For Current and Future R&D Leaders

Publishes Mondays, every one or two weeks.

Hi, I’m Gary Poster (rhymes with “foster”). For over 20 years, I’ve been leading teams in software R&D, tackling challenges from scaling early-stage startups to managing complex systems in global organizations. I’ve worked remotely for 15+ years, guiding teams through the intricacies of developer tools, platform building, and creating thriving marketplaces.

Currently, I lead product and engineering at Kard, a Series A fintech/adtech startup. This is my second time building R&D at an early startup and another chapter in my journey of shaping impactful platforms and products. Kard hasn’t yet found a way to leverage my past life as a professional classical singer, but I remain hopeful.

Over the years, I’ve assembled principles, tools, and insights that have helped me navigate the challenges of R&D leadership. But I’ve also learned the hard way that “my way” isn’t the best way for everyone. Context matters. Leadership is personal. And what works for me might not work for you.

That’s why I started this blog: to share what I’ve learned and explore new ideas with current and future R&D leaders. If you’re curious, reflective, and love to grow, I think you’ll find something here worth your time.

Want to dive in? Let’s figure this out together.

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Leading Innovation is a publication for leaders and aspiring leaders in R&D, offering insights, tools, and reflections on navigating the complexities of innovation, product creation, and transformational leadership.

People

R&D leader passionate about people, product, and engineering excellence. VP Product & Engineering at Kard (https://www.getkard.com/). Experience at Snyk, Manifold (acquired by Snyk), Heroku/Salesforce, Canonical, and more. Former professional singer.