The tech industry thrives on disruption, yet few companies manage to stand out not only for their products but also for their approach to leadership and culture. Charity Majors, co-founder and CTO of Honeycomb, is one such figure—an advocate for observability and a dedicated proponent of inclusive teams. Her story isn’t just about building a successful company; it’s about redefining what success looks like in tech by challenging conventions, embracing continuous innovation, and championing diversity.
In a recent Breaking Changes episode, Majors sat down with Postman’s Head of Product - Observability, Jean Yang, to delve into her reflections on observability, handling the waves of hype, evolving company culture, and the importance of fostering diversity within leadership. Let’s dive into some of Majors’ thought-provoking stories, lessons, and insights from this conversation that can inspire tech leaders as they navigate their own paths.
Observability: redefining how we understand software
From theory to reality
Observability acts as the backbone of a shift in how we understand software systems. Majors recounts the early days of Honeycomb, where the concept of “observability” was borrowed from control theory and applied to the intricate world of software. Unlike traditional monitoring tools that rely on predetermined metrics, logs, and traces, observability offers a more holistic approach—enabling teams to infer the system’s state from its outputs.
“When we looked up observability, it really clicked. We’re trying to make it so that just by looking at telemetry, you can understand any state that your system can get itself into.”
—Charity Majors
This realization formed the cornerstone of Honeycomb’s mission, even if it meant defying established industry norms. Observability transformed the way teams could interact with their systems, allowing them to ask more insightful questions and gain real-time answers.
Breaking down the traditional model
The traditional model of monitoring often confines engineers to separate silos of metrics, logs, and traces. Majors highlighted that this approach frequently results in senior engineers becoming gatekeepers—the only ones capable of “mystically deducing” what’s happening when something goes awry. This reliance on individual heroics is risky, particularly when organizations face turnover.
Observability calls for a more collaborative and comprehensive understanding of systems. It empowers entire teams to diagnose and solve problems, reducing dependency on a few experts.
Advice for leadership: Are your current tools and practices enabling team collaboration, or are they reinforcing knowledge silos that could become single points of failure?
Embracing the hype and staying true to vision
Hype waves: friend or foe?
In tech, the speed of change can be overwhelming. New trends emerge almost overnight, and companies are often pressured to jump on the latest bandwagon. Majors, however, approaches hype with a discerning mindset, seeing it as a chance for introspection rather than a directive to pivot.
“I feel like the waves of hype are just opportunities to hold up a slightly different mirror to yourself. You have to ask, ‘Does this make sense from where I sit? How does this interact with the stuff that I think about?’”
—Charity Majors
By engaging thoughtfully with trends, Honeycomb can adapt without losing sight of its core mission. Hype isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s a catalyst that can help you reassess and refine your strategy if approached with a critical eye.
Advice for leadership: How can you use current trends as a tool to enhance your vision, rather than allowing them to distract you from your long-term goals?
Adapting to growth and evolution
From chaos to structure
Honeycomb’s journey from a chaotic startup to a more structured organization reflects a familiar story in the tech world. What started as a team of generalists hacking their way through problems had to evolve as the company grew and matured.
In addition to defining new processes, this shift is about recognizing the changing needs of the team and aligning culture with business objectives. Culture must evolve with growth, but it’s vital to retain the core values that made the company unique in the first place.
Balancing internal growth and external talent
As companies grow, there’s a tension between nurturing internal talent and bringing in external expertise. Majors highlights the challenge of staying committed to promoting from within, even when the pressures of rapid growth demand experienced hires who can deliver immediate results.
“We have a definite bias for letting people internally grow into roles. But when you accept VC money, you’re on a compressed timescale, and you don’t always have the luxury of giving them the time to grow into it.”
—Charity Majors
Striking the right balance between nurturing internal talent and bringing in outside experience is crucial for sustainable growth.
The role of transparency and trust
Honeycomb’s culture is built on transparency, but Majors is quick to acknowledge that transparency has its boundaries. Moments involving personal privacy or sensitive career discussions require a more nuanced approach. True transparency doesn’t mean sharing everything; it means fostering an environment of trust, where people feel safe and respected.
Fostering an inclusive culture: the power of representation
Diversity as an advantage, not a checkbox
Honeycomb’s leadership team stands out in an industry often criticized for its lack of diversity. Majors admits this wasn’t initially intentional, but they quickly recognized the impact it had on their ability to attract diverse talent.
“There is a thirst in this industry for real representation at the top. If you want to be able to recruit a diverse team, make sure you have diverse leadership.”
—Charity Majors
Diverse leadership isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic advantage that fosters innovation and attracts top talent.
Advice for leadership: Is your leadership team a true reflection of the diverse talent you want to attract and retain?
Leading change with courage and conviction
Majors’ journey with Honeycomb is a masterclass in leading with clarity, empathy, and a willingness to defy conventions. Observability isn’t just a technical framework; it’s a philosophy for leadership—about seeing things as they truly are, challenging assumptions, and creating an environment where everyone has the tools to succeed.
The most profound changes in tech involve reimagining how we work, lead, and create together. How will you lead your team through the inevitable changes ahead?
For more of Charity Majors’ insights, be sure to check out the full episode, “Observability Evangelism: Spreading the Gospel from Parse to Honeycomb.” Learn more wisdom from industry experts by subscribing to Breaking Changes on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.