Software engineers often operate in their own world, heads down writing code, while executives are focused on business metrics and market opportunities.

But what happens when these two groups don't effectively communicate?

You end up with misaligned priorities, unused features, and frustrated teams.

I recently had a conversation with Chris Borchers, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Basys Processing, about how his company is solving this challenge through Demo Days.

Chris, who previously led digital transformation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, has implemented an innovative approach that's transforming how engineers and executives collaborate.

The Birth of Demo Day

The problem Chris initially observed is common in many organizations.

Agile teams work in isolation, with individual engineers tackling separate features. There's limited accountability, and sprints often drag on without clear deliverables.

"We didn't have good refinements, we didn't have good planning, we didn't have good goals within sprints," Chris shared with me. "Setting all those things in place for the team and really putting them on a path to be focused and energized towards a common goal is where it all started."

The solution? Demo Day - a regular ceremony where engineering teams showcase their work to the entire organization, including the CEO.

From Small Beginnings to Company-Wide Impact

What began as a small team meeting has evolved into a major company event at Basys.

"We started out with literally 10 people in a room, went to 15, and then one day, Brad, our CEO, joined the meeting," Chris explained.

The CEO's reaction? "That was the best meeting I've ever been in."

Now their Demo Days regularly draw 50-75 people, including partners and stakeholders from across the organization. It's become a celebration of achievement and a powerful tool for alignment.

Quality Through Visibility

One of the most significant benefits of Demo Day is how it naturally drives higher quality.

When engineers know they'll be demonstrating their work to the CEO and other executives, it creates healthy pressure to deliver their best work.

"Our president, our COO, our CEO, our EVP and partner relationships, they're all in there and they know the industry better than anybody," Chris noted. This visibility ensures that features aren't just technically sound but align with business needs and compliance requirements.

Breaking Down Communication Barriers

Demo Day creates a safe space for feedback and discussion.

It helps solve one of the biggest challenges in software development - getting meaningful feedback from stakeholders.

Instead of crickets in Slack channels, teams get real-time input from decision-makers who can shape the direction of the product.

Maximizing Value from Development Efforts

As someone who has built and sold technology companies, I've seen firsthand how important it is to get maximum value from development efforts.

Demo Day helps achieve this by:

• Educating internal teams about new features

• Creating excitement around product developments

• Ensuring sales and customer-facing teams understand new capabilities

• Providing a platform for gathering immediate feedback

• Celebrating engineering achievements

"Every engineer's worst nightmare is building something that's never going to be used," Chris pointed out. Demo Day helps prevent this by ensuring new features are visible and understood across the organization.

The Role of Leadership

As both CTO and Chief Product Officer, Chris brings a unique perspective to Demo Day.

His dual role helps bridge the gap between technical excellence and business value.

"We're enabling the business with features and functionality along with making sure that we're secure," he explained.

Creating a Culture of Celebration

Demo Day isn't just about showing off code - it's about celebrating achievements and fostering a culture of pride in craftsmanship.

It transforms the often-invisible work of software development into tangible progress that the entire organization can appreciate.

At its core, Demo Day solves a fundamental challenge in technology organizations - making technical work visible and valuable to the business.

It creates accountability, drives quality, and ensures that engineering efforts align with business goals.

The time you invest in Demo Day pays dividends through better alignment, higher quality, and more engaged teams.

Whether you're a startup or an enterprise, implementing this practice could be the key to bridging the gap between your technical teams and executive leadership.

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