40% Better - Engineering Leadership

This conversation explores the evolution of battery technology, the importance of leadership stories, and the critical role of communication in effective leadership. Bill Lennan and Nick Woodward discuss their personal journeys in leadership, emphasizing the need for continuous coaching and self-development. They highlight the significance of promoting internal growth and retention within organiza...

This conversation explores the journey of leadership through personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of emotional resilience, trust-building, and systems thinking. Bill Lennan and Sherwin Socaransky reflect on their career paths, the challenges faced in team management, and the significance of creating a culture of ownership. They discuss the dual career track in tech, the power dynamics...

In this conversation, Bill Lennan and Sunil Jagani delve into various themes surrounding modern living, work dynamics, and technological advancements. They explore the concept of tiny home communities as a solution for affordable living and the hybrid work model that allows for flexibility. The discussion transitions into the digital nomad lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance...

In this conversation, the Bill and Sanjay discuss their experiences with technology, leadership in software teams, and the dynamics of remote work. They explore the importance of fostering a cohesive team environment, the value of serendipity in collaboration, and the role of risk-taking in personal growth. Additionally, they emphasize the significance of intrinsic motivation, psychological safety...

In this conversation, the Bill and Steven delve into the nuances of effective communication, particularly in the context of pitching ideas and building relationships in both the technology and film industries. They explore the importance of understanding one's audience, the art of storytelling, and the necessity of networking. The discussion highlights how to empower others by making them the hero...

In this conversation, John and Bill explore the journey into leadership, drawing parallels between skateboarding and team dynamics in technology. They discuss the challenges of managing teams, the impact of AI on coding, and the importance of stability in team structures. The conversation also touches on agile methodologies, recruitment practices, and the fast-paced nature of game development, emp...

In this episode, Mike shares his journey to software development and leadership, supporting his people, setting expectations, and why you should do the work before the promotion. We hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better Podcast Team Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauteri/ Connect...

In this conversation, Donald shares the unexpected journey into leadership at Microsoft, discussing the unique environment of Microsoft Research, the transition from a bottom-up approach to a more focused research strategy, and the importance of leadership over management. We emphasize the role of communication in driving change, the interplay of luck and preparation in achieving success, and the...

In this conversation with Zack Halloran, we explore various aspects of leadership, focusing on the importance of communication, understanding business context, and fostering psychological safety within teams. We discuss personal experiences in leadership roles, the challenges of remote work, and the significance of aligning individual goals with team objectives. We also talk about the need for eff...

Welcome to the 40% Better Podcast! This conversation explores the unexpected path from web development to engineering leadership. Andrew shares insights on building high-performing teams, the role of solution engineering, and the impact of AI on software development. The discussion emphasizes the importance of coaching over management and the non-linear paths individuals take in their careers.  #4...

I learned this from a decade+ of surfing.  Every day is an opportunity to improve, there is no ultimate goal. 

I've had struggles with anxiety, depression, social anxiety, and imposter syndrome.  Here's a list of tools that make those things not problems today.  These tools all have extensive research behind them :-)

Accept the inevitable - success requiers hard work. When you accept this, life gets way easier. Fighting against hard work - makes things harder.....

The inspector gave me a list of 6 things to fix.  Only one was easy.  Every issue was solvable.  And each one would take time and effort.  It wasn't what I wanted, it was what I got.  And it taught me a lot!

Car racing, surfing Pipeline, 70 ft free dives, and beating software release predictions.  These activities are all built on a stack of small success metrics.  Having deliberate and sufficiently detailed metrics lets us talk about, analyze, and reverse engineer success and failures.

These mental models (beliefs) were taught to me well before my first leadership role.  And the lie was one I started leading with - but dumped in a few months

I've been outrageously lucky in this life.  And looking back, there's a consistent pattern for how I made luck my friend. Initiative + Optimism -> Luck Clover thanks to: Umberto Salvagnin, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Software engineer to Hollywood powerhouse and back to software. Raised $21M to fund startups and was a senior executive in Hollywood studios.  Independence Day, Transformers 1/2, Star Trek, Eagle Eye, Wolverine, etc - all movies where Steven's teams contributed to special effects. The man has worked with legends (and he has a great sense of humor). We talked engineering, Office Space, leadership,...

Jeff's journey began as a child growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania. After serving in the United States Army, Jeff began a career as a blue-collar worker at a large corporation. Since that start, he was promoted 10 times, and achieved advanced leadership roles at a Fortune 500 company. During his pursuit of success, there has been no greater thrill than making those around him better. What sta...

Oh boy, have I heard stories!! Team leads and managers who were sure any day they'd be discovered as frauds.  And yes, I've been that person.  Convinced that my team's performance was amazingly lucky hires.  And in hindsight, this three factor framework would have saved me. 

People regularly tell me some version of "that's above my pay grade".  But that is not true.  The real problem is people don't have a system to bring issues up the org chart and get executive attention, approval, and budget.  Once you have a system - it becomes simple to get executive approvals and budget.  Here's how. 

Brian Maggi has an impressive list of accomplishments.  From building medical education websites to Desktop Technology Manager at Apple to live entertainment and now AI - diverse experience is an understatement.  You can learn more about Brian's work at: http://brianmaggi.com/  

Executives are talking but the rank and file are not responding.  This is not a language barrier problem - it's a blind spot problem.  Execs think their audience understands them - but they don't.  What to do?

Ernesto is a lifelong learner. He studied social communications and has  completed executive programs at leading institutions, including Stanford GSB,  MIT Sloan School of Management, Wharton Business School, Kellogg School of  Management, Chicago Booth, London Business School, and IMD Business  School. He wrote the book “Regrowth, How Organizations Can Overcome  Stalling by Unlocking Their People...

Applying critical thinking to the obvious problem: with all the leadership books and training out - why aren't we seeing better engagement and performance?