Ladybug Podcast

Engineering management can look glamorous from the outside — but behind the scenes, it’s often a mix of tough calls, emotional juggling, and constant context switching. In this episode, we’re diving into the hard parts of being an engineering manager — from staying technical and handling conflict, to managing up, balancing expectations, and keeping your own sanity along the way. 06:04: Feeling pro...

In this episode, we explore how to become an effective engineering manager—even without a technical background. We’ll unpack what the role truly entails, how to leverage your strengths in communication, strategy, and people management, and ways to bridge technical gaps with curiosity and trust. Whether you’re transitioning from another field or stepping into your first EM role, this episode will h...

In this episode, we’ll dig into how managers can balance output, impact, and quality, set meaningful goals, and coach engineers toward growth — not just manage them. We’ll also tackle how to handle underperformance, keep top talent motivated, and build teams that stay engaged without burning out. 02:04 - Why do we measure engineering performance? 03:40 - How to measure engineering performance 11:0...

Hiring great engineers is one of the most important—and difficult—parts of an engineering manager’s job. In this episode, we break down the full hiring journey: from writing effective job descriptions and structuring interviews to evaluating candidates and making the final call. We’ll also touch on building inclusive processes, avoiding common hiring pitfalls, and how to spot not just skill, but p...

Remote work is here to stay—but managing a distributed engineering team comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. In this episode, we dive into what it takes to lead remote engineers effectively. From building trust and maintaining team cohesion to running productive async meetings and handling time zone differences, we cover the key habits and tools that make remote engineering team...

Episode Notes Engineering managers sit at the intersection of tech, product, and people—which means collaboration is key. In this episode, we explore how to build strong working relationships with product managers and stakeholders. From setting clear expectations and communicating progress to managing competing priorities and navigating tough conversations, we’ll share strategies to align teams an...

Episode Notes As an engineering manager, project management isn’t just a skill—it’s part of the job. In this episode, we unpack what effective project management looks like from the EM seat. From setting realistic timelines and tracking progress to balancing technical depth with stakeholder expectations, we explore how to keep projects on track without becoming a bottleneck. Whether you're new to...

Episode Notes The first 90 days in any new role are crucial—but as a new engineering manager, they can make or break your trajectory. In this episode, we dive into how to approach your first three months with intention and clarity. From building trust with your team to understanding your new responsibilities, setting expectations, and avoiding common pitfalls, we lay out a roadmap to help you star...

Episode Notes Stepping into management for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming. In this episode, we explore the critical shift from individual contributor to engineering manager—what changes, what stays the same, and what new challenges emerge. We’ll discuss common misconceptions, the mindset shift required, and practical tips for navigating your first few months in the role. Whet...

Episode Notes 02:52 What is engineering management? 05:27 Why are we qualified to discuss this? 12:20 What are EMs responsible for? 14:38 The difference between an EM and Tech Lead 24:15 Key skills of an EM 32:37 Challenges with engineering management Resources Crucial Conversations The Making of a Manager

What is a typical day in the life like for a software engineer? To close out Season 6, we thought it’d be a great idea to give you some insight into our workdays, as we all have very different roles and are in different stages of our careers. Show Notes [02:54] Morning routines [16:09] Beginning of the workday [28:15] The rest of the workday [49:03] Evenings and weekends [53:57] Top 3 tools for pr...

APIs are part of our daily roles as software developers, but what are they? What different types are there? And how can you design a good one? Show Notes [01:53] What is an API? [03:37] Types of APIS [15:02] GraphQL [19:49] REST [28:25] API Design [44:35] Shoutouts Resources The Happiness Project Shopify developer community BrainF**k OneGraph Scott Moss's YouTube Transcript Here is this week's tra...

The definition of Agile is the ability to create and respond to change. Ultimately dealing with and succeeding in an uncertain or turbulent environment. I think we can all say with confidence that in the world of software development, being agile and agreeable to change helps you learn faster, connect with others better, and makes coding more fun. Today we are talking about the agile framework of...

Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language. It’s a general-purpose programming language designed to let app developers: write once, run anywhere. Today we’re diving into the world of Java. Show Notes [01:30] Our experiences working with Java [04:34] History of Java [07:45] Five goals of Java [13:06] Object oriented [14:00] Threaded language [15:35] Interpreted language...

Whether you’re looking to start your own side business or create a lifelong career, the process of starting a new business can be overwhelming. This week on the podcast we’re discussing how to start your own business. We’ll dig deep into setting you up for success from the beginning and then answer the most common questions I receive about building and scaling your business. Show Notes [02:00] Wha...

If you have data for your application, you’ve probably used a database to store it. There are so many types of databases, NoSQL, SQL, graph, etc. Let's learn about their benefits and how to use them! Shownotes [02:08] What types of databases have we used? [03:43] SQL vs. NoSQL [15:52] How to model data [19:20] ORM, SDK, Queries [24:02] Horizontal vs. Vertical Scaling [27:21] How to choose [30:22]...

It’s easy to overlook documentation when building an application, but documentation can make or break a consumer’s experience. Today we’re diving into the world of documentation to discuss what it takes to write good documentation, the ethics of documentation, and some popular tools you can use to get started. Show Notes [01:58] Why does a company or app need good documentation? [04:09] Who do we...

TypeScript is an open-source programming language built on JavaScript that provides static type definitions. It has taken the front-end development community by storm over the past few years and today we’re going to give you a beginner-level rundown on the language. Show Notes [02:07] What is TypeScript? [06:46] What is our experience working with TypeScript? [08:35] Is TypeScript a replacement fo...

What is it about sitting down building a good study plan that... kinda sucks? Is it the planning? The execution? The Time commitment? Are we committing to learn too much? Regardless of this answer, today we’re sitting down to talk about how to better prepare to learn, how to execute a study plan to meet your goals, build better habits to help you learn and some of our own experiences learning how...

Welcome back to the 6th season of the Ladybug Podcast!! In this episode, we’ll be chatting about choosing a tech stack for your project is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an engineer. It will determine many aspects of your app, from development speed, to scalability, to the cost to run it. We’ll talk about how to choose technologies from two angles: one from an individual develo...

You studied a bunch, landed the interview, passed the whiteboarding exercises, nailed the behavioral interview, and finally got the job. Congratulations on your new position! So now what? Today we’re sharing some of our experiences to help your job transition happen smoothly. Let’s get into it. Show Notes [01:54] Salary Negotiation [11:43] What to do in the first two weeks [50:42] Shoutouts Resour...

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces and is one of the most widely used libraries to date. Last season we discussed the basics of React and today we’re going to dive into the more advanced aspects of the library. Let’s get started. Episode Notes [04:16] React Hooks [22:28] State Management [26:43] Design Patterns [40:39] Performance [49:33] Testing [51:15] Prop types and Type...

2020 was one of the biggest years in the history of e-commerce. In fact, the pandemic spurred such a growth in e-commerce that the industry as a whole moved forward about 10 years in 3 months’ time. Whether you’re interested in starting your own store or learning how to develop for e-commerce, this week on the podcast we’re breaking it all down for you. Episode Notes [02:40] Platforms [07:22] Why...

Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communication through the use of code so only those for whom the information is intended can read and process it. Cryptography is used for many things from online banking to GitHub commits. Today we’ll dive into the basics of cryptography. Let’s get started! Show Notes [0:25] Our experience with cryptography [03:08] What is cryptography? [04:2...

It’s no secret that a major perk to working in development is the salary. Developers are often paid higher than the average salary, and as you move up in a company, you can see significant growth in your income. We all know financial literacy is often skipped in early education, which is why this week we’re talking all things financial planning with our special guest, Shannon Lee Simmons, to teach...