Tech Lead Journal

• #208 - Navigating Tech Leadership Transitions: From Engineer to Executive - Norman Noble

  (07:37) Brought to you by Lemon.io⁠⁠⁠Lemon.io⁠⁠⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠⁠⁠lemon.io⁠⁠⁠.Ever wondered what it takes to climb the tech leadership ladder from engineer to executive?In this episode, we follow the journey of Norman Noble, CTO of Mindvalley, as he shares his insights and experiences navigating these challenging transitions.Here’s what you’ll discover:How to successfully transition from an individual contributor to a manager, and ultimately to an executiveEffective hiring strategies to attract and retain top talentStrategies for building high-performing teams, including creating the right team architectureInsights into Mindvalley’s unique culture and diversity that foster personal growth and transformationThe importance of mindfulness and well-being for effective leadershipTimestamps:(02:06) Career Turning Points(09:59) Transitioning From an IC to a Manager(12:10) Learning From Psychology & Management Books(15:36) Becoming a Better Manager(17:32) Building High-Performing Teams(20:23) Hiring Strategy & Philosophy(24:06) Engineering Interview Strategy(28:19) Transitioning From a Manager to an Executive(32:09) Upskilling Across Domains(36:03) Mindvalley Culture(38:41) The Power of Diversity(40:46) Practising Mindfulness(43:48) Making Space for Thinking(45:50) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom_____Norman Noble’s BioNorman Noble is the CTO of Mindvalley. He is a people-focused technology leader, lean/agile practitioner and systems thinker. He focuses on strategic outcomes that deliver real value to organisations and their customers, whilst building high-performing technology teams that move quickly and get things done.Follow Norman:LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/normannoble_____Our SponsorsEnjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code.Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.Like this episode?Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/208.Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

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• #207 - The Art of Storytelling: Effective Communication and Data Visualization - Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic

  (04:44) Brought to you by Lemon.io⁠⁠Lemon.io⁠⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠⁠lemon.io⁠⁠.Want to communicate more effectively and get your work the attention it deserves? Learn how to harness the power of storytelling in a business setting with Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, the bestselling author of "Storytelling with Data" and "Storytelling with You"!In this episode, Cole joins me to dive into the art of storytelling and explore how we can use it to communicate data, insights, and our work more effectively.You'll learn:- Storytelling in business: Why it's crucial for making your work stand out.- The "Plan-Create-Deliver" framework: The 3 steps to creating compelling stories.- Low-tech planning: Why pen and paper beats jumping straight to slides.- The power of the "Big Idea": Craft one impactful sentence that captures your message.- Storytelling with data: Present data that is both informative and engaging.- Crafting a powerful intro: Grab your audience's attention from the start.- AI for storytelling: How AI can enhance your data analysis and communication.- Teaching kids about data: Empower the next generation to be critical thinkers and storytellers.Timestamps:(00:02:17) Career Turning Points(00:06:22) What is Storytelling?(00:09:55) Why Become Better Storytellers(00:12:25) Storytelling in Business Settings(00:15:51) Plan-Create-Deliver Framework(00:24:01) Low Tech Planning(00:28:57) The 3-Minute Story and The Big Idea(00:33:06) TLDR and BLUF(00:37:09) Creating Slides(00:41:43) Storytelling with Data(00:44:39) Pie Charts(00:46:42) Data Visualization Tools(00:49:00) Teaching Kids about Data(00:55:04) Giving a Powerful Intro(00:59:13) How AI Can Help in Data & Storytelling(01:02:02) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom_____Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic’s BioCole Nussbaumer Knaflic tells stories with data. She is founder and CEO of storytelling with data (SWD) and author of Storytelling With Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals and Storytelling with Data: Let’s Practice! SWD’s well-regarded workshops and presentations are highly sought after by data-minded individuals, companies, and philanthropic organizations all over the world. Learn more at storytellingwithdata.com.Follow Cole:LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/colenussbaumerWebsite – storytellingwithdata.com📚 Storytelling with Data – https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Data-Visualization-Business-Professionals/dp/1119002257📚 Storytelling with You – https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-You-Deliver-Stellar-Presentation/dp/1394160305📚 Daphne Draws Data – https://www.daphnedrawsdata.com/🎥 Storytelling with Data YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/storytellingwithdata_____Our SponsorsEnjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code.Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.Like this episode?Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/207.Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

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• #206 - The Fundamentals and Future of DevOps and Software Delivery - Yevgeniy Brikman

  (06:49) Brought to you by Lemon.io⁠Lemon.io⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠lemon.io⁠.Want to learn the key principles and future of DevOps that can help you ship code faster and more reliably?In this episode, I sit down with Yevgeniy Brikman, co-founder of Gruntwork and author of “Terraform: Up & Running,” to discuss his upcoming book, “The Fundamentals of DevOps and Software Delivery.”We explore:- Common pitfalls and anti-patterns in DevOps implementations- The concept of “minimum effective dose” and "incrementalism" in adopting technologies- Why application developers should understand infrastructure and software delivery- The future of DevOps, including “infrastructureless” and the impact of GenAI- The importance of “secure-by-default” practices in modern software development- Recent changes in open source licensing and their impact on the tech industry- The power of continuous learning and sharing knowledge in tech careersListen out for:(00:02:15) Career Turning Points(00:08:32) Deliberate Time for Learning(00:16:27) Transitioning from App Dev to Infra (00:24:19) Understanding How to Deliver Software(00:32:05) Minimum Effective Dose(00:40:34) DevOps Antipatterns(00:44:02) Incrementalism(00:49:37) The Future of DevOps and Software Delivery(01:10:39) Recent Trend in Open Source License Changes(01:20:32) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom_____Yevgeniy Brikman’s BioYevgeniy (Jim) Brikman loves programming, writing, speaking, traveling, and lifting heavy things. He does not love talking about himself in the 3rd person. He is the co-founder of Gruntwork, a company that offers products & services for setting up world-class DevOps Foundations. He’s also the author of three books published by O’Reilly Media: Fundamentals of DevOps and Software Delivery, Terraform: Up & Running, and Hello, Startup. Previously, he spent more than a decade building infrastructure and products that served hundreds of millions of users while working as a software engineer at LinkedIn, TripAdvisor, Cisco Systems, and Thomson Financial.Follow Yevgeniy: LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/jbrikman X / Twitter – @brikis98 Website – ybrikman.com 📚 The Fundamentals of DevOps and Software Delivery – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/fundamentals-of-devops/9781098174583/_____Our SponsorsEnjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code.Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.Like this episode?Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/206.Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

