Leaders must model AI
Lester Kim argues engineering leaders should model AI use to inspire senior engineers and improve hiring — framing AI adoption as a leadership responsibility, not just a tool (x.com). The thread pushes the idea that visible leader behavior drives team adoption and signals strategic priority for recruiting top talent (x.com).
Lester Kim is listed as Head of Engineering at Balcony, a Hoboken, New Jersey–based startup that says it builds blockchain and AI tools for public‑sector real‑estate data. (balcony.technology/about/) Kim’s personal site advertises that he helps “10‑person engineering teams become AI‑native and ship faster—without adding headcount,” framing his work as hands‑on adoption support rather than purely strategic guidance. (lesterckim.com) Balcony and multiple press outlets announced Kim’s appointment on June 10, 2024, and the company’s release cites his prior engineering roles at Magic Eden and Kraken, including work on a Kraken migration tied to platforms handling $30 billion in assets under administration. (afvnews.ca) Industry recruiting data shows the scale of the hiring challenge Kim’s thread addresses: a Forbes survey of senior AI leaders reported 67% say hiring top product and engineering talent takes four or more months. (forbes.com) Operational surveys add a skills‑gap dimension: Platform Engineering’s recent report found 57% of organizations cite skill gaps as their top barrier to becoming AI‑native. (vultr.com/blog) Public profiles and directories list Balcony at roughly 21 employees and show Kim as the company’s Head of Engineering, and his GitHub and professional pages identify Balcony as his current employer. (ctorank.com/leaders/lester-kim/; github.com/LesterKim)
