You’ve just promoted your top-performing developer or product designer to a team lead role. Congrats! Now what?

In tech startups, this is how most management stories begin. But without proper training, these transitions can end in burnout, breakdowns, or worse – good people leaving quietly.

In Episode 1 of the Business Backstage Podcast, I speak with leadership expert Gayle Thompson about the cost of overlooking first-line managers and why they’re your startup’s secret weapon if developed early.

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As I promised in my previous newsletter, I’m going to be sharing the key takeaways from the podcast episodes, so here’s what we covered in Episode 1 and what you should be thinking about:

1. Why first-line managers matter more than you think:

You hire someone smart, promote them, and hope for the best. Sound familiar? Gayle reminded us that 82% of new managers in the UK are never trained. And in tech, where pressure is high and structure is often missing, this can be dangerous for the individual and the business.

2. How poor management can quickly become expensive:

Replacing a burnt-out or overwhelmed manager is not just about the hiring costs. You lose productivity, morale, team cohesion, and often… You lose them to a competitor. Now that’s talent and market share walking out the door.

3. Why training is not a luxury but a risk mitigation:

In tough financial times, training is often the first budget item to go. But Gayle made it clear: “If you think training is expensive, wait until you see what it costs to replace someone you didn’t support.”

4. What managers need to succeed:

It is not just theory. Gayle’s leadership accelerator gives managers live support, space to practise real scenarios, and confidence built through action. Leadership is not about ticking boxes but doing the work and learning from it.

5. The role of psychological safety:

This came up again and again: people don’t do their best work when they’re walking on eggshells. Building a culture where people feel safe to speak, fail, ask for help, and grow is the foundation for innovation.

6. Advice for individual contributors (software developers):

Not everyone wants to manage a team, but if you do, you should seek out opportunities to lead before you get the title. Speak up in meetings. Mentor. Build visibility. Don’t wait to be given permission. Leadership starts before the promotion comes.

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Why Gayle’s Voice Matters

Gayle brings 30+ years of experience and a story-filled career that’s taken her from training scientists in South Africa to coaching leaders in Scottish tech hubs. She’s seen the good, the bad, and the burnout.

Her humour and depth of experience made this episode not just insightful, but real and filled with practical wisdom for anyone building or managing in today’s tech world.

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Missed the episode? Watch it now: What Every Tech Entrepreneur Must Know About Their Managers 🔗 Watch Podcast

Next week on Business Backstage, we’re digging into responsible AI in the workplace. We unpacked what responsible AI is and the critical things individuals and business leaders adopting AI need to be thinking about from now on. So, if you’re someone who’s AI-curious, AI-cautious, or somewhere in between, subscribe to Business Backstage to learn.

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Got a topic you’d love to learn about, or know someone doing amazing work behind the scenes? 👉🏽 Submit a suggestion or recommend a guest.

Thanks for being part of this journey.

Until next time,

Bukola (Bukie) Osuntuyi

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Bukola Osuntuyi is a business operations director and advisor to early-stage tech startups. She specialises in building startup operations from scratch and structuring teams, leading innovative changes, and transforming mid-level managers into impactful people leaders.

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