#229 - The Management System for High-Performing Engineering Organizations - Michi Kono

Why do engineering teams slow down as they scale? It’s not the technology—it’s the management systems.

In this episode, Michi Kono, CTO at Garner Health and former engineering leader at Meta, Capital One, and Stripe, shares his battle-tested approach to building scalable engineering organizations. We explore why most teams slow down as they scale and how to build systems that accelerate growth. Our conversation covers everything from designing effective org charts to creating accountability without killing psychological safety. You’ll learn practical strategies for nurturing engineering culture while maintaining high-performance standards.

Key topics discussed:

• The challenges of hypergrowth and the need to constantly reinvent yourself
• How to avoid slowdowns by holding teams accountable for outcomes, not just shipping code
• The art of designing org charts that maximize team autonomy
• Building a culture of accountability and learning from mistakes without blame
• When managers should stop writing code (and why this decision matters)
• The difference between being a people manager and an executive
• Why communication becomes the most critical skill at senior levels

Timestamps:

• (00:00) Trailer & Intro
• (02:10) Career Turning Points
• (03:55) Skills Advice for Engineers
• (06:46) The Challenges of a Hypergrowth Company
• (09:09) Learning and Growing in a Hypergrowth Company
• (12:07) The Slowdown in Engineering as You Scale
• (15:55) Designing Organization Structure Well
• (18:11) Effective Organization Chart Tips
• (21:05) Nurturing a Good Engineering Culture
• (25:37) Nurturing Psychological Safety
• (28:14) Learning from Mistakes & Performance Review
• (30:27) Being a Mission-Driven Company
• (32:11) Aligning Mission and Values in the Day-to-Day Work
• (34:45) The Importance of Management System in Organization
• (41:53) The Importance of Having Good Managers
• (45:30) For Strong ICs: Writing Code or Being a Manager?
• (50:55) The Difference Between a Manager Role and Executive Role
• (56:01) A Unique Thing Learned from Doing Payment Systems
• (58:43) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Michi Kono’s Bio
Michi Kono is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Garner Health, a company on a mission to help people get better healthcare. With a unique and extensive career spanning multiple industries, Michi has navigated the entire spectrum of the tech world. He began his journey in startups, one of which was acquired, leading him to a role at Capital One. From there, he gained invaluable experience at tech giants like Meta and financial-tech leader Stripe before taking the helm at Garner Health. Michi is passionate about the art and science of scaling engineering teams, building resilient cultures, and designing effective management systems to drive success in high-growth environments. He believes deeply in empowering engineers, fostering accountability, and the critical importance of clear communication for any leader.

Follow Michi:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/michikono
• Twitter – x.com/michikono
• Garner Health – getgarner.com

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Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/229.
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