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ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

In this podcast, James Gurd interviews Jon Cleaver, CTO of a prominent sports shoe brand, about the challenges and strategies involved in digital transformation within the company.

Jon shares his extensive background in retail, and discusses the importance of resilience and adaptability in project management. He outlines the key challenges he faced upon joining the company, including team morale, technology issues, and stakeholder engagement. Jon emphasizes the need for quick wins and effective communication to build trust and drive change, while also addressing resistance to change and the importance of customer feedback in the redesign of their ecommerce stack.

In this conversation, Jon discusses their iterative approach to launching ecommerce platforms, emphasising the importance of learning from mistakes and customer feedback. He highlights the challenges of SEO during replatforming and the decision-making process behind choosing BigCommerce as a flexible ecommerce solution.

The discussion also covers the impact of these changes on the engineering team dynamics and the transition from project management to product management, showcasing the need for adaptability and continuous improvement in a fast-paced digital environment.

Key takeaways:

• Digital transformation requires resilience and adaptability.
• Building team morale is crucial for project success.
• Addressing complex areas early can mitigate project risks.
• Strong engineering teams are essential for successful project delivery.
• Building a headless architecture allows for greater customisation.

• Creating a flexible toolset empowers teams to work efficiently.

• Identifying quick wins can drive momentum in change initiatives.
• Incremental delivery helps manage change effectively.
• Involving cross-functional teams in discovery fosters collaboration.
• Using a headless CMS can streamline operations and reduce bottlenecks.

• Understanding customer needs is essential for successful redesigns.

• Transitioning to product management requires a shift in mindset and processes.