Remote leader Charlie Perrins joins Mike to talk about how he navigates remote work in a global tech team. Charlie shares his experiences transitioning from an office mindset to successfully managing distributed teams across North America, Latin America, and India. Packed with practical wisdom and thought-provoking anecdotes, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to thrive in the world of remote tech leadership.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Shifting from an office mindset to remote work requires adapting communication and collaboration strategies while maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality work.
Aligning teams across different time zones is crucial, with the client's time zone serving as the anchor point for all team members.
Cultural differences among global teams are less significant than individual roles and skill sets when it comes to effective collaboration.
Respect and acknowledge team members' locations and time zones through small gestures like greeting everyone according to their local time.
Remote work has opened up opportunities for more flexible schedules and improved work-life balance.
Leading people effectively is the most critical factor in achieving tech venture growth, as people are the driving force behind all achievements.
Spontaneous conversations and innovation can still occur in remote settings through the use of video calls and collaboration tools.
The software development lifecycle remains largely unchanged in remote work, with improvements in tools and cloud services enhancing efficiency.

BEST MOMENTS

"You do good work when someone from the client's team is acting in some capacity as a product owner. When you're in a fortunate position on both sides of the equation to be able to do that then I think the best work will come out of it" (08:17) Charlie emphasises the importance of having a product owner from the client's team to ensure the best work is delivered.

"I think that my biggest misconception was that it wouldn't work. I worried that it would be difficult. I worried that I would be less useful to the rest of my team if I was not there. (24:57) Charlie reflects on his initial misconception about remote work and his concerns about being less useful to his team when not physically present.

"It feels more the same than different in terms of the shape of the SDLC, it's just that some of the tools have got better, the access to cloud services has increased, you know, lets us maybe do certain things faster than we used to do." (52:04) Charlie shares his thoughts on how the software development lifecycle has remained largely unchanged in remote work, with improvements in tools and cloud services enhancing efficiency.

"If you're not careful, team members can get lost and not everybody can sort of be carried along that journey. And that's, I think, where risks and errors creep in because somebody's doing a task, not deliberately doing it badly or certainly not doing it maliciously, but they don't quite think they're meant to be doing the same thing that somebody else thinks they're meant to be doing." (1:02:16) Charlie discusses the risks of team members getting lost in the process and how misaligned expectations can lead to errors and mistakes.

"To the extent we lose that on the days where we're not working in the office, we gain it from being able to chat to colleagues, or at least in the, in the kind of company I'm in now, where there's lots of us all over the world, we gain it from the freedom of being able to have a call with anybody. Wherever they might be if a call with that person is what you need to get to a good idea or to get to a breakthrough." (1:07:24) Charlie explains how remote work settings can still foster spontaneous conversations and innovation through the use of video calls and the ability to connect with colleagues worldwide.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Charlie Perrins is a MarTech & AdTech specialist who has led engineering teams around the globe. He has lived in the UK and the USA, with over 15 years of digital agency experience working in software engineering, team lead and executive roles. Charlie has three children with his wife Lucy, and plays guitar for bands in North Yorkshire & Massachusetts when he’s not working or being a dad.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlieperrins/

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Remote Leadership: How to Manage and Lead a Global Team Remotely with Charlie Perrins

Mastering Tech Growth