Natasha shares her experience to delve into the complexities, challenges, and strategies associated with effectively leading tech teams dispersed across borders.

1. Managing international tech teams
Insights from a former fintech CTO

2. Introduction
2
Overview of the Current Global Tech Industry:
● Rapid growth and evolution of the tech industry globally
● Increasing demand for tech talent across various sectors
● Emerging technologies shaping the future of industries worldwide
Trend of Distributed Teams and Remote Work:
● Shift towards remote work accelerated by technological advancements and the COVID-19
pandemic
● Rise of distributed teams spanning multiple geographical locations
● Benefits of remote work, including flexibility, access to global talent, and cost savings
Strategic importance of managing international tech teams ⇒ how to effectively manage them?

3. 3
What’s the impact of management on project success?

4. Importance of Effective Management
4
Effective team management plays a critical role in project success: motivation, deadline, deliverables

5. Context of previous projects
5
BIZAO
● Several offices : France, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon
● Tech teams: France, Senegal, Asia
● Product team: Ivory Coast
TOTAL - TATA Consultancy Services
● Several offices : France, Germany, Africa, India

6. Challenges in Managing International Tech Teams
6
Cross-Cultural Leadership
• Adapting leadership styles to
accommodate cultural diversity.
• Addressing power distance and
hierarchical differences.
• Fostering inclusivity, respect, and
collaboration among team members.
Project Management and
Coordination
• Ensuring alignment on project goals,
priorities, and timelines.
• Coordination of tasks, dependencies, and
deliverables across dispersed teams.
• Managing expectations and balancing
workload distribution effectively.
Team Cohesion and
Engagement
• Building rapport and trust among
team members from different
cultures.
• Engaging and motivating team
members across diverse
backgrounds.
• Addressing feelings of isolation and
disconnection in remote settings.
Language Barriers
• Language barriers hindering effective
communication
• Misinterpretation of instructions,
requirements, and feedback
• Difficulty in conveying complex
technical concepts and ideas
Cultural Differences
• Varied communication styles, norms,
and expectations
• Misunderstandings and conflicts
arising from cultural differences
• Impacts on decision-making
processes, team dynamics, and
collaboration
Time Differences
• Coordination of meetings and
overlapping work hours
• Communication delays due to time
zone disparities
• Difficulty in maintaining real-time
collaboration and responsiveness

7. 7
How do we tackle these challenges?

8. Strategies for Successful Management (1/3): Build
a strong foundation
8
• Importance of defining a shared vision and
clear goals for the team.
• Aligning individual objectives with the
broader organizational mission.
• Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to
guide team efforts.
• And SHARE THE GOALS
• Establishing communication channels
tailored to the team's needs and preferences.
• Utilizing a combination of synchronous (e.g.,
video calls, instant messaging) and
asynchronous (e.g., email, project
management tools) communication methods.
• Implementing protocols for regular updates,
status reports, and feedback sessions to
ensure transparency and accountability.
It all starts with governance
Clear Team
Vision and Goals
Effective
Communication
Channels

9. Strategies for Successful Management (2/3):
Cultural Intelligence and Effective Communication
9
• Recognizing the importance of cultural
sensitivity and awareness in a global team
setting
• Encouraging team members to actively learn
about each other's cultures, traditions, and
communication styles: cross cultural training
• Emphasizing empathy, respect, and
inclusivity to foster a culture of understanding
and appreciation
• Lead by example
• Emphasizing the need for transparent, open,
and inclusive communication practices.
• Providing training and resources to enhance
communication skills, including active
listening and empathy.
• Leveraging technology tools such as
translation software and cultural awareness
training platforms to bridge language and
cultural barriers
Understanding
Diverse Cultures
Bridging
Communication
Gaps

10. Strategies for Successful Management (3/3): Team
Collaboration and Time Management
10
• Implementing collaborative tools and
platforms to facilitate teamwork and
information sharing.
• Encouraging virtual team building activities,
such as icebreaker sessions, team
challenges, and virtual coffee breaks.
• Promoting a culture of collaboration through
shared goals, mutual respect, and
recognition of individual contributions.
• Implementing strategies for managing
different time zones effectively, such as
establishing core overlapping hours for
meetings and collaboration.
• Leveraging time zone converters, scheduling
tools, and shared calendars to coordinate
activities and avoid scheduling conflicts.
• Setting clear expectations around availability,
response times, and deadlines to optimize
productivity and minimize delays.
Efficient Time
Management
Fostering
Collaboration

11. Conclusion
11
Select the
appropriate
technologies
Importance
of the human
factor
Need of a strong
and effective
governance
Importance of
Transparency
and Agility

12. 12
Questions?

13. Let’s keep in touch
13
www.linkedin.com/in/mndi
mban
mndimban@gmail.com