As a tech leader with over 20 years spanning South Africa, America and Australia, I've navigated from hands-on coding to guiding global teams. These lessons, drawn from real-world triumphs and setbacks, embody my motto: 'To lead, you must first follow.' Let's explore how early challenges shaped enduring principles.
Lesson 1: Respect Fuels Trust
Tip: Praise publicly, critique privately, and own your mistakes.
Anecdote: At Health Bridge, a manager berated me and a tester publicly, then apologised later that day publicly and privately over coffee—teaching me that respect builds trust.
Insight: In tech's high-stakes world, where deadlines loom like storm clouds, a single misstep in communication can erode morale. By owning errors openly, leaders model accountability, fostering a culture where teams feel safe to innovate. This isn't just nice, it's strategic, reducing turnover and boosting productivity in fast-paced environments like startups or multinationals.
Takeaway: A leader’s accountability strengthens team morale, turning potential rifts into bonds of loyalty.
Lesson 2: Support, Don’t Strain
Tip: Prioritise employee well-being over rigid demands.
Anecdote: At System Landscape, a boss pushed me to work while my wife was seriously ill and needed my help—showing me support trumps pressure.
Insight: Tech roles often demand 24/7 availability, but ignoring personal needs burns out talent. Drawing from global teams, I've seen how empathy, offering flexibility during crises creates resilient groups. It's about viewing employees as whole people, not resources, which leads to higher engagement and creative output. In an industry where burnout is epidemic, this approach sustains long-term success.
Takeaway: Caring leadership retains talent and fosters loyalty, transforming teams into unstoppable forces.
Lesson 3: Stand Firm on Value
Tip: Defend your expertise without compromising quality.
Anecdote: At EOH, a director and co-founder rejected a client’s low-ball offer; two months later, they rehired us to fix their failed alternative—proving that you should not undervalue yourself for the sake of a sale.
Insight: In tech consulting, pressure to undercut prices can tempt shortcuts, but standing firm builds credibility. From my cross-continental experience, I've learned that undervaluing work erodes trust and leads to subpar results. Instead, emphasise quality it's an investment that pays dividends, as clients return for reliable expertise. This mindset shifts from short-term gains to lasting partnerships.
Takeaway: Confidence in your work earns respect and results, elevating projects from mediocre to exceptional.
Lesson 4: Transform Chaos into Order
Tip: Take on complex systems and refactor with a clear plan.
Anecdote: At ECQ, I overhauled a 70-server mess into a micro serviced cloud in 18 months, turning chaos into stability.
Insight: Tech infrastructures often resemble tangled webs, especially in legacy systems. My global perspective has shown that methodically untangling them, through structured refactoring and collaboration, unlocks efficiency. It's like orchestrating a symphony: align teams, prioritise tasks, and celebrate milestones. This not only cuts costs but ignites innovation, proving that order from chaos is the hallmark of visionary leadership.
Takeaway: Strategic leadership turns challenges into lasting wins, paving the way for scalable growth.
Lesson 5: Validate and Verify
Tip: Test thoroughly, verify 3rd-party work, and check progress yourself.
Anecdote: At DAPS, I built a blockchain from scratch, learning crypto tech, but delays from untested 3rd-party code taught me to validate every step.
Insight: In distributed tech projects, assuming external partners deliver flawlessly can derail timelines. From my experiences, rigorous validation—through testnets and hands-on checks—ensures security and functionality. It's about building a culture of accountability, where 'trust but verify' prevents costly surprises. This approach, honed in high-stakes environments, turns potential failures into secure triumphs.
Takeaway: Rigorous validation prevents costly oversights and ensures success, fortifying your tech foundation.
As Yoda wisely said, “Do or do not, there is no try”'—a reminder to act decisively with purpose. These lessons have shaped a path that resonates with leaders navigating their own trenches today, a reminder that every challenge is a step toward triumph, forged in the fires of experience and shared humanity.