Embrace Complexity for Innovation

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Companies function as complex adaptive systems rather than structured military-like organizations. This understanding highlights why engineering-led companies often excel, as engineers possess insights into handling non-deterministic systems. Engineering's evolution to create determinism from non-determinism plays a crucial role in effective policy and process implementation. Companies thrive by adopting systems thinking, fostering creativity, and cultivating a culture aligned with mission-driven incentives, ultimately enhancing product development and operational pace.

Tobi Lütke is the CEO and co-founder of Shopify. 20 years ago, he was just a German coder who emigrated to Canada to launch some ecommerce platform with another German. Now he’s the world-renowned thought and tech leader who has revolutionized online shopping for billions. He’s also the creator of many open-source libraries like Liquid, Active Merchant, and the Typo weblog engine.

Tyler and Tobi hop from Germany to Canada to America to discuss a range of topics like how outsiders make good coders, learning in meetings by saying wrong things, having one-on-ones with your kids, the positives of venting, German craftsmanship vs. American agility, why German schooling made him miserable, why there aren’t more German tech giants, untranslatable words, the dividing line of between Northern and Southern Germany, why other countries shouldn’t compare themselves to the US, Canada’s lack of exports and brands, ice skating to work in Ottawa, how VR and AI will change retailing, why he expects to be “terribly embarrassed” when looking back at companies in the 2020s, why The Lean Startup is bad for retailers, how fantasy novels teach business principles, what he's learning next, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded July 23rd, 2024.

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