Welcome to ManagersClub, where you can learn from the world’s most successful and diverse engineering leaders and managers, as well as find curated management resources to help and inspire you to be a great engineering leader.
ManagersClub on YouTube (link)
ManagersClub Podcast
In-depth conversations about engineering management with lessons and tips to make you a better leader and improve your career.
In this interview, we follow the journey of Swathi Sundar, an engineering manager at Benchling and ex-Uber, who, as a tech lead, was suddenly made an engineering manager overnight. Through her personal experiences, Swathi shares the challenges and lessons she learned during this transition period. From managing expectations and leading a team to deal with the pressure and responsibilities of the new software engineering manager role, this video offers valuable insights for anyone looking to move into a management position in the tech industry. Watch now to learn how she navigated this sudden change and emerged as a successful engineering leader.
Swathi also shares her strategies for effectively communicating with her team and stakeholders, as well as how she adapted to the new responsibilities and expectations that come with being an engineering manager. Swathi covers growing a new tech lead. Finally, she also provides tips on transitioning to a new company as an engineering manager. This video is a must-watch for anyone looking to transition smoothly from an engineering role to a management role in the tech industry. With Swathi’s personal experiences and practical advice, you’ll gain valuable insights on navigating this challenging but rewarding journey.
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 Introduction
- 0:20 How Swathi became a manager overnight
- 1:02 How big was your team and what did you do?
- 2:50 What are some things that you quickly had to get up to speed with on management?
- 4:48 Growing a new tech lead 6:13 Difficulty letting go….
- 7:44 Resources that helped you become a manager
- ‘9:13 New relationship with direct reports
- 12:28 Changes during COVID pandemic
- 15:50 Performance management
- 16:39 Final lessons from Uber
- 18:17 Moving to a new company
- 21:03 Additional advice on transitioning to be a manager at a new company
- 22:23 Managing sideways and up
- 25:00 Do you miss coding?
- 26:10 Engineers, code engineering managers write.
- 29:55 Parting advice
RESOURCES
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/swathisundar/
- You’re in Charge — Now What?: The 8 Point Plan : https://amzn.to/3wsxTiG
- Swathi’s writings on medium: https://swathi-sundar.medium.com/
ABOUT ME: I’m Vidal, an author, podcaster, and engineering manager working at LinkedIn in the SF Bay Area. I am on a mission to help and inspire engineering leaders everywhere!
MY BOOKS
- ⭐️ The Software Engineering Manager Interview Guide https://amazon.com/dp/B086JMXP28
- ⭐️ Time Management Tips for Engineering Managers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HM6LSCL
- ⭐️ How to Write an Engineering Manager Resume, https://vidalgraupera.gumroad.com/l/esbgw
CONNECT WITH ME
- ⭐️ My website: https://www.managersclub.com
- ⭐️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidalgraupera
- ⭐️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vgraupera
- ⭐️ ManagersClub LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13846374/
- ⭐️ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@managersclub
#engineeringmanagement #leadershipdevelopment #womenintech
—
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/managersclub/support
New Release: The Software Engineering Manager Interview Guide, 2nd Edition
Announcing the release of the 2nd Edition of my book, “The Software Engineering Manager Interview Guide: Insider Strategies for Acing the Engineering Leadership Interviews.” This comprehensive guide will help you master the engineering leadership interview and land your dream role at a top-tier tech company. With over 150 real-life management and behavioral questions from tech companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, LinkedIn, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, and more, you’ll be well-equipped for your following interview.
How I Went from Engineer to Manager Overnight, Lessons Learned
In this video, we follow the journey of Swathi Sundar, an engineering manager at Benchling and ex-Uber, who, as a tech lead, was unexpectedly made an engineering manager overnight. Through her personal experiences, Swathi shares the challenges and lessons she learned during this transition period. From managing expectations and leading a team to deal with the pressure and responsibilities of the new software engineering manager role, this video offers valuable insights for anyone looking to move into a management position in the tech industry. Watch now to learn how she navigated this sudden change and emerged as a successful engineering leader.
