Tony Jefts, GM & Head of Topcoder
Tony Jefts, GM and Head of Topcoder, joins us to break down what over two decades of crowdsourced software development can teach us about the future of work.
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Leaders,
Tony Jefts, GM and Head of Topcoder, joins us to break down what over two decades of crowdsourced software development can teach us about the future of work.
He shares how Topcoder evolved from a coding competition into an enterprise-ready platform within Wipro, and why the crowd remains essential for solving complex, outlier problems that AI alone can’t handle.
We unpack how AI and the crowd can complement each other, what makes crowdsourcing work at scale, and why flexibility, skill loyalty, and clear outcomes matter more than ever.
Tony also reflects on lessons from the dot-com era, emphasizing that customer problems, not technology, should drive decision-making, and how leaders can get started with crowdsourcing today without needing to “read a book first.”
If you’re navigating how to build better and faster with fewer constraints, this episode is a masterclass in what works.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Topcoder and Its Evolution
06:47 The Impact of AI on Software Development
11:47 Understanding the Crowd and Its Role
20:02 Navigating the Future of Work with Crowdsourcing
30:50 Getting Started with Crowdsourcing
Follow Up Material & Links
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