Developer Insights
Join millions of viewers! Our engineers craft human-written articles solving real-world problems weekly. Enjoy fresh technical content and numerous interviews featuring modern web advancements with industry leaders and open-source authors.
Psychologically Safe Workplaces with Krystal Smith-Moore
Krystal Smith-Moore, Engineering Manager at Spotify, shares her journey from a non-traditional background to management, and how it informs her empathetic leadership approach. Krystal emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, seeking support, and aligning personal values with management roles. By ensuring our values align with the company's mission and culture, we can create a more fulfilling leadership experience. Krystal stresses the need for self-care, setting boundaries to prevent burnout, and recognizing when it's time to recharge. By prioritizing self-care, leaders can maintain their energy and enthusiasm, leading to better decision-making and a more positive work environment. She also discusses the importance of empathy, continuous learning, and creating psychologically safe workplaces where employees feel comfortable expressing their ideas and concerns. By aligning personal values with management roles, prioritizing self-care, and fostering a psychologically safe workplace, leaders can create a positive and impactful experience for themselves and their teams. Download this episode here....
Jun 13, 2024
1 min
How to be an Effective Technology Leader in an Agile Startup Environment with Daniel Chopson
Daniel Chopson, CTO and co-founder of Cove Tool, discusses key aspects of engineering leadership, team management, and software development in the fast paced startup environment. Cove.Tool, initially a sustainability-focused software company, has evolved to offer AI-driven solutions for architects and engineers. Daniel shared valuable insights on the importance of productive retrospectives, agile planning, and strategic team structuring. Daniel emphasized the significance of conducting productive retrospectives to foster team improvement and effective communication. By celebrating wins and establishing clear action items, teams can identify areas for growth and implement necessary changes. These retrospectives provide a platform for open and honest discussions, enabling teams to learn from their successes and failures. Encouraging a culture of continuous improvement allows engineering leaders to drive innovation and enhance team collaboration. In a startup environment, balancing planning and agility is crucial for success. Cove.Tool prioritizes shorter-term sprint planning to allow for real-time feedback and adaptability. By aligning work towards business objectives while maintaining flexibility in planning, the team can respond quickly to changing market demands. This approach enables Cove.Tool to stay ahead of the curve and deliver high-quality solutions to their clients. The key lies in finding the right balance between long-term strategic planning and the ability to pivot when necessary. Team structuring plays a vital role in engineering leadership. Daniel highlighted the importance of specialized roles like engineering managers and tech leads for effective people development and technical guidance. Engineering managers focus on nurturing the growth and well-being of team members, while tech leads provide technical expertise and mentorship. This division of responsibilities ensures that both the personal and technical aspects of team development are adequately addressed, leading to a more productive and motivated workforce. The conversation underscored the significance of adaptability, feedback-driven decision-making, and strategic team structuring in successful software development endeavors. By embracing change and continuously seeking feedback, engineering leaders can make informed decisions and drive innovation. Strategic team structuring, with specialized roles and clear responsibilities, ensures that the right people are in the right positions to maximize productivity and foster growth. Effective engineering leadership is essential for adapting to changing market demands and building teams equipped to tackle future challenges. Download this episode here....
May 24, 2024
2 mins
Are Engineering Leaders Hiding Behind the Data?
Many engineering leaders when they start out find themselves just wanting to please everyone around them. Figuring out how to “own” the role is quite difficult for many. Rob Ocel, Engineering Lead and Tracy Lee, CEO at This Dot explore this topic on this episode. They discuss the idea of hiding behind the data. When decisions are made, it’s easy to ask for data, but then make decisions solely based on that data and not form or “own” an opinion around that decision so you can’t get blamed for an opinion you had. Rob encourages leaders to have opinions and be willing to fight for them. Another topic covered was making people unhappy in a deliberate way. Are you able to succeed doing so, and do you have the ability to “own” that? Rob also emphasizes the need for self-awareness and self-introspection, and to have mentors and accountability partners to help guide decision-making. Listen to the full podcast here: https://engineeringleadership.podbean.com/e/are-engineering-leaders-hiding-behind-the-data-with-robocel-tracy-lee/...
