Demystify Podcast: Demystifying legacy modernisation with Irene Sandler, CMO of Mechanical Orchard
In this episode of the Demystify Podcast, hosts Dave and Dharm welcome Irene Sandler, Chief Marketing Officer of Mechanical Orchard, a company focused on building solutions for legacy modernisation.
Legacy modernisation is a challenge that has long plagued organisations, particularly those with complex systems such as banks and retailers.
Irene brings a unique perspective shaped by her extensive experience at industry leaders like Cisco and Cognizant.
This episode delves into the risks and hesitations surrounding legacy modernisation, why failure rates remain so high, and how organisational culture becomes embedded within technology. Irene explains how Mechanical Orchard’s approach avoids ‘ripping and replacing’ by instead replicating system behaviour in modern code, minimising disruption while creating opportunities for future flexibility.
The discussion also covers how AI is changing the landscape, enabling faster analysis of interdependencies within legacy systems and providing a way to de-risk projects. Irene shares fascinating insights, including how small but deliberate changes can boost confidence in modernisation efforts and real-world examples of success—like transforming a global retailer’s monolithic system while maintaining user familiarity and delight.
If you’ve ever wondered how organisations can adapt to a world of unknown unknowns while maintaining stability, this is the conversation for you.
Thanks to Orama for editing this podcast. You can find out more about Orama and the services they offer here.
Take a look at the full catalogue of episodes on the Dave & Dharm Demystify Podcast homepage.
