S1 - Episode #2: Simon Munch-Anderson - CTO at Ultimate.AI
Subscribe:
About Simon:
Simon has over 20+ years’ experience in building innovating products and teams, mainly focussed on early stage start-ups. He’s now CTO at Ultimate.AI, a Series A tech company based in Berlin that offers a virtual customer service agent builder, bringing multilingual customer service automation to businesses.
Simon loves technology and thinking about how it can help shape our future. He says if we want to have a great future, we have to start thinking about it in the present because when the future arrives we won’t have time - spoken like a true technology Leader.
Synopsis:
During this episode Simon talks about his experience so far with Ultimate.AI, the important of cross functional teams, remote working and keeping teams motivated. He considers common mistakes made by Managers and Engineers and how Engineers can become better at what they do and also discusses what he believes it takes to a strong leader in Engineering.
Key Takeaways:
Characteristics of cross functional team and how to construct them effectively
Building, managing and motivating remote teams
Conducting remote interviews and onboarding
Maintaining social connections in a remote setting
Being a good engineering leader and how to grow and develop
Improving communication between teams
Episode Outline:
[00:34] Introduction to Simon Munch and Ultimate.AI
[01:35] Why Simon joined Ultimate - the team, product, upwards trajectory
[02:46] The first 6 months of his new leadership role
[04:02] His immediate priorities in the first 6 months in terms of new tools/processes
[06:40] Cross functional teams
[10:50] First steps for introducing cross functional teams
[15:30] Plans for team growth
[16:20] Maintaining productivity and momentum when growing rapidly
[19:35] Managing the interview and onboarding process remotely
[21:45] Ensuring new team members are embedded
[25:29] Skills that are hard to find when recruiting Engineers
[27:30 ] Views on remote working
[29:40] Building social relationships in remote teams
[33:40] Tips for motivating teams
[35:50] Common weakness in Managers and Engineers
[39:35] Improving communication between team members
[41:15] Qualities of a great Engineer
[42:55] Characteristics and traits of an exceptional leader
[44:25] Advice for those moving into a leadership position
[48:05] Simon’s advice he would have given himself at the start of his career to be better prepared
[50:30] The biggest challenge for technology companies at the moment
Follow Simon:
