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
I recently joined the team at Hypr Live for a conversation about how we’re using AI in engineering at Collecting Cars and The Collecting Group. It was great to dig into how AI is evolving, and how we’re evolving with it. You can watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMemQgXAw_8 Here are three takeaways from the … Continue reading How We Think About AI at The Collecting Group
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
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
Olly Brand 