Lizzie Lawley: The New Product Velocity – What Happens When Non-Developers Code

At BoS Europe 2026, Lizzie shares Memrise’s 2 year quest to address the question: How can AI help us and our customers make progress?

The JTBD approach meant raw AI capability was focused on using tools to build products people pay for. But it wasn’t clean. There was developer resistance, fear of replacement, plenty of junior school experimentation before anything clicked.

While AI tools can revolutionise/democratise software creation, many teams remain stuck in legacy product development habits – lengthy roadmaps, pixel-perfect releases, and developer bottlenecks. You’ll hear how the culture shifted from siloed, waterfall-style teams to one where everyone builds and developers evolve from gatekeepers to system supervisors.

In two years, the team has moved from an 18‑month feature freeze, to shipping multiple AI-driven products – some built entirely by non‑technical staff – generating meaningful revenue.

Key takeaways:

• How to change culture, teams and roles when anyone can ship with AI.
• Practical patterns for rapid, ‘good enough’ AI prototyping without blowing up quality.
• Tactics to bring developers with you, not replace them.
• A proven playbook for turning AI hype into products and revenue.

Lizzie Lawley

Head of Applied AI, Memrise
CEO Founder, Wombat

Lizzie is an AI entrepreneur and founder of Wombat, a pioneering startup transforming communication channels with cutting-edge AI solutions. She also leads an AI education initiative, empowering businesses to build real-world AI applications holistically. By combining practical demonstrations with strategic insight, she enables organisations to embrace emerging technologies and drive meaningful change.

Lizzie started her career in design and UX working both in-house and within agencies before arriving at the point where she started her own business. She’s had some notable career diversions including as an airline pilot transferring transplant organs around Europe. She now lives in a bit of Spain where English isn’t the first language and is a proud member of The Cloud Appreciation Society.

More from Lizzie.

Online workshops

New to AI in your business?

AI in Your Business: Where to Start

Set up your AI company OS. Two sessions, cohort of 12.

“I’ve been talking to it loads about positioning, sales framing, North Star metrics. I came up with a succinct statement that I really like.”

Marv Rance, InTouch

Register now Want to do it with just you? One-on-one option ›

Already set up your OS?

Building Your AI Company
Operating System

Not sure what to do next. Four weeks, cohort of 12, with Tim Barker and Mark Littlewood.

“I think about the business differently than I used to. I would never have come to that conclusion without this process.”

Stephen, cohort participant

Register now

← →

Conference

In-person BoS Conference 2026

Date TBA ⌄

📅 Date TBA 📍 In-person

Two days with software founders and leaders who have actually built profitable businesses. No panels, no keynotes designed to impress. Talks that earned their place because the idea was worth the room’s time.

Get notified