FORTRAN's AI Playbook - Leadership Lessons from History

Explore time-tested leadership strategies for navigating technological revolution in this 27-minute conference talk that draws powerful parallels between the FORTRAN programming revolution of the 1950s and today's AI transformation. Learn from Dorothy Vaughan's pioneering leadership at NASA, who successfully transformed what could have been a team-destroying disruption into a catalyst for growth when FORTRAN threatened to automate human computation roles. Discover how Vaughan's approach to managing the transition from human to automated computation provides a remarkably relevant playbook for today's shift from human to AI-assisted programming. Master three key strategic areas: Anticipating Change by identifying truly transformative technologies, Managing Transition by addressing team fears about automation and resistance to change, and Reinforcing Success by maintaining quality standards while adopting radical new tools. Gain concrete tactics for team upskilling, managing technological disruption, and maintaining team cohesion during periods of significant change, all backed by historical success patterns and contemporary AI adoption examples. Examine practical verification approaches that remain relevant today and explore predictions about the future of AI-assisted software development based on lessons learned from the post-FORTRAN era.