Meet Dan Faulkner, CEO of SmartBear, the quiet giant powering software quality for millions of developers worldwide. In this inaugural episode of The Ecosystem Experience, we dive deep into how SmartBear has built its empire around API lifecycle management, application testing, and observability whilst navigating the complex world of ecosystems.

Dan shares candid insights about SmartBear's recent strategic collaboration with AWS, revealing what it really takes to cut through the noise of thousands of partners vying for attention from hyperscale cloud providers. We explore the delicate balance between nurturing massive open source communities (with hundreds of thousands of weekly downloads) and building sustainable commercial products.

From coaching product managers to think beyond end-user features to the art of ecosystem thinking, Dan unpacks the leadership challenges of scaling a developer-first company into enterprise markets. We discuss the emergence of AI agents, the shift to answer engine optimisation, and how communities are becoming the new battleground for customer discovery.

Whether you're a product leader trying to build ecosystem DNA into your team, a startup exploring cloud partnerships, or simply curious about the connective tissue that keeps modern software running, this conversation offers rare insight into the strategies and philosophies driving one of the industry's most influential yet understated companies.

Plus, Dan reveals his one indispensable tool and shares why transparency beats clever positioning every time when building lasting ecosystem relationships.