Pebble Ops: A Mission to Remove the Small Stuff That Slows Us Down

Dave Poole - Principal Data Engineer @ Manuka AI

Pebble Ops: A Mission to Remove the Small Stuff That Slows Us Down

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” - Muhammad Ali

In our work, those “pebbles” are the small, persistent frictions - awkward processes, clumsy tools, and needless hurdles that quietly drain time, money, and morale. They rarely make the company newsletter, but their impact can derail even the most important projects.

With hindsight, I can see how many of these frictions could have been avoided or fixed early - and how failing to do so compromised the success of the “big” initiatives. In a start-up, this can be the difference between thriving and folding; in a large organisation, it can silently erode momentum.

In this talk, I will share some of the most avoidable frictions I've encountered, the surprising ways they shaped outcomes, and practical approaches to spot and remove them before they trip you up.

Date: Thursday 25th September
Venue: Bonded Warehouse (M3 4AP)

5pm – doors open (network, have some pizza and grab a drink)
6pm – presentation
7pm – pub / home (please don’t feel bad if you have to leave early)

Pizza and drinks will be provided as usual. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let me know ahead of time.