It was the time of Da Vinci and Michelangelo. It was also the time of Machiavelli and the Medici. Artists working on timeless masterpieces crossed paths with mercenary captains, contracted to do a very specific job. In this keynote talk, John Smart will address important questions with deep implications for any IT team, or any organisation trying to make a difference, or simply to get the most value out of their IT projects. Who is your real customer? Is there a cost to quality? Are you building an artwork that will last, or simply fulfilling a contract? An inspiring and entertaining talk that will take attendees on journey from the Italian Renaissance to Silicon Valley and the City of London, and see what lessons can be learned about cultures, attitudes and work ethics today.

1. Artisti e Condottieri
@wakaleo
John Ferguson Smart
Author of ‘BDD in Action’
reachme@johnfergusonsmart.com
How can your team become artists of the
21st century Renaissance

2. 4.257 billion
internet users
The world is changing

3. 4003
confirmed
exoplanets

5. Florence, Italy
1472

6. A Florentine who is not a merchant, who has not travelled
through the world, seeing foreign nations and peoples, and
then returned to Florence with some wealth…enjoys no
esteem whatsoever.
- Gregorio Dati, early 15th Century.
“
A Centre of International Trade

7. A Centre of International Trade

8. In the name of God and of profit.
- Ledgers of merchant and banker Francesco Datini
“
A Hub of Finance

9. A Hub of Finance
He is king in all but name
- Pope Pius II
“
Cosimo de Medici

10. A Diversity of Skills
84 Master wood carvers
83 Master silk weavers
54 Workshops of marble and stone
44 Master goldsmiths
30 Master painters

11. A Centre of Learning

12. TOP
Most Famous Artworks
in History
10

13. TOP
Most Famous Artworks
in History
10

14. TOP
Most Famous Artworks
in History
10

15. TOP
Most Famous Artworks
in History
10

16. TOP
Most Famous Artworks
in History
10

17. CENSORED
Diversity
Learning
Collaboration

18. Diversity

19. The key to successfully building a team is to make sure
that it is equipped with a wide range of tools to tackle
tough problems
- Google re:work“
https://rework.withgoogle.com/blog/the-best-people-dont-mean-the-best-teams/

22. “…like our Leonardo da Vinci”
- Andrea Corsali, Italian Explorer

23. “…like our Leonardo da Vinci”
- Andrea Corsali, Italian Explorer

26. “Remember the Fire Mirrors”

27. Leonardo’s Todo List

28. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/why-diversity-matters
15% Gender-diverse companies are 15% more likely
to out-perform
35% Ethnically-diverse companies are 35% more likely
to out-perform
@wakaleo

29. 58% better performance
For ethnically diverse teams
https://www.pnas.org/content/111/52/18524@wakaleo

32. Diversity is multi-dimensional
WHAT
you do
WHERE
you come from
HOW
you live
WHO
you are
@wakaleo

33. How diverse is your team?
WHO
we are
WHERE
we come
from
HOW
we live
WHAT
we do
@wakaleo

34. Diversity can add tremendous potential value to groups,
but the challenge is creating the culture and environment
where teams can fully achieve that value.
- Google re:work“

35. It isn’t just who you hire - it’s how you interact with them
@wakaleo
Collaboration

38. Learning

40. "The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding."
- Leonardo da Vinci

41. Ist Degree Quality
Improve your product
2nd Degree Quality
Improve your process
3rd Degree Quality
Improve your learning
@wakaleo

42. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology
Ion Thruster Test Fire

44. Diversity
Learning
Collaboration

45. @wakaleo
John Ferguson Smart
Author of ‘BDD in Action’
reachme@johnfergusonsmart.com
Thank You
Artisti e Condottieri
How can your team become artists of the
21st century Renaissance