Managing The Chaos — Week 1 at Treble
It begins.
Introduction
Welcome to the starting line of my journey: my first week as the new CTO of the Series A startup, Treble. The vibe? Palpable. The pace? Unrelenting. And the potential? Limitless. Each week, this newsletter will offer a window into my experiences, challenges, and lessons from the trenches of tech leadership.
Weekly Highlights
- The team: I met the individuals behind the screens — each one committed and buzzing with potential. However, the reality is, they’re not yet a team — they’re a constellation of talents awaiting the proper alignment. We’ve laid the foundation; now, it’s time to build.
- Onsite in Colombia: I spent two days diving into our product’s infrastructure with the crew. Together, we discussed our current strategies, our needs, and how we could better support and be supported by other teams.
- If we have time to lean, we have time to clean: We initiated a vital ‘housekeeping’ strategy: tackling backlogs and tidying up. These are the small but crucial tasks that keep our operations running smoothly. Ship small changes every day.
- New hire: Another highlight was welcoming Elizabeth to the team — her talent and experience make her a valuable addition. After ten years of trying, I’m honored to get to work with her.
Deep Dive: Taming the Complexity Beast and Using Our Product
Have you ever tried to change a wheel on a moving car? That’s akin to introducing changes to our delicate, complex codebase. It’s a testament to our team’s capabilities, having built so much in so little time. However, the need for speed has resulted in a fragile codebase that’s tough to augment. Our task? To tame this beast and turn complexity into an asset without slowing down.
I also had the opportunity to use our product firsthand; I was amazed by the ease with which marketers can create entire conversations on WhatsApp. It’s an empowering tool, and I’m thrilled to be part of the team bringing it to life. Behind the elegance of the product lies the complexity of our codebase.
Lessons Learned
- Leadership: Building a Team: We have dedicated individuals, each with their strengths. However, a cohesive team? Not yet. That’s not an issue; it’s an opportunity. I’m firing up the recruiting engine, seeking impactful engineers, managers, and product designers. We’re not just looking for talent; we’re after the right folks who can morph a group of individuals into a formidable team—a community of sorts.
- The Value of Housekeeping: We rolled up our sleeves this week, tackling backlogs and cleaning up. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. It’s the gears that keep our engine running. Maintenance matters, no matter how small the task.
- Customer Commitment, Team Mission, and Acceleration Strategy: Using our product firsthand highlighted the power we provide our customers. Our tech team’s mission is to empower our company to learn quickly. Two elements are my focus to achieve this: hiring the right people and developing an acceleration strategy. The goal? To ship working software at a pace that doesn’t just keep up but outpaces industry demands.
Looking Forward
Week two beckons. What’s next? A sit-down with my boss and the founder team to outline the roadmap for the company, our product, and tech. Additionally, the hiring strategy will kick into high gear. The journey is long but thrilling, and I’m ready to hit the accelerator.
See ya,
🤘 buriticá
If you find these insights helpful, please share this newsletter with someone who could benefit from a candid, ground-level view of scaling a Series A startup.
