Around the 1st of September I usually reflect on my year. It’s a natural time in the UK for reflection, the end of summer, start of the new school year. This time, it’s a month late, because... After 3 years and 1 month, it’s time to move on from The Collecting Group [TCG]. I’ve had … Continue reading Moving On: From TCG to Cognito
Building on my gambler or scientist post… One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is carrying the accountability for your team’s work. Accountability isn’t good or bad, it’s simply the responsibility for outcomes; the wins and the losses. On balance, it’s hugely rewarding. But it also means you’re the one delivering bad news to the … Continue reading Not all experiments succeed
It had been a while since I last went to a tech conference, and within minutes of the opening keynote (which included washing potatoes in a washing machine), I regretted the time away. I’d forgotten how good these events can be. Conferences create space. Space to think, to hear new perspectives & ideas, to learn, … Continue reading Agile on the Beach 2025
In early 2024, I likened our platform and Tech Strategy at The Collecting Group to a Singer 911. It made sense at the time: take a solid base (the Porsche 964), iterate on it with care and craft, and transform it into something beautiful, powerful, exclusive, and meticulously engineered. Something rare. A halo product. A … Continue reading Evolving Our Tech Strategy: Singer to Raptor
Win or lose? I prefer experiment and learn. 3 things occurred: 1. CTO Coachings on “Bets” – Learning to break work into plays (business cases) that I can sell to the business. Every initiative falls into one (or more) of four categories: Momentum Builders (iterative improvements, process gains) Debt Paydown (tech debt, foundational work) Revenue … Continue reading Gambler or Scientist
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
Olly Brand 