groCTO Podcast

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

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra engages in an insightful conversation with Christopher Zotter, the Head of Digital Engineering at Sky, Germany. Christopher brings a wealth of experience, including a decade of leading engineering teams and founding a software development agency.Known for his unique leadership philosophy, Christopher believes in the power of building trust, embracing failures, and fostering a transparent culture. He shares his journey from an apprentice in Germany to a leadership role, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and continuous learning. The discussion delves into the challenges and strategies of managing culturally diverse remote teams, effective communication, and transitioning from legacy systems to cutting-edge technologies. Christopher also highlights the significance of being a role model and integrating community involvement into one's career. This episode offers a deep dive into the principles and practices that can guide leaders in nurturing successful global development teams.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid📈 Christopher’s journey from apprentice to a global leader💼 Balancing leadership with running a side businessb) Key Takeaways🔑 How to build trust and foster a transparent team culture?📣 Embracing failure as a tool for growth and encouraging open dialogue🌐 Navigating the complexities of remote leadership to drive effective team collaboration👥 Integrating community involvement as a leader to stay connected and groundedLooking for top tech mentors like Christopher 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 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

Welcome to another episode of exploring tech leadership! Today, your host Kovid Batra welcomes Vladislav Maličević, CTO at Jedox.Vlado shares his 20-year journey from being one of the first developers at Jedox to becoming the CTO of the company. He discusses his personal background, the growth and transformation of Jedox, and the company's strategic decisions, including the shift from open-source to a full-fledged cloud platform.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid✨ Vladislav’s introduction🇩🇪 Personal life & shift to Germanyb) Professional Journey👨🏻‍💻 Vlado’s journey from developer to CTO at Jedox🚀 Competing with existing competitors like IBM & SAPc) Key Takeaways📈 Jedox's evolution: How they created space in the market👩‍💻 The role of open source in Jedox's growth✅ Transition to cloud and key decisions🎯 Building vs. Outsourcing: How to make the right choice?Looking for top tech mentors like Vladislav 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

Welcome to another episode of exploring tech leadership! Today, your host Kovid Batra welcomes Leonid Bugaev, Head of Engineering at Tyk.With 20 years in IT, mostly with startups, Leo brings a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship and leadership. He’ll share his insights on navigating economic downturns, building strong engineering teams, and keeping motivation high in tough times. Leo’s focus on transparent communication and strategic priorities offers valuable guidance for thriving in any economic climate.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻‍💻 Leonid’s introduction✨ Personal life & hobbiesb) Professional Journey🚀 Starting a business at 17 & working with startups💰 Side hustles & monetizationc) Key Takeaways📈 Understanding the patterns of economic downturns👩‍💻 How to build business context for Engineering teams✅ Avoiding chaos & maintaining motivation🎯 Leo’s strategic priorities during a recession💬 Building trust with transparent communicationLooking for top tech mentors like Leonid 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

Welcome to today's podcast episode, where we dive deep into the minds shaping the future of tech leadership! Today, your host Kovid Batra sits down with Sergio Visinoni, who is many things - a visionary Fractional CTO, Tech Advisor, and Mentor at groCTO Community. He’s also the brilliant mind behind the newsletter 'Sudo Make Me a CTO'.Sergio made a bold leap from the traditional VP of Engineering role to the world of solopreneurship, and he hasn’t looked back since. In this episode, he’ll unravel how he’s reimagined Maslow’s hierarchy for tech and business teams, offering insights that could transform the way you lead and innovate.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻‍💻 Sergio’s introduction✨ Personal life & hobbies b) Professional Journey🙋‍♂️ From Software Engineer to Solopreneur🚀 Building the newsletter ‘Sudo Make Me a CTO’c) Key Takeaways📈 How Maslow’s hierarchy for tech teams was created🔺 Levels & benefits of Maslow’s pyramid👩‍💻 How Maslow’s hierarchy serves tech & business needs✅ Addressing implementation challenges📝 Power of data-driven decision-makingYou can now book a complimentary 1:1 mentorship session with Sergio. Contact us to schedule.🎧 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

