Interview: Google’s Matt Brittin on leading through uncertainty
Matt Brittin, former President of Google EMEA, reflects on nearly two decades at the forefront of digital innovation and what he’s learnt about leadership in a rapidly transforming landscape
As organisations attempt to break down silos and embrace more horizontal, agile structures, the former president of Google EMEA, Matt Brittin, argues that leadership must become more adaptive and human-centric. In this podcast interview with UnWork CEO and Founder Philip Ross, Brittin shares his experiences on how to build a culture that rewards collaboration, trust and experimentation – even in times of uncertainty.
Brittin emphasises the important role of leaders in building high-performing teams. It is the combination of generalist leadership and deep domain expertise that allows teams the clarity, trust and autonomy to innovate and experiment in a psychologically safe environment.
In this conversation, Brittin advocates for a leadership style that is clear, compassionate and decentralised – pushing individual ownership downwards and encouraging teams to ‘act like leaders and win as a team’. In uncertain times, human capabilities like curiosity, creativity, and care will define our ability to harness technology for good.
Listen to Matt Britton’s conversation with Philip Ross on the UnWorking Podcast here:
