Hey everyone,
A lot has changed in my professional life in recent months, so I wanted to share a quick update and some ideas about what’s next!
Saying goodbye to Verica
I am no longer working at Verica. I’m grateful for what I learned while directing engineering and ops at a very early-stage startup. Taken with my previous experience leading engineering and DevOps at a mature SaaS, I have a more well-rounded view of the challenges and opportunities of different remote teams–and three years leading them.
Kicking off Lead Dev’s Asynchronous AMA series
As we all grapple with the new reality that is a post-COVID world, Lead Dev is thoughtfully adjusting the way they deliver programming to support their huge audience of tech leads, engineering managers, and CTOs. I was honored to kick off their newest effort, Asynchronous AMA (Ask Me Anything), answering questions like how to get buy-in for 1:1s, how to discuss non-work challenges in light of COVID, and how to go beyond status reports to have meetings that matter.
Speaking at Python Web Conf
I’ve given over two dozen talks at tech conferences around the world, but it wasn’t until June that I gave my first talk at a fully online event: Python Web Conf! I had an outstanding experience. Read my thoughts on this event, and how to evaluate other online events, here.
Giving back at The Collab Lab
As a senior engineering manager working largely with very senior engineers for the last three years, I’d recently been looking for a new way to give back to the community: and I found one! I joined The Collab Lab as a Mentor, leading a cohort of exceptional early-career developers through a fully-remote eight-week intensive where they learn critical collaboration skills while building a production app. I’d love it if you read my recap about the transformative work we did together!
Becoming a Lead Dev author
Yep, the word is out… I’m now a Featured Contributor and Author at The Lead Dev! Over the next year I’ll be writing articles for an audience of tech leads, lead developers, senior engineers, and engineering managers, and CTOs on topics like performance management, compassionate feedback, and fostering a diverse and inclusive team and environment. My first articles will be coming out soon. Edit/update 8/21: my first post is up! Read “1:1 Foundations: best practices for conversations that count” at LeadDev.com.
Moderating Lead Dev Live panel on 1:1s — this week!
Join me and three other experienced engineering managers this Wednesday, August 12, at Lead Dev Live: a free, one-day virtual conference featuring talks and interactive panels from engineering leaders all over the world. I’ll be moderating a panel on 1:1s with Alexandra Sobhani (Google), Kwasi Ohene-Adu (Groovetime), and Spencer Norman (Mailchimp). We met up last week to go over what we’re going to discuss and let me tell you, it is going to be GOOD: we’ve got some amazing tips and resources to share.
And yes… I am now looking for a new team!
I’m excited to find a new senior management role on a team where I can have impact and improve communication and collaboration. Read more about what I’m looking for in this post.
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Thanks so much for reading my updates! Of course, this is just the professional stuff. Like you, I’ve also been adjusting to life under a global pandemic and quarantine while missing my friends, family, and the most mundane parts of my “old” routine: the gym in the morning, spur-of-the-moment lattes, weekly grocery trips. My father passed away in July–I still don’t have words to describe the loss, but I’m hugely grateful for the outpouring of support I got from my friends in tech. I’m hanging in there, trying to stay positive and do as much good as I can. ❤️
Leading with Spoons 