In this episode, Kovid Batra hosts Peter Peret Lupo, Head of Software Engineering at Sibli. With over a decade of experience in engineering and management, Peter also shares his most effective management strategies on his blog.Peter begins by emphasizing the vital role that engineering metrics play in shaping organizational culture. He delves into topics such as code collaboration, the relationship between metrics and technical debt, and the challenges and timelines involved in implementation and adoption.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🙋‍♂️ Peter’s introduction🎮 Hobbies & current interests🇨🇦 Moving to Canada from Brazilc) Key Takeaways👩‍💻 How engineering metrics influence org culture🤔 Are DORA metrics enough?✅ Code collaboration as a key metric!💰 Metrics to address technical debt🎯 Effective timeframe & process of metrics implementation🔔 Upcoming DORA Webinar Want to learn some practical tips on implementing DORA & engineering metrics? Join Nathen Harvey, DORA lead at Google Cloud and Ido Shveki, VP RnD at Beehero for an learning-filled live webinar to answer all your DORA-Hows & Whats. 🎧 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

The Dora Lab - Ep. 03In this episode, Kovid Batra welcomes Ben Parisot, Software Engineering Manager at Planet Argon, with over 10 years of experience in engineering and engineering management.Ben delves into engineering metrics, specifically DORA & the SPACE framework, highlighting their impact on customer satisfaction & DevEx, discusses implementation challenges, and shares strategies to overcome them, along with other insights!💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🙋‍♂️ Ben’s introduction🎨 Hobbies & current interestsb) Professional Journey🛠️ What does Planet Argon do?💼 Ben’s responsibilities at Planet Argonc) Key Takeaways👩‍💻 Understanding code quality, collaboration & roadmap contribution✅ How to effectively gauge team satisfaction & developer experience🎯 Which areas of engineering efficiency should you focus on?💪 Tackling common metrics implementation challengesLooking for top tech mentors like Ben 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

Welcome to today's episode of the podcast! Your host, Kovid Batra, sits down with Leigh Rathbone, Head of Quality Engineering at CAVU, with past contributions to various reputable organisations like Sony Ericsson & The Very Group.Leigh has been at the forefront of tech innovation, from developing the first touchscreen smartphone and smartwatch to working with AR, VR, and AI tech. In this episode, he shares his insights on the evolution of software testing and automation. Tune in to hear his thoughts on balancing human effort and AI in the tech world.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻‍💻 Leigh’s introduction✨ Life-defining moment in Leigh’s careerb) Professional Journey📱 Building the first touchscreen smartphone & smartwatch at Sony Ericsson🚀 The beginning of automation with WinRunnerc) Key Takeaways📈 The evolution of software testing & growing trends🤖 How to effectively utilize AI in testing✅ Continuous upskilling & team collaboration techniques🎮 Hands-on testing approach to AR, VR & 3D gaming🙋‍♀️ The unique value of humans in testingLooking for top tech mentors like Leigh 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

In this episode, host Kovid Batra is joined by Paul Lewis, a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years of experience. Paul has held prominent roles, including CTO at Hitachi Vantara, and currently serves as CTO at Pythian.In addition to his professional roles, Paul actively contributes to academia as a board member of the Schulich School of Business. In today’s episode, Paul shares his insights on building tech teams from scratch, offering valuable perspectives from his vast experience in the technology sector.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻‍💻 Paul’s introduction🌈 Witnessing a spectrum of technologyb) Professional Journey💼 Switching from IT to OT at Hitachi Vantara🚀 Innovation & future tech at Pythianc) Key Takeaways💟 Establishing a collaborative team culture✅ Hiring & talent acquisition strategy💬 Processes & communication in growing teams🤖 Aligning tech innovation with business requirementsLooking for top tech mentors like Paul 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

In this episode, host Kovid Batra is joined by Jacob Singh, CTO in Residence at Alpha Wave Global. Jacob's impressive career spans over two decades, during which he has held pivotal CTO and Director roles at renowned startups and organizations such as Blinkit, Sequoia Capital, and Acquia. Being a coder & a manager, Jacob understands the challenges faced by both developers & tech leaders and so, we’re super excited to bring to you his extensive knowledge of improving developer experience through this podcast.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻‍💻 Jacob’s background & upbringing🇮🇳 Moving to India & career breakb) Professional Journey💼 Working in the US & later in India at Grofers (now ‘Blinkit’)🚀 Defining ‘Developer Experience’ & why it’s trendingc) Key Takeaways💻 What separates the tech cultures in India & the West?💟 Creating good DevEx for Gen Z & younger generations✅ Advice for leaders in misaligned organizations📈 How Grofers improved their developer experience🤖 Jacob on PRs, code reviews & utilizing AI tools for developmentLooking for top tech mentors like Jacob 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

In this episode, host Kovid Batra welcomes Roman Kuba, VP of Engineering at a tech-based startup Tset. Roman brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at renowned organizations including GitLab, Cloudbees, and CodeSandbox.Roman explores the intricate dynamics of scaling a startup with a people-first approach, balancing effort & value delivery and overcoming challenges along the way by learning from one’s mistakes.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🏆 Roman’s life-defining moments🇦🇹 Moving from Australia to Austriab) Professional Journey💼 Roman’s role & responsibilities at Tset🚀 The importance of a people-first approachc) Key Takeaways💪 Aligning & keeping young developers motivated🔍 Navigating the Zero-to-One journey⚖️ Balancing effort & value delivery at startups👨‍🏫 Advice for developers & aspiring engineering leaders🎧 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

In today’s episode, host Kovid Batra is joined by Glenn Santos, VP of Engineering at PDAX. Glenn is also dedicated to empowering developers to become leaders with his initiative eHeads, a community for engineering leaders to exchange experiences and insights. His vast experience includes valuable contributions to renowned companies such as Salarium, TraXion Tech Inc., and HCX Technology Partners.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🏆 Glenn’s life-defining moment🍝 Being a foodie & an avid car loverb) Professional Journey🚀 Discovering TechCrunch & outsourcing💼 Glenn’s role & responsibilities at PDAXc) Key Takeaways🤝 Aligning tech & business goals & keeping developers motivated⚖️ Managing velocity while fulfilling compliances📝 Implementing DORA metrics & SonarQube✅ Building trust in the initial days as a leaderWelcome to groCTO! Every week we publish a curated selection of articles, and podcasts to accelerate the growth of passionate engineering leaders 🚀 By subscribing, you empower us to deliver to you insights most valued by fellow CTOs and industry experts.🎧 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 👋You can find us here too!LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | X (Twitter) 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 today’s episode, Kovid Batra is joined by two dynamic engineering leaders: Miroslaw Stanek and Francis Lacoste.Miroslaw, the Director of Engineering and PL Engineering Site Lead for the Poland R&D division at Papaya Global, also authors the much-loved newsletter ‘Practical Engineering Management’.Francis, an expert at fostering high-performing, collaborative cultures, is a VPE and CTO Coach specializing in helping startups scale up! He brings invaluable insights to this episode from his time with Heroku and its acquisition by Salesforce later on.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🚵🏻‍♀️ Miroslaw on being a father, an athlete & a leader.🎶 Francis’s interest in music & teaching meditation online.b) Professional Journey🚀 Miroslaw’s journey from Azemo to its acquirer Papaya Global.💼 Francis’s story of leadership at Heroku to its acquisition by Salesforce.c) Key Takeaways🔍 The various types of acquisitions with examples.⚖️ Navigating culture shifts, team mergers & evolving missions.📝 Onboarding & talent utilization.✅ Maintaining team motivation & efficiency during transitions.Welcome to groCTO! Every week we publish a curated selection of articles, and podcasts to accelerate the growth of passionate engineering leaders 🚀 By subscribing, you empower us to deliver to you insights most valued by fellow CTOs and industry experts.🎧 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 👋You can find us here too!LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | X (Twitter) 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