Laura Brookes
- Trainee Solicitor
- Real Estate Development
Last night’s Tech & Digital panel discussion “From A-Team to C-Suite, the ABC of Building a High Performing Leadership Team in a Tech Business” brought together a panel of executives with wide ranging experiences for an engaging discussion on some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities when building a strong C Suite team in the tech and digital sector. Three key themes stood out: balancing internal mentoring with external hiring, the evolving nature of remote work, and the ever-present threat of cyber attacks.
1. Finding the Balance Between Mentoring and Hiring Externally
Many businesses, especially tech start-ups grappling with the potential of rapid growth, struggle with the decision of whether to invest in upskilling existing employees or to bring in fresh talent with specialised expertise.
The consensus among the panel was that a hybrid approach is key. Companies should prioritise mentoring and developing their current workforce to build long-term loyalty, retain culture, and ensure employees have opportunities to grow. However, when specific expertise is required, hiring externally can provide a much-needed influx of new skills and perspectives. Serena Lang spoke passionately to “plugging the gaps” when scaling a business – whether this can be done internally is a matter for the Board to carefully consider.
James Smallridge also emphasised the importance of team depth, explaining that he, as an investor, aims to have multiple people lined up internally to take on each C Suite role by the time he exits the business. The panel agreed that team depth and delegation were especially crucial in the Tech and Digital space where many businesses begin their journey as founder managed companies and stereotypically struggle with overreliance on the ‘key person’ in the early stages.
2. The Evolution of Remote Work in the Tech Sector
The discussion around remote work sparked passionate debates, with the panel unanimously agreeing that hybrid work models are here to stay. Laura Wathen noted that, for many tech companies, their people (such as software developers) are their biggest assets. So how do you keep them happy?
Successful remote work strategies require clear communication, trust, and the right tools to keep teams connected and engaged. In the tech and digital space, creativity and collaboration are important and the panel discussed ways in which to curate your physical office space to foster this, alongside creating a collaborative virtual environment.
3. The Growing Threat of Cyber Attacks
With businesses relying more on digital infrastructure than ever, cybersecurity has become a top priority. Geoff Hudson-Searle emphasised that cyber threats are constantly evolving, and no organisation, regardless of size, is immune.
The discussion focused on the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures, including employee training, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and investment in advanced threat detection technologies.
The biggest lesson? Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue – it’s a business-wide priority that requires ongoing investment, vigilance, and awareness. The panel all agreed that it was crucial for cybersecurity to be given serious consideration at C Suite level, with Laura Wathen noting that the traditional C Suite is often expanded in Tech and Digital businesses to include executives with specific cybersecurity or data governance skills.
Meet the team:
Mark Tasker
- Partner
- Corporate
Marzenka Opalinska
- Trainee Solicitor
- IP & Commercial
