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

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted. https://gotopia.tech Read the full transcription of this interview here: https://gotopia.tech/articles/388 Meri Williams - CTO at Pleo & Advisor at Skiller Whale & Kindred Capital Charles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & Consultant RESOURCES Meri https://x.com/Geek_Manager https://github.com/geekmanager http://blog.geekmanager.co.uk Charles https://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.social https://mastodon.social/@charleshumble https://conissaunce.com Links https://blog.container-solutions.com/managing-remote-teams-in-scaling-organisations DESCRIPTION Join us in a conversation with Meri Williams, an experienced CTO who has led technology teams from 30 to 300 people across organizations. 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. With refreshing honesty about management mistakes and the ongoing importance of diversity in building products that serve everyone, this conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone navigating the world of tech leadership. RECOMMENDED BOOKS Meri Williams • The Principles of Project Management • https://amzn.to/4lj5B1G Tom DeMarco & Tim Lister • Peopleware • https://amzn.to/3KJmFOq Marcus Buckingham & Gallup Organization • First, Break All the Rules • https://amzn.to/40xpppI Daniel H. Pink • Drive: The SurpriInspiring Tech Leaders - The Technology Podcast Interviews with Tech Leaders and insights on the latest emerging technology trends. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Canada Now Bold ideas with the people shaping Canada’s next chapter. Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Bluesky Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Facebook CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join Looking for a unique learning experience? Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!