Building Tech Teams in the Age of AI:Whatʼs Changing and What Still Matters

Join us for the London CTOs Lunch Club, a weekly virtual event designed exclusively for Chief Technology Officers in the London CTOs community (*You don’t have to work in London to join). This informal gathering offers tech leaders a space to share ideas, challenges, and insights on the most relevant topics shaping the future of technology.

Each session is cohosted by experienced CTOs and tech leaders who guide discussions around key trends, leadership dilemmas, and emerging innovations. Whether you’re scaling a team or untangling legacy systems, this is a space to learn, connect, and stay ahead.

Hosted by: Nick Melis

Title: Building Tech Teams in the Age of AI: Whatʼs Changing and What Still Matters

Talking Points:
Whether you’re a founder, CTO or tech leader, building engineering teams today is looking increasingly different than it did even 12 months ago. The rules are changing - again. AI is shifting the landscape, budgets are tight, hiring is harder than ever, and velocity is non-negotiable. What used to work is outdated. What works now isn’t always clear.

This is the conversation to make sense of it.

This is a collaborative session. No lectures, no fluff - and no judgement. Everyone will be encouraged to actively participate and share.

We’re here to share real experiences, spot the shifts happening right now, and unpack what’s actually working (and what’s not) in building tech teams today.

We’ll tackle the big questions - the ones keeping many of us up at night - and learn from each other in the process.

While my background leans startup, the insights we’ll explore apply across the board - whether you’re scaling from 2 to 20 or leading in a more established environment.

Topics:

• What does an AI-native tech team actually look like?

From structure to skills - how are teams evolving when AI is no longer optional?

• Are lean, AI-powered teams outperforming traditional ones?

What we’re seeing on the ground - productivity, velocity, and trade-offs.

• How has AI changed who we hire?

Full-stack? AI-literate? Faster executors? What’s shifting in the hiring lens?

• Interviewing in the AI age - what’s changed?

Are you still screening for the same things? What’s no longer relevant?

• From “scaling teams” to “scaling workflows” - are we in a new era?

What does growth look like when headcount isn’t the default lever?

• Culture, alignment, and trust - how do we keep teams strong when they’re small and async?

What works. What doesn’t. What breaks under pressure.

• When does “lean” become too lean?

Red flags. Burnout signals. Knowing when to pause and reassess.

Key Features:

• Weekly Discussions: Dive into the latest thinking on tech, strategy, and leadership.
• Networking Opportunities: Build lasting connections with fellow CTOs.
• Flexible Format: Join remotely from wherever you are.

Who should join:
CTOs or senior tech leaders in UK-based organisations

About London CTOs and RecWorks
As with all London CTOs events, this session is organised by RecWorks, curators of the community since 2010. RecWorks provides hassle-free tech recruitment for UK startups and scaleups. If you're hiring and want to learn more, reach out to MD Barry Cranford at bc@recworks.co.uk.