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GOTO Leadership Series

GOTO Leadership Series

Picture of Alice Bartlett and Charles Humble

From Hardware Hacker to CTO: Building Teams That Scale • Meri Williams & Charles Humble

Join Charles Humble in a conversation with Meri Williams, an experienced CTO who has led technology teams from 30 to 300 people across organizations ranging from Procter & Gamble to Monzo. In this candid discussion, Meri shares their journey from reluctant manager to seasoned leader, revealing hard-won insights about scaling teams, avoiding the "Google trap" of copying big tech practices inappropriately, and why investing in onboarding can make or break your organization.

Picture of Alice Bartlett and Charles Humble

Tech Leadership Challenges: Communication & AI at FT • Alice Bartlett & Charles Humble

Alice Bartlett, Tech Director at the Financial Times, discusses her journey from principal engineer to leading a 70-person team responsible for ft.com and mobile apps. She shares insights on managing editorial stakeholders, balancing technical debt with business priorities, leading difficult conversations, and navigating the challenges of AI in software development. The conversation with Charles Humble covers her approach to architectural challenges, communication strategies, and the evolving role of technology leadership in modern media organizations.

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Building Modern Software at Scale: Architectural Principles Two Decades in the Making • Randy Shoup & Charles Humble

Charles Humble sits down with veteran tech leader Randy Shoup, now SVP of Engineering at Thrive Market. They iscusses Thrive Market’s evolution from a 10-year-old monolith to a microservices architecture, emphasizing domain-driven design and agile scaling. Drawing on his experiences at eBay and other tech giants, he explains when to adopt microservices and the importance of continuous delivery and platform engineering for boosting productivity.

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Beyond Storytelling: A Deep Dive into Wardley Mapping • Simon Wardley & Charles Humble

Simon Wardley and Charles Humble discuss the development of Wardley Mapping, a visual framework that helps organizations understand and navigate technological evolution. Moving beyond traditional business storytelling, the interview explores how mapping enables better strategic decision-making through understanding component evolution, inertia, and gameplay, while also addressing current technological shifts in AI and cyber-physical systems.

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How To Lead Through Transformation in Tech • Hannah Foxwell & Charles Humble

Charles Humble and Hannah Foxwell explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, modern work practices, and management dynamics. They emphasize the importance of methodologies like pair programming, flexible work designs, and inclusive team environments, especially for accommodating neurodiverse and introverted individuals.

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How to Deal with Software Complexity • Gail Murphy & Charles Humble

Charles Humble interviews Dr. Gail Murphy about the challenges in software engineering today. They discuss how productivity isn’t just about lines of code but is more about focus and minimizing task-switching. Gail also talks about the difficulty of managing the rapid evolution of system architectures, stressing the need for regular restructuring and refactoring to avoid issues like increased coupling and decreased performance.

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How Architecture & Culture Go Hand in Hand • Eoin Woods & Charles Humble

Charles Humble and Eoin Woods take a step back to look at the changing landscape of software architecture, emphasizing the shift towards continuous architecture and the evolving role of architects in adapting to agile methodologies. It also explores the importance of people skills in architecture, the necessity of open communication, and the preservation of a supportive culture, as exemplified by Endava's approach to fostering a collaborative environment amidst rapid growth.

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Structures Shape Results: Software Insights • Elisabeth Hendrickson & Charles Humble

From debunking testing ratios to exploring the impact of organizational structures on quality, the conversation between Charles Humble and Elisabeth Hendrickson offers actionable insights for engineering leaders. With candid reflections and practical strategies, this episode promises to inspire seasoned professionals and aspiring leaders alike, providing fresh perspectives to drive meaningful change within their teams and organizations.