Jan 24, 2024
1 min
Cybersecurity Leadership 101 with Dr. Joye Purser
Dr. Joye Purser is the field Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Veritas, a software company specializing in data backup systems. Veritas' global leadership in cybersecurity plays a critical role in data backup and restoration in the cybersecurity landscape. Dr. Purser's career ranges from her time at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to roles at the Pentagon and the White House. Dr. Purser talks about common misconceptions regarding working in the government in the field of technology and notes the increasing trend of tech companies recruiting individuals with defense and military backgrounds due to rising threats to the private sector. There is an evolution in cybersecurity, particularly post-pandemic, with an increased sophistication of cyber threats and a rise of ransomware attacks. There is now a heightened focus on critical infrastructure security and a new outlook on the potential life-threatening consequences of cyber disruptions. The qualities of effective cybersecurity leadership are vision, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Dr. Purser elaborates on the importance of having a clear vision, especially in an emerging role like hers at Veritas. She shares her experience obtaining the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) certification, highlighting the necessity of adaptability in acquiring new skills and staying ahead of the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape. Dr. Purser stresses the significance of soft influencing skills, adaptability in communication styles based on the audience, and the ability to read the room. She emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence when asking for resources or driving change, recognizing the discomfort associated with these demands. Listen to the podcast here: https://engineeringleadership.podbean.com/e/joye-purser/...
Jan 16, 2024
2 mins
Innovation is NOT Just Creating Something New: Dylani Herath, FinTech Leader
Dylani Herath, a well known FinTech leader who has worked at organizations such as Greenwood, JP Morgan, and FIS sat down with Rob Ocel, Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs and shared some insight on how digital leaders can improve culture and lead...
Jan 10, 2024
3 mins
Engineering Management: Just a Detour? - Charity Majors, CTO at Honeycomb
Rob Ocel interviews Charity Majors, CTO at Honeycomb on engineering leadership. Engineering management was once thought of as an inevitable destination for engineers who sought advancement in their careers, but now engineers have more options than ever. Many engineering managers are becoming engineers again, and the role of manager requires a significant amount of emotional labor. Should anyone want to be an engineering manager? Charity shares her journey of becoming an accidental CTO and founder, despite never aspiring to be a manager. She talks about the importance of engineering managers, and how they help teams outperform those without one, but acknowledges the role is challenging and not always enjoyable. Charity and Rob discuss how good managers can transform a company. They are compared to the nervous system of a company, routing information and ensuring everyone has what they need to succeed. Charity highlights the difficulty engineers face when transitioning from a ticket system to a more autonomous work environment. This shift can be challenging, as engineers may struggle with the newfound freedom and responsibility. It can take years to fully make the transition, so leaders looking to promote engineers to management need to be committed to and patient with the transition. Both Charity and Rob agree that a strong social support system for engineering managers is necessary as the role can be isolating, and having a network of peers who understand the challenges can be invaluable. Charity Majors' experiences and perspectives shed light on the challenges and rewards of the role, and when engineers should and should not pursue this career path....
Jan 4, 2024
2 mins
Building a Championship Team: Lessons from Sports, the Kitchen, and Software Orgs with Joe Essey, Director of Engineering at Popmenu
In this episode of the Engineering Leadership podcast, Rob Ocel sits down with Joe Essey, the Director of Engineering at Popmenu, to discuss the key elements of creating a high-performing team environment. Drawing from his experience in the restaurant...
Dec 19, 2023
2 mins
From Vision to Results Quickly with Rapid Prototyping: Insights from Salesforce CTO Charlie Isaacs
In this episode of the Engineering Leadership series, Rob Ocel interviews Charlie Isaacs, the CTO for Customer Connection at Salesforce. Charlie describes his career journey - from Government contracting to being at the front of major tech trends such as IoT and AI at Silicon Valley startups to becoming the CTO for Customer Connection at Salesforce. He shares some key lessons he learned in his career about rapid prototyping and daring to dream big. One of Charlie's key strategies is understanding the values and true goals of his team and his clients. He delves into a customer's annual report and familiarizes himself with the individuals present in the room. This preparation allows him to tailor his demos to align with the customer's vision. Charlie also employs a technique he calls "spaghetti flinging," where he throws out ideas and observes which ones stick. This approach fosters innovation and encourages creative problem-solving. Charlie emphasizes the significance of digital transformation in maintaining competitiveness in today's economic climate. He suggests that companies should strive for operational efficiency, and Salesforce is actively leveraging their own tools and implementing automation to achieve this goal. By streamlining their operations, Salesforce aims to enhance their overall performance and deliver better customer experiences. Charlie also talks about the power of rapid prototyping. Leaders are distracted by their day to day operations, they often cannot conceive that something can be built rapidly to prove an idea and provide data. Rapid prototyping allows leaders to divide and conquer, by breaking up a large vision into smaller ideas that can be quickly built and evaluated. Charlie advocates that these prototypes are not play versions of real solutions, but instead true MVP versions that deliver real value at a smaller scale. Charlie Isaacs, the CTO for Customer Connection at Salesforce, shares insights into his role and strategies in this episode. Through thorough research and tailored demos, he connects customers to Salesforce's products and services. He emphasizes the importance of innovation and digital transformation in staying competitive. Charlie’s story highlights the value of having grand vision but rapidly turning vision into action....
