This Dot Blog
This Dot provides teams with technical leaders who bring deep knowledge of the web platform. We help teams set new standards, and deliver results predictably.
How a First Reddit Engineer Builds Strong Engineering Cultures with Jeremy Edberg
In this episode of the Leadership Exchange, host Tracy Lee welcomes Jeremy Edberg, CEO of DeVos and former first employee at Reddit, to discuss leadership, engineering culture, and team building. They review Jeremy's career journey from Reddit to Netflix and beyond, sharing insights on scaling engineering teams, the impact of culture on development practices, and hiring strategies. Jeremy reflects on the evolution of his management style, emphasizing the importance of human connection in leadership, while also sharing lessons learned from his time at companies with strong engineering cultures. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:48 - Jeremy’s Background and Career Journey 01:51 - Introduction to DeVos and Its Founders 02:30 - Throwback: Reddit Meetups and "Chad Berg" Chanting 03:05 - Rebuilding the Reddit Engineering Team 05:16 - Challenges of Scaling and Maintaining Reddit's Culture 07:08 - The Role of Code in Driving Team Culture 08:14 - Differences in Team Dynamics at Reddit and Netflix 09:07 - Working at Netflix vs. Cloudflare 09:38 - The "Sports Team, Not a Family" Philosophy at Netflix 11:21 - Understanding the Keeper Test at Netflix 14:27 - Evolving Netflix's Culture to Support Diversity and Inclusion 16:05 - Misconceptions About Netflix's Work Environment 17:17 - Work-Life Balance at Netflix: High Performance in a Chill Setting 20:28 - Key Elements of a Good Engineering Culture 23:09 - How Jeremy's Leadership Style Has Evolved 24:34 - Advice for Building Successful Engineering Teams 25:26 - Closing Remarks and Sponsor Thanks 26:13 - Where to Follow Jeremy Online Follow Jeremy Edberg Twitter: https://x.com/jedberg Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedberg/ Sponsored by Wix Studio: wix.com/studio...
Oct 15, 2024
2 mins
Why is It so HARD to Break Into Tech with Jason Torres
Tracy Lee and Rob Ocel chat with Jason Torres about the challenges of breaking into tech, especially for self-taught and underrepresented developers. Jason shares his journey from a 15-year career in the film industry to pursuing software development, discussing the emotional and financial hurdles involved. They also discuss the importance of networking, finding a niche rather than mastering everything, and the impact of the tech downturn on junior developers. Chapters 1. Introduction and Tech Career Journeys (00:00 - 02:30) 2. The Struggles of Breaking Into Tech (02:31 - 06:00) 3. Jason’s Career Pivot from Film to Tech (06:01 - 10:30) 4. The Importance of Networking and Community (10:31 - 15:00) 5. Specializing vs. Being a Generalist in Tech (15:01 - 20:00) 6. Finding Your Path in Tech (20:01 - 25:30) 7. Dealing with Imposter Syndrome and Belonging (25:31 - 30:00) 8. Final Thoughts and Tips for Breaking Into Tech (30:01 - 33:00) 9. Closing Remarks and Tech Talk Humor (33:01 - End) Follow Jason Torres on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/TasonJorres Linkeidn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejasontorres/ Sponsored by Wix Studio: https://www.wix.com/studio...
Oct 8, 2024
1 min
Cybersecurity Entrepreneurship: Scaling, Partner Models, & Managing Relationships with Dr. Mike Saylor
Dr. Mike Saylor, CEO of Black Swan Cybersecurity and cybersecurity professor at UT San Antonio, shares his entrepreneurial journey, offering insights on business growth, client management, and balancing direct sales with strategic partnerships....
