Oleksiy Shevchenko

In your own words, what’s your role in the app business right now?

The main one is connecting the dots. Talents need new opportunities, the app needs upgrades and features, so I’m somewhere in between doing whatever it takes to help them both grow.

My unofficial title: Chief Dot Connector. Some days I’m a visionary. Most days, I’m just trying to remember which dots I was connecting.
It’s less glamorous than it sounds, but never boring and always rewarding.

How did you end up working in apps?

My background is pretty analytical. I started in banking, then spent time at Deloitte doing consulting work. When I moved into tech, it was through the analytics door at a dating app. What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the product side (not just analyzing data, but using those insights to build features people actually cared about).

I moved from analytics to product leadership at Taimi, and eventually to running the whole app. The transition from consulting to apps felt natural because both are about solving problems, just in different ways.

What are you most excited about in apps right now?

The people and user behaviour. The gap between what different generations expect from apps is fascinating right now. AI is finally getting good enough to adapt to how people actually behave, not how we think they should behave. Watching apps learn and respond to individual patterns in real-time feels like we’re entering a new era.

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out to who has influenced your journey in the app industry?

First and foremost, the founders and early leadership who launched these apps. Without them, none of this would exist. They gave me the trust and opportunity to grow.

My product team deserves huge credit, because they’ve been with me through every high and low, keeping me grounded and pushing the work forward.

As for inspirational figures: Andrew Chen for his insights on network effects, and Marc Randolph (Netflix’s first CEO) for “The Nobody Knows Anything” principle.

What’s in your app tech stack?

Tableau, Metabase, Slack, Figma, Jira, Gemini, Gmail, Calendar, Confluence.

What do you like most about working in apps?

I love that apps let you turn ideas into action quickly, then see the results in real time. When a feature lands and users respond (when it actually wins their attention), you know immediately.

There’s no waiting months for impact. You built something, people care, and you can iterate from there.

What one thing would you change about the app industry?

The industry is still too focused on ‘scale at all costs’. There’s a massive opportunity to serve niche communities really well, rather than trying to be everything to everyone. Underserved groups (whether by identity, interest, or need) are often ignored because they’re not ‘big enough markets’. Apps that genuinely add value without manipulating behaviour will win long-term trust.

Also, the regulations. Way too many regulations, and there’s more and more, and it’s killing innovation.

If you weren’t working in apps what would you be doing?

If I haven’t taken care of fluid dating, I’d probably choose to take care of the farm or vineyard. Something still complicated & challenging with a good dose of analytics required.

I really need that analytical challenge in any direction of my life.

iOS or Android?

The one with the fruit logo.

What apps have been most useful to you over the last year?

Any TV show recommendations?

The Last Dance, Narcos, Landman, Yellowstone, 1883, Four Seasons, and White Lotus.

Is there anything else we should know about you?

I’m data-addicted.

Do you know someone driving change and growth in the app industry? Nominate an app leader here.