Hello, I’m Adam
I like solving difficult problems. I like helping people solve them even more.
I’m a Senior Software Engineering Manager working in financial services. I enjoy technology, but what really interests me is how people, engineering and organisations come together to make things happen.
I’ve learned that the most interesting challenges rarely have a purely technical solution.
learning. ↗
Complicated technology. Real-world challenges.
A lot of my career has involved working with established technology, leading engineering teams and delivering change in environments where there are plenty of moving parts.
Modernising technology sounds relatively straightforward when you’re talking about the destination. Getting there is another matter.
You have existing systems that the business depends on, competing priorities, operational risks, dependencies between teams and decisions that can have consequences well beyond engineering.
That’s the part I find fascinating.
I enjoy working through those challenges, understanding how everything connects and finding practical ways to move forward. Sometimes that involves improving technology or engineering practices. Other times it’s about changing an approach, bringing different people together or asking whether we’re solving the right problem in the first place.
Increasingly, I’m interested in how those individual decisions connect to the wider strategy of an organisation.
Helping people grow is one of the best parts of the job.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about engineering leadership is helping other people develop.
I’ve supported colleagues as they’ve progressed into senior engineering, technical leadership and management roles. Seeing someone grow in confidence, take on new challenges and develop their own approach to leadership is genuinely rewarding.
I’ve also learned how much engineering success depends on relationships outside your immediate team.
Some of the hardest challenges I’ve faced have involved navigating competing priorities, building trust with other departments and finding ways to deliver when the people you depend on have their own pressures and objectives.
Those experiences have changed how I think about leadership.
It’s not just about setting direction for your own team. It’s about understanding the wider organisation, listening to different perspectives and helping people work towards something together.
I find that side of leadership every bit as interesting as the technology itself.
03 / Still learning
The more I learn, the bigger the questions get.
I’m currently undertaking a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship with Henley Business School.
It’s been a great opportunity to challenge how I think about leadership and explore subjects beyond my engineering background, particularly business strategy, innovation, responsible leadership and organisational change.
It’s also made me increasingly curious about the bigger decisions engineering leaders face.
How should we decide where to invest our engineering capacity? How do we build organisations that can deliver today while preparing for tomorrow? How do we balance technology change with business risk, financial constraints and the needs of our people?
They’re questions I’m exploring as I continue to develop as a leader. I certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers.
That’s partly why I started this blog.
I wanted somewhere to share my thoughts, reflect on experiences, challenge my own assumptions and explore interesting ideas with other people.
Some articles will be about things I’ve learned through experience. Others will be questions I’m still trying to answer.
Hopefully, they’ll also start a few interesting conversations.
Let’s connect on LinkedInInterested in what I’m thinking about?
Take a look at the blog for my latest thoughts on engineering, leadership and technology.