The Genesis of Extreme Labs

02:59 Building a Unique Company Culture

06:10 Hiring and Retaining Talent

08:53 Innovative Perks and Employee Engagement

11:53 The Role of AI in Engineering

14:50 Pair Programming and Collaboration

18:04 Navigating Tools and Technologies

21:00 The Future of Engineering with AI

26:57 AI and Toil Reduction in Software Engineering

29:48 The Evolution of Prompting in Engineering

34:23 Shopify's Delete Code Club: A Culture of Efficiency

38:08 Maintaining a Hacky Culture in a Large Organization

46:39 The Meaning of Elegance in Engineering

48:34 Finding Energy in Hard Times


Keywords

Xtreme Labs, company culture, hiring, employee engagement, AI in engineering, pair programming, innovative perks, technology tools, Shopify, talent retention, AI, software engineering, toil reduction, prompting, Delete Code Club, hack culture, elegance, entrepreneurship, Shopify


Evan McCann sits down with the people shaping Canada's business landscape, moving past the polished success stories to get into the real work that happens behind the scenes. The Hard Part with Evan McCann is built on conversations with founders, investors, and leaders who have navigated unique challenges, focusing on the pivotal decisions and often overlooked struggles that define a venture. This podcast explores the specific strategies and personal playbooks that have driven impact, offering a rare look at the operational truths of building something significant. While the spotlight frequently falls on innovators elsewhere, these episodes are dedicated to the Canadian visionaries whose work is redefining global entrepreneurship from here at home. You'll hear candid reflections on risk, resilience, and the moments that tested their conviction, providing not just inspiration but tangible insight into the mechanics of leadership and growth. Each discussion aims to unpack the nuance of achievement, making it an essential listen for anyone curious about the substance behind the headlines in the Canadian business world.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

The Hard Part with Evan McCann
Podcast Episodes
Richard Waines from DCVC Bio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:48
Richard Waines is an Investor at DCVC Bio.DCVC Bio invests in early-stage, deep-tech life science companies that are leveraging computational approaches, including AI and automation, to transform existing technologies an…
Brent Pretty from Retellio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:11
Brent Pretty is the Co-Founder and CEO of Retellio.Retellio is an AI briefing tool for leaders who can't listen to every call. It takes all your company's customer calls, finds the moments that matter, and turns them int…
Laura Mock from Cultivator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:46
Laura Mock is the Director of Cultivator.Launched in 2019, Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator) was built to create an innovation hub that provided the programming, resources, mentorship, funding, and space for fou…
Braden Ream from Voiceflow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:38
Braden Ream is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voiceflow.Voiceflow is the collaborative platform to build custom AI Agents. It is the fastest way to build powerful chat and voice agents for customer support and beyond.Takeaway…
Renée Touzin from GIRO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Renée Touzin is the President and CEO of GIRO.GIRO Inc. is a leading maker of optimization software for the public transport and postal industries. Launched in 1979 as an offshoot from a university project in operations…
Josh Domingues from Flashfood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:28
Josh Domingues is the Founder & Executive Chairman of Flashfood.Flashfood is on a mission to feed families, not landfills. Their app connects shoppers with fresh produce, meat and other groceries at up to 50% off. By par…
Michael Buhr from C100 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:30
Michael Buhr is the Executive Director of the C100.Michael is a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley and is the Executive Director of C100, a 350+ member association of Canadia…
Meti Basiri from ApplyBoard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:33
Meti Basiri is the Co-Founder and CEO of ApplyBoard.ApplyBoard's mission is to empower students worldwide to unlock opportunities for the best education. With their innovative platform and expert team, they simplify the…

«1...678910