In this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra interviews David Archer, the Director of Software Engineering at Imagine Learning, with over 12 years of experience in engineering and leadership, including a tenure at Amazon. The discussion centers on successfully integrating acquired teams, a critical issue following company mergers and acquisitions. David shares his approach to onboarding new team members, implementing a buddy system, and fostering a growth mindset and no-blame culture to mitigate high attrition rates. He further discusses the importance of having clear documentation, pairing sessions, and promoting collaboration across international teams. Additionally, David touches on his personal interests, emphasizing the impact of his time in Japan and his love for Formula 1 and rugby. The episode provides insights into the challenges and strategies for creating stable and cohesive engineering teams in a dynamic corporate landscape.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🚀 Journey from Amazon to Software Director at Imagine Learning🎮 Gamer, F1 enthusiast, and rugby fan🤝 Builder of trust and culture-first teamsb) Key Takeaways📌 The secret to preventing knowledge loss in acquired teams🛡️ How a no-blame culture transforms team dynamics📚 The unexpected power of buddy systems in tech integration🔧 Why aligning cultures is the key to seamless transitions💬 Leadership hacks for retaining top talent after acquisitions🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

In this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra is joined by Ben Matthews, Senior Director of Engineering at Stack Overflow, with over 20 years of experience in engineering and leadership. Ben shares his career journey from QA to engineering leadership, shedding light on the importance of creating organizations that function collaboratively rather than just executing tasks independently. He underscores the need for cross-functional teamwork and reducing friction points to build cohesive and successful teams. Ben also addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by the AI revolution, emphasizing Stack Overflow’s strategy to embrace and leverage AI innovations. Additionally, he offers valuable advice for onboarding junior developers, such as involving them in code reviews and emphasizing documentation. Throughout the discussion, Ben highlights essential leadership principles like advocating for oneself and one’s team, managing team dynamics, and setting clear expectations. He provides practical tips for engineering managers on creating value, addressing organizational weaknesses, and fostering a supportive environment for continuous growth and learning. The episode wraps up with Ben sharing his thoughts on maintaining a vision and connecting it with new technological developments.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid📈 Journey from QA to Senior Director at Stack Overflow🎿 Snowboarding enthusiast, calzone lover, and movie buff🤝 Advocates for collaboration, emphasizing that tech is a “team sport”b) Key Takeaways💡 Crafting cohesive teams by reducing friction🤖 Staying ahead by embracing AI at Stack Overflow📘 Effective onboarding & mentoring of junior developers🔑 Ben’s top 3 leadership principles for success📊 Unmissable advice for Engineering Managers🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra engages in a comprehensive discussion with Geoffrey Teale, the Principal Product Engineer at Upvest, who brings over 25 years of engineering and leadership experience.The episode begins with Geoffrey's role at Upvest, where he has transitioned from Head of DevEx to Principal Product Engineer, emphasizing a holistic approach to improving both developer experience and engineering standards across the organization. The discussion further delves into the significance of product thinking for internal teams, highlighting the challenges and strategies of building platforms that resonate with developers' needs while competing with external solutions.Furthermore, Geoffrey offers valuable insights into the decision-making processes, the importance of simplicity in early-phase startups, and the crucial role of documentation in fostering team cohesion and efficient communication.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid📈 Journey from Head of DevEx to Principal Engineer🏦 Inside Upvest’s API-powered financial infrastructure model🎶 Geoffrey’s passions: music, open-source, and eco-friendly techb) Key Takeaways💡 Crafting internal platforms that developers love🔒 Balancing security, speed, and strict regulations✍️ Importance of simplicity and clear documentation🧩 Adapting product thinking to complex engineering challenges🌍 Weighing platform options: Internal vs External🛠 Frameworks for better decision-making in engineering🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

Christopher Zotter, Head of Digital Engineering at Sky, Germany, brings a decade of experience in leading engineering teams. In this conversation, he shares his journey from apprentice to leader and emphasizes the importance of trust and transparency. Christopher discusses how embracing failures can enhance team growth and outlines strategies for effective remote leadership. He also highlights the value of hands-on experience and community involvement in leadership, advocating for a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration among diverse global teams.

