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.
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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
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Notable Posts and Blogs
There are a lot of amazing articles out there. Here are some that caught my attention. This 90-Day Plan Turns Engineers into Remarkable Managers Google’s re:Work Manager Guide What Great Managers Do Average Manager vs. Great Manager Explained in 10 sketches Google’s Quest to Build…
Six Recommended Books on Influence and Persuasion
As a manager, it’s important to be aware of your own personal power and how to use it effectively. One way to do this is by understanding the concept of influence. Influence is the ability to affect others in the desired way. It can be exerted through various means such as authority, expertise, or persuasion. Selected books on influence and persuasion.
Software Tools
1on1tracker.com One on one tracking app for managers Lighthouse Lighthouse helps you motivate your team, and prevent turnover, by helping you focus on the most important thing: Your People Vibe Morale Meter for Teams 101 questions Automatically pick three things to ask in 1 on 1 meetings
Presentations
Netflix Culture: Freedom & Responsibility The Hubspot Culture Code Engineering your culture: How to keep your engineers happy
Inspirational Quotes
“There are no bad soldiers, only bad officers.” – Napoleon Bonaparte “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” ― Archilochos “Reading a book about management isn’t going to make you a good manager any more…
