This article tells the story of an engineer who was unsure of whether to pursue a career in management. After being flagged by leaders as a potential manager, they were exposed to different versions of what a management position could look like and decided to take the plunge. To prepare, they found a mentor, attended classes, and interviewed other managers to gain insight into the job. Ultimately, they learned that it is important to be clear about what you want, document a plan, and look for mentors to help you reach your goals.

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Samuel Odio

VP of Product at Samuel Odio

Using a Compelling Narrative to Influence Leaders and Investors

This article discusses the importance of presenting a clear and compelling narrative when attempting to influence senior product leadership, angel investors, and VCs. The author shares their experience of not presenting a clear narrative when discussing the Facebook photos strategy to Mark Zuckerberg and the lessons they learned from it. They also provide a template of an 8 slide presentation that they have found to be successful in influencing strategic thinkers. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the root assumptions and creating a narrative that is aligned with the needs of the organization in order to be successful in influencing leadership teams.

Plato

Jubin Kothari

Principal Product Manager at DocuSign

Growing Pains of Communicating a Product Vision to Your Team

This article provides advice on how to effectively communicate a product vision to a team as a Head of Product. It suggests identifying the communication problem, understanding what drives a product, hiring a technical product manager, explaining features by demonstrating the business value, and understanding the different roles in managing a product.

Plato

Shivani Pradhan

Product Management, Azure DataBox Edge at Microsoft at Scality

Being proactive when my manager took all the credit for the work of me and my team

In order to handle a difficult manager, the author took proactive steps to increase their visibility and influence. They had a talk with their manager's manager, created opportunities for themselves and their team, and eventually got promoted. The lesson learned was to be proactive in finding solutions, pull people up as you rise, and don't burn bridges.

Plato

Amit Kaul

Head of Platform at Plaid

How to Help Your Team Understand Top-Down Changes to the Products They’re Working On

This case study examines the problem of a product manager becoming frustrated and vocal about the decision to divest a product that was selling well in the market. The manager was helped to understand the business logic behind the decision and to accept the need to move on. The lessons learned from this experience include the importance of helping people bridge the gap between the old and new organization, being transparent about decisions and changes, and getting people comfortable with the fact that change is constant.

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Staszek Kolarzowski

Co-founder at Pilot

The Advantageous Way to Push a New Project or Tool

When testers in a company wanted to use different devices, the manager initially said no. The testers then took it upon themselves to tag two or three of their own devices and start using them in their free time, inviting friends to join in. After showing the manager how it worked, they asked if they could continue doing it, and the manager agreed. The lesson learned is that it is easier to say yes to something that people are already using, and to frame it as an experiment rather than introducing a new process or tool.

Plato

Abhilash John

Engineering Manager at Walmart

Get ready for tomorrow, without losing out on today’s battles

This article discusses the challenge of addressing unplanned activities and ensuring completion of committed deliverables. The author allocated one person every sprint cycle for unplanned activities and collected data on the quantum of unplanned activities. This data was used to form a 'call of duty' service, where a team of developers would work on unplanned tasks, stories put in the backburner, and additional tooling. The author learned that allocating a dedicated engineer every sprint cycle reduces context switching, having a dedicated developer helps with critical analysis of applications, and collecting data on unplanned activities helps quantify the work and take corrective actions.

Plato

Anthony Bull

VP Engineering at

Formalizing Your Review Process

As organizations grow, it is important to put a process in place for fair and substantial performance reviews. This includes setting guidelines and expectations, giving feedback more often, and using a spreadsheet or performance management tool. It is important to keep the process lightweight, funnel up performance information, and be transparent about expectations.

Plato

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Dipti Srivastava

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Founder | Technology and AI

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ex-RedHat | Engineering Leader | Mentor

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Director, Infrastructure Engineering @ Flock Freight

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Veteran CxO

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Latest Stories

Limor Bergman Gross

Executive Coach at LBG Consulting Service Ltd

Navigating the Challenges of Transitioning to an Engineering Manager Role

Transitioning to an engineering manager role comes with its own set of challenges, but by being strategic, building relationships, and advocating for oneself, success can be achieved. It is important to proactively plan one's career and advocate for personal growth and development. Building relationships with key stakeholders and finding allies within the organization can greatly help in advocating for oneself and influencing change. Understanding the motivations of others and aligning interests can also aid in gaining support for ideas. If promotion opportunities are limited, focusing on expanding responsibilities and taking on more challenging tasks can showcase potential for future growth. Seeking out mentors within the organization can provide guidance and support throughout the career transition process. Overall, being proactive, building relationships, and advocating for oneself are key to navigating the challenges of transitioning to an engineering manager role.

Plato

Hakim Hanif

Sr Software Engineer at Amazon Web Services

Top 7 software bloggers to follow

This blog highlights the top 7 bloggers in the field of software engineering and product development. These bloggers provide valuable insights and ideas on software design, processes, and methodologies. The list includes Martin Fowler, known for his expertise in software patterns; Kent Beck, the creator of Extreme Programming and Test Driven Development; Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator and an expert on startups and entrepreneurship; Jeff Atwood, co-founder of Stack Overflow; Andy Hunt, founder of the Pragmatic Programmer series; Joel Spolsky, a blogger who offers both sensible and surprising perspectives; and Steve Yegge, known for his entertaining content. Following these bloggers can help software engineers improve their skills and gain knowledge from the best in the field.

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David García

Head of Engineering at Cense AG

Effective Strategies for Providing Feedback to Managers

This article discusses effective strategies for providing feedback to managers in the engineering field. It emphasizes the importance of constructive feedback for personal and professional growth. The article provides insights from top-tier engineers, including tips on framing feedback objectively and addressing the manager's impact. It also highlights the significance of promoting junior team members and offers strategies for providing feedback, such as asking for permission and being solution-oriented. Overall, the article emphasizes the value of effective feedback in fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Plato

Jose Ciccio

ex-Senior Engineering Manager at SchoolMint

Maximizing Your Growth: A Guide to Getting the Best from Platohq Mentorship

Plato platform's mentorship program is designed to empower individuals on their journey towards success. By setting clear objectives, establishing a strong relationship with your mentor, actively engaging and participating, seeking feedback and implementing suggestions, continuously learning and growing, and reflecting on the experience, you can maximize the benefits of the mentorship program. Mentorship is a continuous journey of learning and growth, and by embracing the opportunity, you can unlock your full potential in pursuit of your professional aspirations.

Plato

Vitor O.

CTO at

Why Heads of Engineering Should Master Storytelling

Storytelling is an essential skill for engineering leaders as it helps them communicate ideas, align teams, and convey values in a memorable way. In the current digital transformation era and remote work environment, storytelling becomes even more important. It enables leaders to express how their organization will adapt and innovate, establish connections between teams and clients, foster trust, and alleviate anxiety. A good story needs to be intriguing, authentic, involve the team, have a specific goal, and recognize the team's higher purpose. Storytelling can be applied in team meetings, onboarding new members, and providing feedback. Overall, storytelling is a powerful tool for effective engineering leadership that inspires action and facilitates behavioral change.

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