Magnus Lenngren is an engineering leader and a three-time unicorn builder.

In this episode, you'll find out how to scale remote-first engineering teams effectively, the key challenges leaders face when growing teams quickly, the biggest mistakes to avoid during hypergrowth, why strong company culture is critical in scaling, and how to keep employees engaged and productive in a remote setting.

Magnus is an experienced CTO and Director of Engineering, skilled at scaling engineering teams, especially in Fintech, with experience at Collector Bank, Klarna, and now Mews among others. Magnus is also an investor, having led Collector’s corporate venture capital division. Magnus is currently focused on scaling Mews’ remote engineering teams.

Timestamps:

[11:05] How to scale remote teams effectively

[16:28] Benefits of building a remote-first team

[22:13] Providing co-working spaces for remote employees

[35:17] Using new hires for onboarding other employees

[41:05] Applying the Conway/Yawnoc strategy to reshape teams

[46:22] Mistakes leaders make when scaling fast

[51:03] Focusing on continuous improvement over fixed metrics

[57:13] Balancing efficiency with hyper-growth challenges

Connect with Magnus on LinkedIn.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

Zoe Cunningham is a director at Softwire and author of Networking Know-How.

In this episode, you will learn what most people get wrong about networking and why it’s so misunderstood. Zoe talks about simple ways to build genuine connections without feeling awkward, how introverts can excel at networking with the right approach, how to prepare for networking events to make them more enjoyable, and why investing in networking now pays off in the long run.

Zoe Cunningham is an award-winning technology professional and currently a Director of Softwire Technology, voted the #1 Best Place to Work in the UK 2023. She won Business Leader of the Year at the UK Women in IT Awards 2019 and has been selected by the BBC as the Brightest Woman in Britain.

Zoe has published three books, including "Networking Know-How" the tech leaders’ handbook for building a network and extending their professional reach.

Timestamps:

[05:09] Why networking is often misunderstood

[07:59] How to build genuine one-on-one connections

[10:33] Why networking is crucial for career growth

[13:54] Misconceptions about elevator pitches

[16:41] How to make networking less transactional

[24:06] Tips for boosting confidence at networking events

[27:22] Easy phrases to break the ice during networking

Check out Zoe’s book “Networking Know-How” and find her on LinkedIn.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

Resources Mentioned:

CTO Craft | Website

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.

Join The CTO Playbook Slack Community to connect with other CTOs!

In this episode, Adam interviews Adem Bilican, the CTO at Relai, the App, about Bitcoin's value and its potential as a global currency. Adem discusses the technological advancements in Bitcoin, such as the Lightning Network, and offers insights into overcoming barriers to adoption.

Adem Bilican, is the co-founder and CTO at Relai, Europe's number one Bitcoin app. We provide an app for your mobile phone that users can use to easily buy and sell Bitcoin while keeping full ownership.

Timestamps:

6:15 Improving mobile wallets to boost Bitcoin user adoption.

20:50 Using renewable energy for more efficient Bitcoin mining.

25:35 Leveraging Bitcoin’s capped supply to increase long-term value.

29:10 Introducing the Lightning Network for instant Bitcoin transactions at zero cost.

38:30 Ensuring user control with self-custodial wallets in the Relai app.

44:50 Securing your Bitcoin wallet with reliable backup and restore options.

Get the Relai App to help you buy and manage your Bitcoin and follow Adem on X.

Resources Mentioned:

Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos | Book or Audiobook

Mastering the Lightning Network by Andreas Antonopoulos | Book

Bitcoin Nashville | Website

Plan B Forum in Switzerland (Oct 2024) | Website

Bitaxe Mining Device | Website

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.