On Leading Kids vs. Adults, Running Otus Without HR, and Building a Team of Developers and Teachers with Chris Hull

How can data and technology transform education while keeping the human connection alive?

Chris Hull, Co-founder and President of Otus, joins the podcast to discuss his journey from a seventh-grade social studies teacher to leading an edtech company focused on making student data accessible and actionable for educators. 

Chris shares how Otus centralizes diverse student data—grades, attendance, behavioral insights—to support teachers, districts, and families, creating a complete picture of each learner. Chris also opens up about the challenges of building a remote team, fostering a strong culture with former educators and engineers, and maintaining motivation and connectivity in a virtual environment.

Join Chris, Doug, and Una for a conversation on the evolution of education and the heart of team dynamics.

 Key Takeaways:

• Centralizing data for deeper learning connections: Otus aggregates student data into a single platform, enabling teachers to understand each student’s unique needs, from performance metrics to personal interests.
• Balancing tech and human connection in education: Chris emphasizes that technology should enhance learning without overshadowing the essential teacher-student relationship.
• Cultivating culture in remote teams: Intentionality is key for Otus’s remote team, where fostering a strong, inclusive culture is essential to uniting former educators and tech professionals.

Key Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:28 - Chris’s Background: From Teacher to CEO

00:03:57 - The Genesis of Otus and Early Challenges

00:06:40 - Solving Education Gaps with Data Integration

00:09:30 - The Journey from Idea to Full-Time Commitment

00:11:20 - Transition to a Remote Company Model

00:13:15 - Building Team Culture Remotely

00:15:25 - Team Dynamics: All-Stars vs. Cohesive Group

00:17:43 - Balancing Diverse Team Roles at Otus

00:19:32 - Adapting Tech for Individual Student Success

00:23:30 - Finding Balance: Social vs. Isolated Learning

00:26:01 - Will Chris Return to Teaching?

00:27:25 - Leading Adults vs. Teaching Kids

00:31:54 - Wrapping Up with Gratitude

Key Topics Discussed:

EdTech innovation, student data management, remote team culture, education technology, Otus platform, teacher insights, mission-driven leadership, fostering teamwork, gratitude in teams

Build Stronger, Connected, More Engaged Teams:

Use Coupon Code: AMAZINGTEAMS for 15% off for the first 3 months.

About the Amazing Teams Podcast:

We started this podcast because we love teams, especially amazing ones. Michael Jordan said it best, "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." This is what we're all about!

Our mission is to help others build amazing teams by having authentic conversations with remarkable people who are building amazing teams. We will explore the tactics, strategies, and frameworks that have helped them succeed.

The Amazing Teams Podcast is produced by HeyTaco and edited by Lifetime Value Media.

Learn more about LTV at: https://www.lifetimevaluemedia.com