Dec 12, 2023
2 mins
Being a CTO at Any Level: A Discussion with Kathy Keating, Co-Founder of CTO Levels
In this episode of the engineering leadership series, Kathy Keating, co-founder of CTO Levels and CTO Advisor, shares her insights on the role of a CTO and the challenges they face. She begins by discussing her own journey as a technologist and her experience in technology leadership roles, including founding companies and having a recent exit. According to Kathy, the primary responsibility of a CTO is to deliver the technology that aligns with the company's business needs. However, she highlights a concerning statistic that 50% of CTOs have a tenure of less than two years, often due to a lack of understanding and mismatched expectations. She emphasizes the importance of building trust quickly in order to succeed in this role. One of the main challenges CTOs face is transitioning from being a technologist to a leader. Kathy stresses the significance of developing effective communication habits to bridge this gap. She suggests that CTOs create a playbook of best practices to enhance their communication skills and join communities of other CTOs to learn from their experiences. Matching the right CTO to the stage of a company is another crucial aspect discussed in the episode. Kathy explains that different stages of a company require different types of CTOs, and it is essential to find the right fit. To navigate these challenges, Kathy advises CTOs to build a support system of advisors and coaches who can provide guidance and help them overcome obstacles. Additionally, she encourages CTOs to be aware of their own preferences and strengths, as self-awareness can greatly contribute to their success. In conclusion, this podcast episode sheds light on the technical aspects of being a CTO and the challenges they face. Kathy Keating's insights provide valuable guidance for CTOs to build trust, develop effective communication habits, match their skills to the company's stage, and create a support system for their professional growth. By understanding these key technical aspects, CTOs can enhance their leadership skills and contribute to the success of their organizations....
Dec 5, 2023
2 mins
Software Team Leadership: Risk Taking & Decision Making with David Cramer, Co-Founder & CTO at Sentry
In this episode of the engineering leadership series, Rob Ocel interviews David Cramer, co-founder and CTO of Sentry, delving into the importance of decision-making, risk-taking, and the challenges faced in the software engineering industry. David emphasizes the significance of having conviction and being willing to make decisions, even if they turn out to be wrong. He shares his experience of attending a CEO event, where he discovered that decision-making and conflict resolution are struggles even for successful individuals. David highlights the importance of making decisions quickly and accepting the associated risks, rather than attempting to pursue multiple options simultaneously. He believes that being decisive is crucial in the fast-paced software engineering industry. This approach allows for faster progress and adaptation, even if it means occasionally making mistakes along the way. The success of Sentry is attributed to a combination of factors, including market opportunity and the team's principles and conviction. David acknowledges that bold ideas often carry a higher risk of failure, but if they do succeed, the outcome can be incredibly significant. This mindset has contributed to Sentry’s achievements in the industry. The interview also touches on the challenges of developing and defending opinions in the software engineering field. David acknowledges that it can be difficult to navigate differing viewpoints and conflicting ideas. However, he emphasizes the importance of standing by one's convictions and being open to constructive criticism and feedback. Throughout the conversation, David emphasizes the need for engineering leaders to be decisive and take calculated risks. He encourages leaders to trust their instincts and make decisions promptly, even if they are uncertain about the outcome. This approach fosters a culture of innovation and progress within engineering teams. The episode provides valuable insights into the decision-making process and the challenges faced by engineering leaders. It highlights the importance of conviction, risk-taking, and the ability to make decisions quickly in the software engineering industry. David's experiences and perspectives offer valuable lessons for aspiring engineering leaders looking to navigate the complexities of the field....
Nov 28, 2023
2 mins
Embracing Risk and Doing Your Part in Open Source: Lesson from Platformatic CTO Matteo Collina
Matteo Collina, CTO of Platformatic, discusses their breaking change detector in the latest Engineering Leadership Series. Leveraging real production data, it accurately assesses microservice system risks. Presented by This Dot Labs...
Nov 21, 2023
2 mins
How to Cultivate a Culture of Innovation, Intent, and Mission-Focus with Shanthala Rao, Chief Digital Development Officer at Primerica
In the latest episode of Engineering Leadership, Rob Ocel talks with Shanthala Rao, the Chief Digital Development Officer at Primerica. The episode delves into Primerica's culture of innovation and intentionality, where they consistently strive to enhance...
Nov 14, 2023
2 mins
Let's innovate together!
We're ready to be your trusted technical partners in your digital innovation journey.
Whether it's modernization or custom software solutions, our team of experts can guide you through best practices and how to build scalable, performant software that lasts.