Michi Kono, CTO at Garner Health and former engineering leader at Meta, sheds light on the critical management systems that empower high-performing engineering teams. He discusses why organizations often slow down during hypergrowth, emphasizing accountability over mere code delivery. Michi shares tactics for designing effective org charts that enhance autonomy and foster a culture of learning from mistakes without blame. He also highlights when managers should step back from coding and the vital role of communication as teams scale.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Lead Role Sparked Management Path
Michi landed a lead engineer role early despite doubts and that role launched his management career.
He advises engineers to not self-reject and to interview for opportunities even if they seem out of reach.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Commitment At Capital One
At Capital One Michi committed to learn the corporate environment and stayed five years instead of quitting early.
That commitment helped him develop skills that later proved valuable in larger organizations.
insights INSIGHT
Roles Change Fast During Hypergrowth
As companies hypergrow, roles and required skills change rapidly and repeatedly.
Managers must constantly reinvent themselves or risk becoming irrelevant.
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Why do engineering teams slow down as they scale? It’s not the technology—it’s the management systems.
In this episode, Michi Kono, CTO at Garner Health and former engineering leader at Meta, Capital One, and Stripe, shares his battle-tested approach to building scalable engineering organizations. We explore why most teams slow down as they scale and how to build systems that accelerate growth. Our conversation covers everything from designing effective org charts to creating accountability without killing psychological safety. You’ll learn practical strategies for nurturing engineering culture while maintaining high-performance standards.
Key topics discussed:
The challenges of hypergrowth and the need to constantly reinvent yourself
How to avoid slowdowns by holding teams accountable for outcomes, not just shipping code
The art of designing org charts that maximize team autonomy
Building a culture of accountability and learning from mistakes without blame
When managers should stop writing code (and why this decision matters)
The difference between being a people manager and an executive
Why communication becomes the most critical skill at senior levels
Timestamps:
(00:00) Trailer & Intro
(02:10) Career Turning Points
(03:55) Skills Advice for Engineers
(06:46) The Challenges of a Hypergrowth Company
(09:09) Learning and Growing in a Hypergrowth Company
(12:07) The Slowdown in Engineering as You Scale
(15:55) Designing Organization Structure Well
(18:11) Effective Organization Chart Tips
(21:05) Nurturing a Good Engineering Culture
(25:37) Nurturing Psychological Safety
(28:14) Learning from Mistakes & Performance Review
(30:27) Being a Mission-Driven Company
(32:11) Aligning Mission and Values in the Day-to-Day Work
(34:45) The Importance of Management System in Organization
(41:53) The Importance of Having Good Managers
(45:30) For Strong ICs: Writing Code or Being a Manager?
(50:55) The Difference Between a Manager Role and Executive Role
(56:01) A Unique Thing Learned from Doing Payment Systems
(58:43) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom
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Michi Kono’s Bio Michi Kono is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Garner Health, a company on a mission to help people get better healthcare. With a unique and extensive career spanning multiple industries, Michi has navigated the entire spectrum of the tech world. He began his journey in startups, one of which was acquired, leading him to a role at Capital One. From there, he gained invaluable experience at tech giants like Meta and financial-tech leader Stripe before taking the helm at Garner Health. Michi is passionate about the art and science of scaling engineering teams, building resilient cultures, and designing effective management systems to drive success in high-growth environments. He believes deeply in empowering engineers, fostering accountability, and the critical importance of clear communication for any leader.
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