Starting to write again
A short note about why I'm bringing a writing habit back, and what I plan to explore here.
Oliver Drew
Engineering leader. AI native. People first.
I lead engineering teams through change — currently focussing on the AI-native transformation at PA Media Group - the UK’s national news agency. I write about the leadership, platform, and cultural choices that make good teams great.
Current focus
Updated 1 May 2026
- Leading AI and platform engineering at PA Media Group, the UK’s national news agency.
- Thinking about how engineers grow craft in a world where AI does more of the typing.
- Rebuilding a writing habit. This site is part of that.
- Reading across leadership, platform engineering, and the AI-native transformation space.
What I care about
A few things I keep coming back to.
People-First Leadership
The most important work a technical leader does is make room for other people to do their best work. Not heroics, not politics, not process for its own sake. Psychological safety, clear intent, and genuine care for the humans on the team.
AI-Native Engineering
AI is revolutionising how software gets built. The teams that win are not the ones adopting the most tools, they are the ones reshaping how people think, decide, and ship. That shift is what I spend most of my time on right now.
Engineering Culture That Lasts
Great engineering culture is not a slogan on a wall. It is the habits a team builds: how code gets reviewed, how decisions get made, how mistakes get handled. The quiet stuff compounds, for better or for worse.