Beyond The Build

Send us Fan Mail Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode of Beyond the Build , we sit down with Felix Ekwueme , Technical Advisor to the VP of International Sellers at Amazon, to talk about the real drivers of career growth that go way beyond just “doing good work.” We unpack why comfort and growth don’t coexist , the dangers of being the silent...

Send us Fan Mail Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this raw and honest episode, we dive deep into the uncomfortable reality of tech layoffs that every software engineer needs to understand. Drawing from our own experiences of surviving cuts while watching teammates get let go, we break down the harsh truths about what really determines who stays and wh...

Send us Fan Mail Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode of Beyond the Build , we sit down with Fola, a Senior Security Engineer whose career has taken him from Nigeria to South Africa and now the United States. We unpack what it means to build a career across countries and cultures. Fola opens up about his journey out of Nigeria, the culture sh...

Send us Fan Mail Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 What if the secret to making an impact at work isn’t solving every problem—but knowing which ones to ignore? In this episode of Beyond the Build , we dive into one of the most overlooked but critical parts of being a software engineer: identifying the right problems to solve, at the right time, in the rig...

Send us Fan Mail Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 Asking for help might seem like a basic skill, but in software engineering, how you ask can impact everything from your productivity to your team’s trust. In this episode of Beyond the Build , we break down the underrated art of asking for help at work. We talk about: The mental shift engineers need to ma...

Send us Fan Mail Product managers wear a lot of hats—but what do they actually do? In this episode of Beyond the Build , we sit down with our first-ever guest: Thien-Y Le , a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, to get the unfiltered truth about one of tech's most misunderstood roles. Thien-Y walks us through the real work of a PM—from balancing customer demands with business goals to managin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the often-overlooked world of tech networking and collaboration. We share our personal experiences from dozens of conferences and meetups, revealing which events actually moved the needle for our careers and which ones were just free pizza and swag. You'll discover why general networking events are often a waste of time,...

Send us Fan Mail Every developer faces the same exhausting question: Should I learn this hot new technology everyone’s talking about—or is it just another flash in the pan? In this episode of Beyond the Build , we tackle the tech trend dilemma head-on. Some believe staying on top of the latest frameworks, tools, and AI models is essential to stay relevant in the job market. Others argue it’s all h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Build , we’re talking about one of the most overlooked parts of software engineering— being a great teammate . Software engineering isn't a solo sport—it's the ultimate team game. But while we spend countless hours perfecting our technical skills, we often overlook the collaboration skills that actually determine our career success. In this...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Build , we’re diving deep into what it really takes to get promoted as a software engineer. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about writing good code. We break down how to think about promotions through the lens of impact , influence , and ownership, the pillars that often separate engineers who stay stuck from those who move up. You’ll learn what’s typica...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Build , we dive into the critical skill every engineer needs, but few are taught: how to collaborate with leadership. From one-on-ones with your manager to hallway chats with directors and VPs, we cover what you should be saying, asking, and sharing to make your work more visible, effective, and aligned. We break down the types of conversations to hav...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Build , we dive deep into the art of running effective engineering meetings.  We break down different types of meetings, when you should prep with documents (and how to write good pre-reads), how to align with key people before a big meeting, and why every meeting should have clear outcomes before it even starts. We also discuss how to structure meeti...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever questioned whether your job title comes at the cost of your freedom, this one’s for you. In this episode of Beyond the Build , we dive into the messy reality of work-life balance in tech —especially as your role and responsibilities grow.  We ask the tough question: Is balance even possible once you start owning important projects or teams? From seasonal workloads t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beyond the Build , we open up about something nearly every software engineer faces but rarely talks about — imposter syndrome .  From feeling like we’re not “technical enough” to questioning whether we belong in the rooms we’ve worked hard to get into, we share our personal stories, struggles, and how imposter syndrome has shown up throughout our careers. We als...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ope and I break down what it really takes to build strong technical skills as a software engineer. We go beyond just writing code and dive into how to deliberately sharpen your expertise by: Building a portfolio of projects that showcase your abilities Developing taste in engineering and writing about what you learn Surrounding yourself with an environment that pu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ope and I discuss our backgrounds and how we got to where we are. We also go into what the podcast will be about moving forward

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ope and I dive into our experiences with technical interviews—from their evolution into the current LeetCode-heavy format to the challenges they present for both candidates and hiring teams. We explore alternative approaches to assessing software engineers and share practical tips on how developers today can better prepare for these rigorous evaluations. Whether y...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ope and I discuss how we incorporate AI into our work as software engineers—the benefits, the challenges, and the misconceptions. We break down the pitfalls of relying too much on AI, share strategies for using it effectively without compromising core engineering skills, and offer practical advice on leveraging AI to boost productivity rather than replace develope...