Tech Leadership Challenges: Communication & AI at Financial Times • Alice Bartlett & Charles Humble

GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech

Chapters
0:00
Intro
2:40
Editorial & commercial groups at Financial Times
7:40
From developer to tech director
9:59
(Cont.) From developer to tech director
14:30
Tech director responsibilities
22:04
Handling stress & dark side behaviors as a leader
24:20
How to give difficult feedback
26:51
Architecture change: From spaghetti Code to systemic clarity
35:56
Thinking 2-3 years ahead
37:57
The impact of AI on software development
44:09
Outro
GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech
Tech Leadership Challenges: Communication & AI at Financial Times • Alice Bartlett & Charles Humble
Oct 14, 2025 Season 5 Episode 54
Alice Bartlett, Charles Humble & GOTO

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted.
https://gotopia.tech

Read the full transcription of this interview here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/382

Alice Bartlett - Tech Director for Customer Products at Financial Times
Charles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & Consultant

RESOURCES
Alice
https://x.com/alicebartlett
https://github.com/alicebartlett
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicebartlett
https://medium.com/@alice.bartlett
https://alicebartlett.co.uk

Charles
https://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.social
https://linkedin.com/in/charleshumble
https://mastodon.social/@charleshumble
https://conissaunce.com

Links
https://blog.container-solutions.com/wtf-happens-to-psychological-safety

DESCRIPTION
Alice Bartlett, Tech Director at the Financial Times, discusses her journey from principal engineer to leading a 70-person team responsible for https://www.ft.com and mobile apps. She shares insights on managing editorial stakeholders, balancing technical debt with business priorities, leading difficult conversations, and navigating the challenges of AI in software development.

The conversation with Charles Humble covers her approach to architectural challenges, communication strategies, and the evolving role of technology leadership in modern media organizations.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Simon Wardley • Wardley Maps • https://amzn.to/45U8Upr
Simon Wardley • Wardley Mapping, The Knowledge • https://amzn.to/3XQEeDu
Sun Tzu • The Art of War • https://amzn.to/2BqDeha
Mark Craddock • Wardley Mapping Doctrine • https://amzn.to/4b3jRYb
Susanne Kaiser • Adaptive Systems With Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping & Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/3XTmNCc
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