Critical Shifts in Thinking for the Systems Age

Watch a thought-provoking keynote address exploring how traditional mechanistic and reductionist approaches to software development must evolve to meet modern challenges. Learn from Diana Montalion, author and Principal Systems Architect, as she examines the dramatic nonlinear changes in digital information systems over recent decades and presents essential mindset shifts needed for the systems age. Drawing from 20 years of experience engineering software systems for organizations like Stanford, The Gates Foundation, and The Economist, discover how systems thinking can transform approaches to designing complex information architectures. Gain insights into why adopting new technologies alone isn't enough - the fundamental structure of thinking about software development must change to thrive in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. Delivered at the prestigious Emerging Tech East conference, this 59-minute talk challenges conventional wisdom and offers fresh perspectives on navigating the staggering relational complexity of modern software systems.