How to Run Successful Daily Scrum Meetings
Join Ron Lichty, Interim VP of Engineering, SW Dev Advisor, Agile consultant, and author, as he shares tips and best practices for conducting effective stand-up meetings. Also known as daily scrums, stand-ups are a crucial way for teams to stay on track and communicate with each other. In this video, Ron covers common misconceptions about stand-ups, the frequency of stand-ups, how to make them effective, the best time of day for stand-ups, and more. Whether you’re a team leader or a team member, these tips will help you get the most out of your stand-up meetings. Plus, learn about the Fist of Five technique and how to make stand-ups more engaging and interactive. Don’t miss this valuable video on stand-up meetings!
New! How to Write an Engineering Manager Resume, Version 2
Attention, all engineering professionals! We are excited to announce the release of the second edition of “How to Write an Engineering Manager Resume,” the ultimate guide to crafting a resume that showcases your technical expertise and leadership skills. This updated and expanded edition goes over…
What is Emotional Intelligence & How to Increase EQ
We discuss emotional intelligence and how to improve your EQ with Phil Johnson, a coach, and authority on leadership and EQ. EQ is a potent tool that can aid in your leadership success. If you’re interested in learning more about emotional intelligence, check out this video! We’ll discuss everything you need to know about emotional intelligence, from the definition to how to increase your EQ. By the end of this video, you’ll have a better understanding of what emotional intelligence is and how you can use it to your advantage!
How Leaders Should Think About Artificial Intelligence and What They Should Do
Many business leaders struggle to wrap their heads around artificial intelligence and what it could mean for their companies. In this video, Kavita Ganesan, author of The Business Case for AI, will explore how leaders should think about AI and what they should do to ensure that their companies are prepared for the future. We’ll also bust some of the most common AI myths and show how businesses can benefit from AI. So if you’re a leader who wants to stay ahead of the curve, this video is a must-watch!
How to be BELIEVABLE & DECISIVE: Key qualities of effective leadership
To be an effective leader, you need to be believable and decisive. In this video, Sabry Tozin, Vice President of Engineering at LinkedIn, explains “believability,” which is an important part of being a good leader. He also discusses how and why it is important to be decisive. We’ll also show you how to avoid the mistakes that can cost you dearly. So if you’re ready to make tough choices that will improve your leadership and believability, this video is for you!
SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR NEW MANAGERS: A Guide for Millennials
Emily Tsitrian, a former manager at Stripe and author of “Make Me the Boss,” takes us through what it takes to be a successful new manager in the corporate world. If you’re a millennial looking for tips on being a successful manager, this video is definitely for you!
We’ll outline everything you need to know to be a successful manager and lead your team to success! We cover a wide range of topics, including the challenges and different responsibilities of being a manager, how to offer difficult feedback, how to manage people who are older than you, how to deliver the performance review of a lifetime, how to use public speaking to create your personal brand and more. These are all essential skills that any successful manager needs to have. By the end of this video, you’ll have everything you need to survive as a millennial manager in the corporate world!
How to Advocate for your Team: Everything You Need to Know with Mallika Rao
In this video, Mallika Rao, engineering manager at Twitter, explains what it means to advocate for your team and how to do it effectively. She shares her perspective and tips on the promotion process, how to develop strong promo packets, why to be aggressive on promotions, working with committees, and many other tips for advancing your direct reports’ careers as engineers. This video is a must-watch if you’re looking to be an effective advocate and earn the loyalty of your team!
We also discuss hiring and managing multiple teams and remote and cross-geographical team-building.
Tips for Success as an Engineering Manager, José R. Arzuaga — Staff Engineering Manager, GitHub
In this video, José R. Arzuaga — Staff Engineering Manager, GitHub, covers important tips for success as an engineering leader. We’ll discuss the importance of advice for managers starting out, time management, diversity, hiring, uncomfortable feedback, how you would find a good mentor, book recommendations, and how to create an effective team. This video is a must-watch if you’re thinking about becoming an engineering manager or are already in a leadership role. By following these tips, you’ll be able to lead your team to success and achieve your goals!
