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Tony Jefts, GM & Head of Topcoder

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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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Tony Jefts, GM & Head of Topcoder