Brian Wald

I'm a builder who ended up in strategy. I started as a software engineer, got deep into DevOps and platform work, and eventually realized that shipping great software has less to do with code than with how teams and leaders align around it.

Now, as Global Field CTO at GitLab, I help some of the world's largest engineering orgs navigate the tension between shipping fast and staying secure, especially as AI reshapes what's possible and what's expected of every team.

I write here about what I'm seeing in the field: patterns in how engineering orgs scale, where AI adoption actually sticks, and the gap between best practices and what really happens inside large companies. It's grounded in real conversations, not abstractions.

Occasionally I write about the things that keep me sane outside of work too: cooking, sailing, and whatever else catches my attention.

Available for speaking engagements, advisory roles, and consulting. Let's talk.