The Gift of Connection: How Value-Based Frameworks Shape Technical Success

“What’s critical, absolutely critical in any kind of big project that you have is for it to be the number one priority. you need to make sure that you enable your team to focus on this piece of work and that they don’t have distractions from anything.” – Philip Gill, CTO at Smartbox Group.

From Quality Assurance to CTO, it’s a road less traveled, but it comes with incredible stories and words of wisdom like the above.

This sage advice has been a key factor in his team’s success. They’ve achieved a 40% reduction in cycle time over two years by focusing on process improvement and quality. They’ve also improved uptime and performance where it matters most, while successfully delivering complex global projects — and that’s just the beginning.

There’s no more staying up all night, and come Friday – the whole team is relatively happy! So, how do teams and leaders reach this point? For most, it’s a distant dream.

In the latest episode of our mini-series, Cut the Onion, which explores the layers of the CTO role, we reveal the reality. As a CTO, Phil advocates for creating sustainable work environments and avoiding single points of failure.

In this episode, we hear all of this and more…

• How to build trust and agility in tech teams
• The importance of calling BS (B*llsh*t) on some AI hype and finding real value
• His thoughts on Build VS Buy
• The Keys to Delivering Strategic Projects: Lessons from Smartbox’s E-Commerce Rebuild
• How to Improve Cycle Times and Team Happiness
• The importance of Zero Distraction
• How to Empower Decision-Making and Shorten Decision Chains

What is Cut The Onion? It’s a mini-series where we peel back the layers of tech roles, exploring the stories of those working in tech across various industries. Honest takes, trends, and tips for going forward!

About Smartbox Group: The European N°1 in experience gifts, offers over 180 000 unique experiences, selected for you to create unforgettable memories.

About The Forward Podcast: In a world where technology intertwines with every aspect of our lives, how do industry experts and leaders plan to navigate forward? Explore bold moves and strategies for success amid constant disruption. Learn the ideas, behaviors, tools, and trends they’ll leave behind, and those they’ll carry forward to shape the future of work, life, and leadership.