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  1:22:30
• #205 - Measuring Code Quality in the Age of GenAI - Matt Van Itallie

  (03:55) Brought to you by Lemon.ioLemon.io is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at lemon.io.Ever wonder what a credit score for your codebase would look like?In this episode, Matt Van Itallie, founder of Sema, discusses how his company is revolutionizing the way we assess and understand code quality, including the portion of GenAI usage. Learn about Sema’s innovative approach to technical due diligence and their comprehensive credit score system.Key topics discussed:- The concept of “code as data” and how it’s changing codebase evaluation- Measuring and improving developer productivity in the age of GenAI- The importance of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM) in technical due diligence- Why having 15-30% of your code originating from GenAI could be optimal- The seven modules Sema uses to evaluate codebases, including GenAI usage, security, and team retention- The CTO dashboard concept and its potential to transform software engineering metrics- Why treating code as a craft is crucial for effective communication with non-technical stakeholdersWhether you’re a developer, engineering leader, or investor, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of software evaluation and the growing importance of quantitative metrics in technical due diligence.Listen out for:(02:05) Career Turning Points(05:15) Treating Code as Data and a Craft(11:09) Comprehensive Codebase Scans(14:31) How to Explain Codebase Health(20:31) Measuring & Improving Developer Productivity(23:33) GenAI for Increasing Developer Effectiveness(25:59) CTO Dashboard & The 7 Metrics(29:55) Measuring GenAI Usage(31:51) Healthy Dose of GenAI Usage(36:50) Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM)™(39:24) Technical Due Diligence(45:18) Sema Adoption(49:48) Integrating with Sema(52:17) 3 Tech Lead WisdomMatt Van Itallie's BioMatt Van Itallie is the Founder and CEO of Sema.Formerly, Matt was an Operating Executive at Vista Equity Partners portfolio companies, Chief Analytics Officer for a $1BN operating organization, and a McKinsey consultant. Matt has a JD from Harvard Law School.Sema is the leading provider of comprehensive codebase scans that assess the risks of software and tech-enabled businesses. They have analyzed over $1.6T of software enterprise value.Sema is a leading expert on managing GenAI risks, with presentations to leading investors and operators across sectors. They are the inventors of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM).Follow Matt:* LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/mvi* Sema – semasoftware.com* Comprehensive Codebase Scans – semasoftware.com/comprehensive-codebase-scans_____Our SponsorsEnjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code.Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.Like this episode?Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/205.Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

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  58:17
• #204 - Stop Inflicting Daily Standups and Computer Science Riddles on Your Devs - David Guttman

  Are you tired of cargo cult engineering leadership? In this episode, David Guttman, author of “The Superstruct Manifesto”, shares his intriguing manifesto on building and leading high-performing engineering teams. We explore: - Why daily standups are overrated and what to do instead- How to avoid the trap of the "10x engineer" myth- Why computer science riddles don't belong in your interviews- The importance of estimates (hint: it's not about the accuracy!) - How to treat your developers like adults If you are an engineering leader or founder looking to build a high-performing engineering team, this episode is for you! Listen out for:(03:06) Career Turning Points(07:10) The Meaning Behind Superstruct(07:44) The Superstruct Manifesto(09:30) "We Will Not Inflict Daily Standups on Our Devs"(16:05) Alternatives to Daily Standups(18:26) Status Report & Accountability(25:48) "We Will Not Recruit 10x Developers"(33:19) "We Will Not Test Devs with Computer Science Riddles"(38:04) Interview Best Practices(43:12) "We Will Not Let Devs Start without an Estimate"(51:11) Improving Our Estimates(53:55) Estimate vs Fixed Deadline(56:21) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom David Guttman's BioDavid Guttman is a developer and consultant obsessed with building repeatable systems for recruiting, onboarding, and managing remote software engineers. Over the course of his 20+ years in software development, David has led engineering teams to ship massive and innovative projects, including the content platform that powers Disney.com and StarWars.com (along with over 170 other sites, across dozens of languages and regions); video ad servers that handle over 10 billion requests per day; and an LMS that TIME magazine listed as one of the Best Inventions of the Year 2020. David is also a leader in the tech community. As the organizer of the monthly event series js.la, the host of the Junior to Senior podcast, and a champion in the Node.js mentorship initiative, he has helped thousands of developers level up. David is the author of two popular JavaScript books, has over 90 open-source packages on npm, and has given talks at tech events and conferences like JSConf and JSFest. Follow David:- LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/david-guttman - Website – david.app - Superstruct – https://superstruct.tech/ - 📚 Superstruct Manifesto – treatdevslikeadults.com _____ Our Sponsors Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code. Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats. Like this episode?Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/204.Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

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