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MichaelCarducci
Software Architect & Magician
Michael Carducci spent years learning to see things as they actually are; first as a magician, then as a software architect, now as both simultaneously. And somehow that’s not even the whole story.
He’s the author of Mastering Software Architecture (Apress, 2025) and is currently writing The Semantic Layer (Packt, 2026). He has spent over 25 years following interesting problems; through roles from individual contributor to CTO and back again, across industries and continents.
As a speaker, he applies the same toolkit he uses in close-up magic: attention, misdirection, timing, storytelling, and the instinct to take the long way around when that’s where the truth lives. Audiences at hundreds of conferences across four continents have described his talks as the kind that change how you think about a problem rather than just what you know about it.
He also makes YouTube videos about technology and curiosity with his wife Kate, because some ideas are too important (or too interesting!) to leave only in conference rooms.
Sessions at TechLeader Summit ’18
Security & Deception: Lessons From a Professional Liar
"Forewarned is forearmed" -Old Proverb If it seems like humans are easy to deceive, it's because we are. The myriad traits that make humankind so eminently exploitable are practically baked into our DNA. Too often these same traits make it into the software we build. This session takes an entertaining look at why humans are so easy to fool and goes on to explore what we can do to overcome our weaknesses and build more secure software.
Effective Leadership - The Six Principles of Persuasion
Whether you want to effect culture change in your organization, lead the transition toward a new technology, or simply get more out of your team; you must first understand that having a “good idea” is simply the beginning. An idea must be communicated; a case must be made. Communicating that case well is as important, if not more so, than the strength of the idea itself.
All you need to know about big data
Big Data is exploding into our industry and the implications go far beyond business intelligence. Much of our existing body of knowledge needs to be updated, however as Big Data solutions present a number of unique challenges. Big Data can be a competitive advantage or a major liability.
Beyond Startup: What we can learn from the lean startup
The lean startup is changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. In this session we dive into the concepts and ideas as well as strategies to incorporate into your own organization.
Two and a half days with the people writing the playbook.
Insightful sessions, inspiring ideas, and meeting your peers — the skills and methods that take your organization to the next level.