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra engages with Vilas, an accomplished engineering leader with significant experience at companies like Walmart, Netflix, and Bill.com. They discuss the concept of Developer Experience (DevEx) and how it extends beyond simply providing tools. Vilas highlights the importance of enabling developers with frictionless processes and addresses the multidimensional challenges involved. The conversation delves into Vilas’s journey in DevEx, insights from designing platforms and enabling developer productivity, and the necessity of engaging with key opinion leaders for successful adoption. Vilas shares personal anecdotes and learning experiences, stressing the significance of treating developer enablement as a product and encouraging collaboration. The discussion concludes with advice for those stepping into DevEx roles, underlining the evolving significance of this field in the industry.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🎥 Vilas’s love for cinema & BTS stories🏃‍♂️ Unwinding through movementb) Key Takeaways🔑 The role of frictionless processes in improving DevEx🎯 Treating Developer Enablement as a product to drive real impact🤝 How to engage with key opinion leaders for successful platform adoption💬 Practical advice for those stepping into DevEx rolesLooking for top tech mentors like Vilas who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders.Accelerate your journey towards success🚀🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra is joined by Carlos Neves, the Head of Engineering at Vitality, as they explore the often challenging transition from an individual contributor (IC) to an Engineering Manager (EM).With over 15 years of experience in engineering and leadership, Carlos shares his journey from Portugal to the UK, his initial interest in computer science influenced by a cousin, and his passion for salsa dancing. The discussion delves into the importance of gaining horizontal exposure within an organization, understanding the nuances of management beyond technical skills, and building confidence to overcome imposter syndrome. Carlos emphasizes the significance of proactive communication, trusting the team through delegation, and seeking mentorship. He shares insights into making a conscious decision to transition into management, highlighting the need for self-assessment regarding technical passions and people management skills.The episode concludes with advice for those considering this career path and the introduction of groCTO Connect, a mentoring initiative aimed at helping technical leaders advance.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🇵🇹 Carlos’ path from Portugal to the UK💻 Balancing interests: Sports vs. Computer Science💃 Salsa dancing as a creative outletb) Key Takeaways🧠 How to gain horizontal exposure for a smoother transition into management💬 Tips for overcoming imposter syndrome through better communication🤝 How to effectively delegate by trusting and empowering your team🎯 Career reflection: Deciding between coding & people managementLooking for top tech mentors like Carlos who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders.Accelerate your journey towards success🚀🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

Welcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra talks with Jagannath Kintali, former Head of Engineering at Dojo and ex-startup co-founder, about building impactful engineering teams focused on customer delight.Jagannath shares his extensive experience of over 18+ years in engineering, discussing the importance of building what is needed rather than overshooting with extravagant systems. He emphasises creating high-performance teams through trust, purpose, and customer empathy. Jagannath highlights his journey, the learnings from his startup, and how he implemented these insights at Dojo, including stories about curtain ordering systems and observability projects. This episode provides valuable insights on leadership, team building, and aligning engineering efforts towards solving real customer problems.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨‍💻 Jagannath’s rise from Orissa to tech leadership in the UK✈️ Passion for engineering and a dream to fly📈 Startup lessons: product focus, team-building, and executionb) Key Takeaways👥 Building customer-driven, high-performing teams🛠️ How trust, purpose, and empathy drive engineering success⚖️ Startup insights: start small, iterate fast🔍 Implementing learnings at Dojo with real-world projects🚀 Aligning engineering teams to solve real customer problems👨‍💼 Practical advice for leaders balancing system design with customer needsLooking for top tech mentors like Jag who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders.Accelerate your journey towards success🚀🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

Welcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra sits down with Venkat Rangasamy, Director of Engineering at Oracle and an advisory member at HBR, to discuss how AI is reshaping the engineering landscape. Venkat shares his journey from a humble background to leading at Oracle, diving into his passion for mentorship and the revolutionary impact of AI on the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).In this episode, Venkat explores how AI is making product development faster, cheaper, and more efficient, while also addressing the challenges of using public versus local LLMs. He offers actionable advice for engineering leaders in startups, focusing on the evolving role of developers and how to navigate this transformative phase in tech.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨‍💻 Venkat’s humble background to leading at Oracle🤖 His passion for mentorship and generative AIb) Key Takeaways🤖 How AI is revolutionizing the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)⚖️ Challenges with public vs. local LLMs🔒 Security and IP concerns with AI💡 Making product development cheaper, faster, and more efficient with AI👨‍💼 Evolving role of developers in the AI-driven era🛠️ Actionable advice for engineering leaders navigating this shiftLooking for top tech mentors like Venkat who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders.Accelerate your journey towards success🚀🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

Welcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra interviews James Charlesworth, Director of Engineering, Sheffield Site Lead at Pendo, to discuss the common conflict between product and engineering teams. James brings over 15 years of experience in engineering and leadership to share strategies for fostering empathy, collaboration, and effective communication. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each team's priorities, the impact of misalignment, and how impactful one-on-one interactions can build trust within teams.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨‍💻 James’ background and early passion for tech🎸 Exploring creative non-tech hobbiesb) Professional Journey🎓 A pivotal moment: Choosing the wrong degree🧭 Navigating life and discovering your nichec) Key Takeaways💟 Bridging the ‘Product vs Engineering’ gap with empathy👔 The role and influence of Engineering Managers🤝 How frequent 1-on-1s build trust within teams🌱 Practical tips for introverts in techLooking for top tech mentors like James who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders.Accelerate your journey towards success🚀🎧 Full EpisodeThis episode is also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com

Vladislav Maličević, the CTO at Jedox, shares insights from his remarkable 20-year journey in tech, starting as one of the company’s first developers. He delves into the evolution of Jedox from an open-source planning tool to a cloud powerhouse, highlighting key strategic shifts. Vlado discusses the competitive landscape, featuring giants like IBM and SAP, and reveals the intricacies of the buy vs. build debate in tech. His reflections on balancing innovation with user adoption offer invaluable guidance for aspiring leaders.