Engineering Management Leadership Interviews

Learn from the finest. This collection of interviews with over 125 real-life engineering professionals should give you a wealth of information whether you’re just getting started in Engineering Management or need to brush up on your skills. Check out the collection of #WomenInTech and underrepresented minorities (#LatinX and #BlackInTech) in leadership. 

How to be BELIEVABLE & DECISIVE: Key qualities of effective leadership

To be an effective leader, you need to be believable and decisive. In this video, Sabry Tozin, Vice President of Engineering at LinkedIn, explains “believability,” which is an important part of being a good leader. He also discusses how and why it is important to be decisive. We’ll also show you how to avoid the mistakes that can cost you dearly. So if you’re ready to make tough choices that will improve your leadership and believability, this video is for you!

SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR NEW MANAGERS: A Guide for Millennials

Emily Tsitrian, a former manager at Stripe and author of “Make Me the Boss,” takes us through what it takes to be a successful new manager in the corporate world. If you’re a millennial looking for tips on being a successful manager, this video is definitely for you!

We’ll outline everything you need to know to be a successful manager and lead your team to success! We cover a wide range of topics, including the challenges and different responsibilities of being a manager, how to offer difficult feedback, how to manage people who are older than you, how to deliver the performance review of a lifetime, how to use public speaking to create your personal brand and more. These are all essential skills that any successful manager needs to have. By the end of this video, you’ll have everything you need to survive as a millennial manager in the corporate world!

How to Advocate for your Team: Everything You Need to Know with Mallika Rao

In this video, Mallika Rao, engineering manager at Twitter, explains what it means to advocate for your team and how to do it effectively. She shares her perspective and tips on the promotion process, how to develop strong promo packets, why to be aggressive on promotions, working with committees, and many other tips for advancing your direct reports’ careers as engineers. This video is a must-watch if you’re looking to be an effective advocate and earn the loyalty of your team!

We also discuss hiring and managing multiple teams and remote and cross-geographical team-building.

Tips for Success as an Engineering Manager, José R. Arzuaga — Staff Engineering Manager, GitHub

In this video, José R. Arzuaga — Staff Engineering Manager, GitHub, covers important tips for success as an engineering leader. We’ll discuss the importance of advice for managers starting out, time management, diversity, hiring, uncomfortable feedback, how you would find a good mentor, book recommendations, and how to create an effective team. This video is a must-watch if you’re thinking about becoming an engineering manager or are already in a leadership role. By following these tips, you’ll be able to lead your team to success and achieve your goals!

How to Address Bias and Improve Diversity —Tacita Morway, CTO at Textio

Learn how to address bias and improve workplace diversity with Tacita Morway’s advice. As CTO at Textio, she is on the front lines of addressing discrimination and improving diversity. In this inspiring talk, Tacita shares her experiences with bias and offers practical advice for improving diversity in the workplace. She advises how to build a pipeline, interview in a non-biased way, the pitfalls of referral programs, and more. We uncover reasons underrepresented minorities, women, and marginalized groups often get stuck at the bottom of the hierarchy and leave and what we can do about it. This talk is a must-watch if you’re looking for ways to make your workplace more inclusive.

Engineering Management Lessons, Things You Need to Know, Dana Sherrell, VP Engineering

In this video, Dana Sherrell, VP of Engineering at Boulevard, shares some of her most important lessons about engineering management. This video is a must-watch if you’re thinking about becoming an engineering manager or are already in a leadership role. She covers many topics, including going from IC to a manager, transparency — constant communication with your team, setting clear expectations, building relationships, observing others, disagreeing and committing, and more.

Engineering Management Lessons, Things You Need to Know, Agata Grzybek Engineering Manager

In this video, Agata Grzybek, engineering manager at Netflix, shares some of her most important lessons about engineering management. This video is a must-watch if you’re thinking about becoming an engineering manager or are already in a leadership role. She covers many topics, including burnout, meditation, women in tech, coaching, productivity, non-violent communication (NVC), and more. She also shares her thoughts on engineering managers’ challenges and opportunities.

How to Plan Your Career for Engineering Leaders: Tips and Important Advice

Learn how to set yourself up for success in your engineering career with this advice from an industry expert! We cover what career planning is and what are the most important things to factor in. What are some ways that people can improve their clarity around career planning? How would you approach career planning specifically as an engineering manager or leader? Why do some people get stuck in middle management while others are on this fast track and zoom right up to VP level? Working with a mentor, or a sponsor in your career planning. And more!