PROFILE
N
ational Geographic is a digital
cable and satellite television
network with the core purpose of
furthering knowledge and awareness of
science and adventure. The organisation’s
Chief Technology Officer, Marcus East,
offers an insight into the daily challenges
and highlights he encounters within
his role.
On being CTO of National Geographic
I am responsible for the technology,
software and systems that power the
experiences we create to delight millions of
consumers around the world, and the tools
that allow our editorial teams to create
the articles, stories and photo albums that
feature on our website, partner sites and
National Geographic apps.
The importance of versatility for the
role of CTO supported and respected, but where they’re
also stretched and challenged.
Being flexible is critical for any CTO; not
only do you need to be able to architect
and create cost-effective systems, you also
need to be able to manage the delivery of
complex solutions while driving innovation.
Technology is constantly rapidly evolving,
as is best practice and it’s critically
important for a CTO to be versatile to be
able to keep up. I sometimes describe my role as ‘looking
after’ my team and I believe technologists
respond well to this.
Discussing management style
I subscribe to the servant-leader model; I
believe that teams do their best work when
they are developing personally and that a
good leader creates an environment where
their people perform at their best, feel
At the same time, one must also add
tangible value to their work and although
the remit of a CTO is broad, I personally like
to ensure that I stay hands-on enough to
be able to help my team solve problems.
The whiteboard in my office is where many
designs and architectures come to life!
Developing the skills of others and
putting them into practice
I have been very fortunate in my career and
have worked for some outstanding leaders
ONE OF THE BIG
CHALLENGES
FACING EUROPE
IS THE BRAIN-
DRAIN OF
TALENTED
TECHNOLOGISTS
THAT ARE LURED
TO THE US.
who invested heavily in me and helped me
to develop the skills on which my career
has been based. I am therefore passionate
about helping others to do the same.
I believe it to be the duty of a leader to
help those around them to develop their
skills and there are several ways I put this
into practice:
• It’s incredibly important to have clear
objectives and expectations for your team
so they are clear about what they need to
deliver; that allows them to assess which
skills they need
• I’m very supportive of training and
encourage my team to commit to lifelong
learning and regular training to allow
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