Sep 19, 2024
2 mins
Challenges of Growing into a Software Leadership Role with Gant Laborde
In this episode, Rob Ocel sits down with Gant Laborde, CIO at Infinite Red, to explore Gant's journey in the tech industry, his transition into leadership, and his role as a Chief Innovation Officer. Gant shares insights into the challenges and rewards of innovation within a company, how to manage upward and downward effectively, and the importance of trust in leadership. They also discuss the evolving landscape of AI, the significance of experimentation, and the courage needed to make bold decisions. Chapters Introduction and Opening Remarks - 00:00 Gant's Background and Journey in Tech - 02:05 Transitioning to Leadership at Infinite Red - 05:08 Defining Innovation at an Agency - 07:28 The Role of AI in React Native - 09:39 Navigating the Hype and Troughs of Technology - 11:35 The Challenges of Middle Management - 15:12 Building Trust and Managing Upwards - 16:25 Empowering Teams and Passing the Torch - 19:40 Developing Courage and Taking Risks - 22:30 Why Leadership is Worth It - 30:28 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up - 31:53 Follow Gant Laborde on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/GantLaborde Github: https://github.com/GantMan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gant-laborde/ Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@gantlaborde...
Aug 30, 2024
1 min
Systemized Problem Solving in Engineering Leadership Using Data with Ankur Jain
What is it like to transition from technologies to Fractional CTO? How much do systems matter when operating at the C Level? Ankur Jain, Fractional CTO and Founder at Sprout discusses the transition from being a technologist to a fractional CTO, and how to...
Jul 26, 2024
2 mins
Revolutionizing Pharma using Cutting-Edge Digital Innovation with Lee Dash
Lee Dash, SVP of Digital Innovation at Medistrava, sheds light on the pivotal role of user experience (UX) within pharmaceuticals. Lee underscores the importance of effectively delivering scientific content to healthcare professionals and the inherent...
Apr 30, 2024
2 mins
Transforming Platform Engineering Through Chargeback Programs with Shuchi Mittal
Shuchi Mittal, the Head of Cloud enablement at Honeywell, discusses how she as a leader in platform engineering has been able to transform internal platform engineering teams at other organizations by providing teams with value-added services, and how...
Apr 16, 2024
2 mins
The People Pillar Mental Model of Management with Hima Pingili
Hima Pingili, VP of Data and Software Engineering at Cipherhealth, discussed the pivotal role of the "people pillar" engineering leadership mental model. She underscored the significance of investing in team members and offering transparent feedback to facilitate their growth, emphasizing that investing in people significantly contributes to job satisfaction and retention. Hima also elaborated on the importance of establishing individual goals, fostering continuous feedback loops, and promoting collaboration as essential elements for team success. A key takeaway from the interview was the emphasis on developing team members. Hima stressed the value of investing in people's growth, even if its impact isn't immediately measurable. By providing avenues for advancement and skill enhancement, leaders can enhance job satisfaction and retain top talent within their teams. This focus on the "people pillar” is fundamental for constructing a thriving engineering team. Hima highlighted the necessity for systematic, data-driven feedback that offers actionable insights for individual improvement. Through consistent feedback mechanisms and clear goal setting, leaders can empower their team members to evolve and realize their full potential. Building trust through open communication and regular feedback is essential for nurturing a positive and productive work atmosphere. Lastly, Hima underscored the profound impact of effective management on employee retention and the importance of tailored growth opportunities. Acknowledging and addressing employees' needs is crucial for fostering enduring relationships and organizational prosperity. By prioritizing the growth and development of team members, leaders can cultivate a supportive and collaborative environment conducive to job satisfaction and sustained success. Download this podcast episode here....
Apr 2, 2024
2 mins
Are Product Roles Going Away? with Maggie Pint
Maggie Pint, Engineering Manager at Istari, discusses the trend for companies to focus on streamlining their processes and reducing complexity to deliver products faster and more efficiently versus spending time on innovation this past year. This trend has...
Mar 6, 2024
1 min
Optimizing for Tangible Business Outcomes in Engineering with Nael Alismail
Nael Alismail is the Head of Engineering at ImagineX and shares his insights on the challenges of balancing innovation with constraints, navigating technology choices, and aligning engineering efforts with tangible business outcomes. Nael's pragmatic approach underscores the importance of understanding business goals, making strategic technology decisions, and fostering a culture of iterative development. Download this episode here....
Mar 1, 2024
1 min
How Vim Transformed My Workflow for the Better
Discover how diving into Vim transformed my coding workflow...
Dec 20, 2023
5 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
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.