Dear Paulo Rosado,
Today it was announced that you are stepping down from your position as CEO of OutSystems and that Woodson Martin from Salesforce will be taking your place. You probably don't remember me. We only met a couple of times in the last decade during which time I went from a green developer fresh off a sentence at a startup, just discovering OutSystems for the first time, to now, a seasoned platform veteran.
In that time I have seen 3 major releases of OutSystems and, now, its ongoing sunset in favor of a completely new paradigm. I've seen OutSystems overtake the low-code market with the driving force of innovation at its heels. Perhaps your transition is not for me to speak on, but this moment has me thinking about how things are, were, and, perhaps most importantly, how I want them to be.
Good luck, Paulo! Thank you for your contributions to the software industry so far. I wish you the best in all your future endeavors.
Dear Woodson Martin:
Congratulations on the new gig, and welcome to the world of OutSystems! I have to imagine you have a strong vision for the future of low-code, otherwise you wouldn't have accepted the job. I am looking forward to seeing what you do in the coming weeks and months in service of that vision.
I am looking toward the future. Your tenure will be characterized by your own values and policies as well as those you choose to carry forward from Paulo's time as CEO. If I had my way this letter would reach you and you would take the following suggestions, born of my own experiences, to heart:
The Customer is Always First
No, the customer is not always right - and neither am I. However, I consider myself a sort of fiduciary that will always treat the customer with respect and keep their best interest at heart. My relationship with my customers and the users of the apps I build for them is supposed to be one of mutual collaboration in service of making the world a better place to live in. I hope you are motivated by a similar creed, as we can together promote not just an industry but a community of positivity and innovation.
Together in Partnership
I neither speak for my own employer nor any of the other 500 partner organizations worldwide, it should be said. Who would disagree, though, when I say that I hope we can continue to build the thriving development partner ecosystem that Paulo and his team spent two decades cultivating? Let's continue this journey together and build more and better solutions for an ever increasing backlog of problems.
Human at Heart
It's a wild world we're living in. Technology which resembles stuff I saw on Star Trek: TNG as a kid is becoming a reality, day by day. As you work to make your vision of agentic AI a reality, I urge you not to forget the very real humans at the center of every partner and customer organization. Many years ago I heard Paulo say about low-code that the idea is not to displace development jobs, but to enhance the lives and productivity of those who rely on the technology for their livelihood. As long as we're reimagining the world, I hope we have enough imagination to picture a better place for all.
If there's any chance whatsoever that you actually read this, thank you for your consideration. Reach out to me any time if you want to chat. I have plenty of opinions and experiences to share.
Finally, truly, I wish you the best of luck.
