Hello
I'm Hossein Toussi. For over fifteen years I've built software, and I've led the engineering teams that launched products at companies like Blinkist, Helpling, and Lokalise. I care about one thing: that the team's work changes something measurable for the business. I still build, with AI doing the typing now, and I've developed more than fifty engineers and managers across twenty countries along the way.
How I lead
- Clarity comes before autonomy.
- You can't expect people to take ownership if they don't understand the problem, the priorities, or what's expected of them.
- High standards and empathy go together.
- Caring about people doesn't mean lowering expectations. It means setting clear expectations, giving honest feedback, and having difficult conversations when needed.
- Outcomes matter more than output.
- A team can deliver ten features and still make very little difference. What matters is whether we're solving the right problems.
- Fix the system, not just the symptoms.
- When teams struggle, the answer isn't always to work harder or hire more people. Unclear priorities, unnecessary dependencies, and slow decisions can make even strong teams ineffective.
- Good judgment matters more than ever.
- AI is making it easier and faster to build software. But knowing what to build, understanding tradeoffs, and knowing when to say no still require good judgment.
- Stay close to the work.
- Engineering leaders don't need to write every line of code. But they should understand the technology, the challenges their teams face, and the tradeoffs behind important decisions.
From people I've worked with
“I highly recommend Hossein to any organization aiming to elevate delivery, both from a sustainable and scalable perspective, with a human-centric approach. He distils leadership concepts into practical, actionable insights.”
“Hossein is an exceptional coach-manager who expertly nurtures growth in his team. His coaching empowers individuals and unites teams, consistently driving exceptional results.”
Writing
All notes →Stop Starting, Start Finishing: How Doing Less Hit Our Revenue Target
My domain was busy but nothing got done. We cut the number of projects in progress, and finished the quarter ahead of target. This is the story of what we changed and what happened.
Why Completing a Task Isn’t Enough: The Developer’s Guide to Problem Solving
Software developers must go beyond task completion; they should focus on solving real problems.
Leadership Styles and Management Theories: A Modern Perspective
Explore effective leadership strategies and management theories to boost team productivity and satisfaction in today's dynamic work environment.
Some of the companies I've worked with