It's been a while but I also worked there at the same time. I was in the original group who set up the UK operations around the turn of the millennium.
And you recommended the Introduction to Algorithms book to me...
In my experience, a good technical lead won't give commandments from on high. A good technical lead will consult and facilitate a discussion and mediate conflict. They will also be directive when the time is right, but only after having listened and weighed the arguments. They will also be able to explain the rationale behind those decisions.
And you recommended the Introduction to Algorithms book to me...