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A Platform Mindset: Building a Culture of Collaboration
Marcus Fontoura's career, and indeed this book, has largely been about the ethos needed to build powerful platforms.
A tech platform is a reusable system that implements a core piece of functionality, such as identity. In this case, an identity platform provides a solution for users to log-in to multiple services. Developers gain agility when using platforms, as they don't need to implement the whole system from scratch and can focus on the new, differentiating innovations.
A platform, however, is an external dependency. Thus, using a platform implies teams taking a dependency on other teams. This requires coordination and collaboration. It is impossible to build the large-scale, complex systems of today without relying on platforms and their multiplier effect to build a scalable identity solution once and reuse it many times in all the company's services. This means that modern technology organizations need to be highly collaborative, with all their sub teams interacting in an open way, in which ideas are generated, developed, and propagated in an environment that empowers the developers to be themselves and let their creativity flourish.
Platforms are the seeds of innovation and require their daily dose of creativity and collaboration to blossom into the systems that impact our lives and society in a positive way. Fontoura truly believes we can create a better world through technology and a platform mindset is the foundation.
A tech platform is a reusable system that implements a core piece of functionality, such as identity. In this case, an identity platform provides a solution for users to log-in to multiple services. Developers gain agility when using platforms, as they don't need to implement the whole system from scratch and can focus on the new, differentiating innovations.
A platform, however, is an external dependency. Thus, using a platform implies teams taking a dependency on other teams. This requires coordination and collaboration. It is impossible to build the large-scale, complex systems of today without relying on platforms and their multiplier effect to build a scalable identity solution once and reuse it many times in all the company's services. This means that modern technology organizations need to be highly collaborative, with all their sub teams interacting in an open way, in which ideas are generated, developed, and propagated in an environment that empowers the developers to be themselves and let their creativity flourish.
Platforms are the seeds of innovation and require their daily dose of creativity and collaboration to blossom into the systems that impact our lives and society in a positive way. Fontoura truly believes we can create a better world through technology and a platform mindset is the foundation.
334 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 23, 2025
It is so refreshing to see someone with an illustrious career in the tech industry share their life story along with the lessons learned from their mentors. Marcus ties nearly each chapter with several personal and professional stories that connect seamlessly with the narrative of developing a platform mindset. I especially liked the analogies of "bikes" and "horses," which have now officially entered my vocabulary.
Marcus shares the best leadership practices and mechanisms from both Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Stone, IBM and other companies. One unique insight I gained from the book was the necessity of considering changes to infrastructure as technology evolves. There is no "one perfect" architecture, but rather a continuous evolution. The example of how "mobile-first" emerged after 2007 seems very relevant for the current "Ambient AI" era with the adoption of GenAI from 2023.
He dedicates significant time to the importance of code reviews in a technology team and how to inspire engineers who take the time to get it right. Marcus also effectively argues that hiring smart but non-toxic people will enhance the multiplier effect, not only within the current company but also as these individuals move to other roles and inspire others. This network effect becomes very clear in the last chapters, where he shares the stories of people who inspired and helped formulate the platform mindset.
One quote that stayed with me is the speech he recounts giving his team: "We are all colleagues here. Before you open your mouth, please listen to what the other person is saying. Stop, think, internalize, and when you do speak, make sure you are adding value to the discussion and not generating more conflict."
(Disclaimer: I worked with the author in a professional setting, but the book was purchased and reviewed independently by me.)
Marcus shares the best leadership practices and mechanisms from both Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Stone, IBM and other companies. One unique insight I gained from the book was the necessity of considering changes to infrastructure as technology evolves. There is no "one perfect" architecture, but rather a continuous evolution. The example of how "mobile-first" emerged after 2007 seems very relevant for the current "Ambient AI" era with the adoption of GenAI from 2023.
He dedicates significant time to the importance of code reviews in a technology team and how to inspire engineers who take the time to get it right. Marcus also effectively argues that hiring smart but non-toxic people will enhance the multiplier effect, not only within the current company but also as these individuals move to other roles and inspire others. This network effect becomes very clear in the last chapters, where he shares the stories of people who inspired and helped formulate the platform mindset.
One quote that stayed with me is the speech he recounts giving his team: "We are all colleagues here. Before you open your mouth, please listen to what the other person is saying. Stop, think, internalize, and when you do speak, make sure you are adding value to the discussion and not generating more conflict."
(Disclaimer: I worked with the author in a professional setting, but the book was purchased and reviewed independently by me.)
November 17, 2025
Read this on a recommendation from Mark R. Good lessons within, but the constant name dropping was tedious, I can only assume this was (unnecessarily) to borrow credibility.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews