Modern CTO Our Best Advice on Communication and Hiring Strategies with Mark Porter, CTO at dbt Labs
Nov 27, 2025
Mark Porter, CTO at dbt Labs, shares invaluable insights on team management and communication. He emphasizes the importance of knowing your audience for effective messaging and discusses strategies for cascading information across an organization. Mark reveals how psychological safety is crucial for escalating concerns without fear and suggests role-playing to enhance communication skills. In hiring, he advocates for high standards and unconventional tactics, like soliciting negative references, to ensure a strong team fit.
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Tailor And Cascade Every Message
- Effective communication starts with knowing your audience and tailoring the same core message to different levels.
- Cascade messages with context so each team hears what matters to them and avoids confusion.
Make Escalation Intentional And Safe
- Avoid surprises by making escalation intentional and transparent; check that people tried to resolve issues first.
- Tell the other person you will escalate and invite one more conversation to reduce fear and build psychological safety.
Use Role-Play To Build Conversation Confidence
- Role-play difficult conversations repeatedly until you can deliver them calmly and clearly.
- Use role-play with a manager or peer to build confidence and change what you'd actually say in real talks.