Why Tech Lead? What was and still is understood to be “Tech Lead”
Traditionally, tech leads are technical engineers who are appointed to lead their engineering teams. These technical or tech leads are supposed to have a very strong expertise in that particular technical field in order to audit codes or related technical engineering machines. Tech leads even though must posses a very strong engineering or technical background must also have the accompanying softer or leadership skills to steer the team to bring results as needed. These TLs otherwise assume a leadership position within their units. In most technical resources, some experts explain that Tech Leads do not make decisions about who is hired or fired on the team but they most of the time must work with the team available to them to bring results. Even though this puts the tech lead in a very difficult position, this same difficult situation helps them to develop softer skills in order to navigate the complexities of the different personalities on their team. It is often believed that TLs in most companies take this position in order to prepare for bigger roles like Senior Engineers or even Csuite Executives in the company. This makes the position of Tech Lead as a crucial preparatory ground for bigger and of aspiring positions needed by the aspirant.
Key Concepts identified
- They use this role to prepare for bigger opportunities thus making the Tech Lead role as a preparation role
- A tech lead must have proficiency in their technical field in order to verify the work done by the team
- They must develop accompanying leadership qualities to lead their unit
- They must develop softer qualities to navigate complexities on a team they have no power to hire or fire
It is from this revolutionary perspective that we coined the concept of Tech Lead for our organization. At BTL, we are arguing that the concept for Tech Lead does not only apply to engineering settings anymore but everyone who has access to the internet (some form of TECH). The age demographic puts young people as the highest beneficiaries of technology.
Based on the concepts above, we are saying that
- A young person must develop some type of technical proficiency- the ability to effectively use technology available to them
- They must develop the essential leadership skills to responsibly navigate the technology available to them and benefit greatly from it than the other way round
- They must develop softer skills to navigate the complexities of the technology landscape
- They must use tech lead skills to prepare and create the life they want to live in the future thus our Tagline, LIVE THE FUTURE
Our Tech Lead concept challenges the traditional notion of a team lead in an engineering setting. Contrary to the common misconception that a Tech Lead is merely a team leader with technical skills, we at Black Tech Lead define it differently. We believe a Tech Lead is a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership acumen, essential for navigating today’s complex digital landscape. This distinction is crucial as young Africans, with their rapid innovation, increasingly require both skill sets to excel. We believe that Tech Leads are not only found in engineering settings but in every company setting as digitalization continues to drive company growth. See this link here- https://www.weforum.org/videos/these-are-the-5-most-useful-skills-for-the-jobs-of-the-future/
- We challenge the notion that Tech Leads are only found in engineering settings
- The definition core to the DNA of a Tech Lead applies to more people outside of engineering environments. Young people are innovating everyday and they also have access to different forms of technology
- The Tech or AI revolution has created the need for more people to become Tech Leads in nature
- The demographic gap in Africa provides a perfect opportunity for every young person to develop Tech Lead skills
We believe digital skills and leadership are inseparable for success in today’s workforce. While many institutions focus solely on technical training, we advocate for a holistic approach that equips young people with both digital and leadership competencies in a lean and fundamental way without overwhelming the curriculum. This dual focus is the cornerstone of Black Tech Lead’s mission.
See this job post from a global financial institution- https://careers.societegenerale.com/en/jobs/it/technical-leader
“Attending the first webinar by Black Tech Lead was an inspiring experience. The discussions on Africa’s innovation and leadership were eye-opening, especially the leadership session. It was not just informative but transformative, highlighting how young Africans can become tech leaders by being resilient and visionary. I left feeling motivated and eager to contribute to Africa’s tech revolution.” Jeremy; Robotics Engineer and Tech Enthusiast