A team member asked if our strategy and approach was lifted from the Phoenix Project. They wondered if that’s why I split our engineers into two squads: one focused on features, owning our frontend repos, and the other on platform, owning the backend and cleaning up the “messy middle”. We have a learning budget at … Continue reading The Phoenix Project?
I’ve always been a strong advocate for remote work, especially in the tech world. It offers flexibility, allows people to work from where they’re most productive, and makes a lot of sense for our industry. With Amazon forcing everyone back to the office, I can’t help but disagree with a one-size-fits-all approach. That said, our … Continue reading Remote, first
Last night, I went to a talk by Oliver Burkeman, for the launch of his new book, Meditations for Mortals. It was a brilliant evening, and his ideas hit home. He made a point that stuck with me: we all have problems, and they never fully go away. Some people’s problems are a lot worse … Continue reading Problems & Finitude
Two years in feels like a good moment to reflect on the journey so far and the road ahead. Just after my 1-year on post, things escalated as I became Head of Engineering and joined the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at The Collecting Group (TCG), Collecting Cars and Watch Collecting. I’ve survived my first board … Continue reading Changing Gears: Navigating the Road to Executive Tech Leadership
The best way to enjoy your newly purchased dream car? Upgrade the driver. Learn from the unfortunate fate of my Elise (S2 Sport Tourer). I took guidance from a friend and enrolled at Andrew Walsh Driver Training.
1 year ago, I left my 22 year IBM career to join a startup. Everything changed and nothing changed. I've learnt a lot about myself.
This isn't a post I thought I would be writing. After 22 years, I'm leaving IBM. I have loved my career and the people I worked with! I want to thank all my managers, mentors, coaches, leaders and teams. Without you and your support, I would not have had the opportunities I enjoyed at IBM. To say I will miss you would be an understatement.
Intro A new starter to the team asked me how and why I chose Node & React. It led to the below... The Pivot and POV In 2018 we released our latest and most significant Cognos Application. Next, my manager tasked me with leading the development of a cloud-native app. Our 'New Tech' Team was … Continue reading The Pivot
In November 2021 I took part in the Race of Remembrance [RoR]. In a Mission Motorsport C1 donated by Bad Obsession Motorsport [BOM]: YouTubers and creators of the infamous Project Binky. To coincide with the announcement of the RoR 2022 dates, BOM released their video of our race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkbQuPT9Kog Please donate to this awesome cause: … Continue reading Race of Remembrance, 2021: The Video
Race of Remembrance 2019 ended with a bang... Third time lucky! 2019's Race of Remembrance [RoR] ended with a literal bang. Before my first stint, the owner of the car lost it into Rocket and crashed heavily into the marshal post. Thankfully, he walked away with only a broken shoulder. It was a BIG ONE! … Continue reading Race of Remembrance, 2021
Olly Brand 