Managers Club, Interviews and Resources for Engineering Managers

Learn the secrets to achieving product-market fit from renowned coach Vidya Dinamani, Product Rebels Founder & author of Ground Work, in this exclusive interview with Vidal. Vidya shares invaluable insights on discovering your market needs, validating customers, and creating a winning MVP. You'll get actionable tips on: * Defining your target customer and their underserved needs (09:53) *...

In this video, we dive into the world of AI and how to effectively accelerate AI in your team. Our special guest, Bhavesh Mehta, an EM at Uber, shares his experiences and insights on leveraging AI technologies. From the potential of AI in transforming organizations to the challenges and opportunities it brings, we explore key learnings and strategies for success. Discover how AI can enhance produc...

Starting a new management role can be daunting. To help new managers thrive, I spoke with Eric Girard, CEO of Girard Training Solutions, who shared his top tips for leadership success. In this practical video, Eric reveals common new manager mistakes and how to avoid them. He explains the importance of setting clear goals, delegating effectively, and transitioning from individual work to leading a...

In this video, communication expert Gary Ross shares valuable insights into workplace communication, highlighting common mistakes people make and offering strategies for improvement. Discover the importance of clarity in communication and learn how to check understanding effectively without being repetitive. Gary also discusses the role of nonverbal communication, such as body language, and provid...

Join Vidal and his special guest Jossie Haines, executive coach and former VP of Software Engineering, in this enlightening discussion on work-life balance, or as Jossie prefers to call it, work-life integration. The concept may seem like a contradiction at first. Still, Jossie delves deep into its philosophy and discusses the importance of prioritizing self-care and setting strict boundaries betw...

In this video, Rajesh Janakiraman, an engineering manager at Google, shares his insights and experiences on leading business critical projects while ensuring his team remains motivated and doesn't burn out. Business critical projects can be intense, high visibility deadlines that often shift roadmaps and include executive-level oversight. Building the right team, maintaining communication, and...

Are you an Engineering Manager curious about gauging your effectiveness and success in your role? In this insightful episode, we dive deep into metrics and stakeholder management with Ivan Bilan, an experienced engineering manager. Discover the core metrics for measuring engineering manager performance in people leadership, product quality, delivery, and self-promotion, and learn the importance of...

In this engaging conversation, experienced technical recruiter Kate Parton shares vital advice and insider tips for candidates seeking job opportunities in the tech industry. She discusses red flags to watch for, navigating compensation discussions, common misconceptions about the recruiting process, and how to make the most of your partnership with a recruiter. Discover the role of social media a...

In this episode, we delve into the world of effective crisis management. Discover valuable insights and strategies for engineering leaders in this interview with Hima Madala, a seasoned engineering manager at Disney with a proven track record of leading teams through crises. Hima shares her experiences and lessons learned from managing up to senior management during a crisis. She emphasizes the si...

Join Laura Chattington, the lead trainer at ActivateMyCareerLive.com, as she dives deep into the world of self-promotion and personal branding. With years of experience coaching professionals to elevate their careers, Laura shares valuable insights and success stories from her own journey and that of her clients. In this informative and engaging video, Laura Chattington covers essential topics suc...

In this interview, we follow the journey of Swathi Sundar, an engineering manager at Benchling and ex-Uber, who, as a tech lead, was suddenly made an engineering manager overnight. Through her personal experiences, Swathi shares the challenges and lessons she learned during this transition period. From managing expectations and leading a team to deal with the pressure and responsibilities of the n...

Ron Lichty, Interim VP of Engineering, SW Dev Advisor, Agile consultant, and author, shares tips and best practices for conducting effective stand-up meetings. Also known as daily scrums, stand-ups are a crucial way for teams to stay on track and communicate with each other.    In this conversation, Ron covers common misconceptions about stand-ups, the frequency of stand-ups, how to make...

We discuss emotional intelligence and how to improve your EQ with Phil Johnson, a coach, and authority on leadership and EQ. EQ is a potent tool that can aid in your leadership success. If you're interested in learning more about emotional intelligence, check out this video! We'll discuss everything you need to know about emotional intelligence, from the definition to how to increase your EQ. By t...

Many business leaders struggle to wrap their heads around artificial intelligence and what it could mean for their companies. In this episode, Kavita Ganesan, author of The Business Case for AI, will explore how leaders should think about AI and what they should do to ensure that their companies are prepared for the future. We'll also bust some of the most common AI myths and show how businesses c...

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...

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,...

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 podcast is a must listen if you're...

In this conversation, José R. Arzuaga - Staff Engineering Manager, GitHub, covers important tips for success as an engineering leader. We 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 abo...

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...

Watch on YouTube 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, settin...

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...

Want to learn more about career planning? We discuss what career planning is and what the most crucial considerations are. What strategies may individuals use to increase the clarity of their career planning? How would you go about career planning, particularly as a manager or leader in engineering? Why do some individuals stay in middle management while others are on this fast track and go to the...

What are some of the biggest challenges that people encounter in managing up? How should people speak to their manager? How to use influence. What is assertive communication? And how to ask for what you want. Plus important advice for those raised not to disagree with authority. You will leave with resources to develop the skill of managing up.

Introverted? Make this your superpower by learning how to be an introverted leader! I spoke to Wen Hsu, a coach who specializes in working with first- and second-generation female leaders. The benefits and drawbacks of being a first or second-generation immigrant are explored. We cover why imposter syndrome can be a good thing! We also talk about double standards for women in tech, how to keep wom...

Learn to be a great engineering leader. This week I speak with Anand Safi, Director of Engineering at Mark43, Advisory Board Member, Mentor & Coach. We talk about what is important to look for in hiring, the importance of having a routine and themes for the day, strategy, ruthless prioritization, focussing on people's strengths, and more.