Level-up Engineering Coding Sans

Interview with Ritendra Datta, Director of Engineering at Meta. He gives valuable advice on improving cross-functional collaboration by holding empathy sessions and scaling cross-functional teams mindfully.
https://codingsans.com/engineering-management-newsletter?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!)
In this interview we're covering:
Different cross-functional roles
Cross-functional collaboration in practice
Tips to improve cross-functional collaboration
Encouraging respect among cross-functional partners
Cross-functional empathy sessions
Common mistakes during cross-functional collaboration
Scaling cross-functional teams
Involving management in growing cross-functional teams
Hiring leaders for scaling

Excerpt from the interview:
"We have cross-functional empathy sessions, where people get together for 4 hours and represent all cross functions. The key tech lead, an IC, a manager, a product manager, a data scientist and a UX researcher will meet somewhere outside of the office, and spend the day talking to each other.
They could discuss what they do on a daily basis, and what’s frustrating about it. The representatives of each function gain a better understanding of the different positions, and why the work of each function is valuable and challenging in its own way.
Every time we have these cross-functional empathy sessions, everyone goes home humbled by what others are doing and the struggles they’re facing. They realize that everyone is working hard. They often describe it as “an eye-opening experience.” "
https://codingsans.com/blog/cross-functional-collaboration?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Click here to read the full interview! )

Interview with Tyler Hartley, Director of Software Engineering at Johnson and Johnson. He talks about the philosophies, habits and challenges of truly agile organizations.
https://codingsans.com/engineering-management-newsletter?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!)
In this interview we're covering:
The definition of agile
Characteristics of agile organizations
Truly agile practices
Behaviours to encourage
When not to choose agile
Agile products at JandJ
Challenges of agile organizations
Common mistakes
Becoming an agile organization - JandJ's story
Measures of success in an agile environment

Excerpt from the interview:
"Our team was working on a video recording feature, and we thought that including a passcode would be useful. Surgeons would have exclusive access to the recording tool, and they could ensure that they were the only ones who could start and stop the video.
The feedback we got was an unequivocal no. They told us that they wouldn't care about pushing buttons in that high-stress environment, and that they would probably put the passcode on a sticky note on the device, making it pointless.
We removed the feature because it didn’t add value. It only created friction."
https://codingsans.com/blog/agile-organization?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Click here to read the full interview! )

Interview with Steve Tauber, CTO at madewithlove. He shares his secrets to productive IT audits from preparation to execution.
https://codingsans.com/engineering-management-newsletter?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!)
In this interview we're covering:
The basics of tech audits
Different approaches to IT audits
Making the most out of the IT audit process
Flexmail's tech audit story
What auditors observe
How to prepare for an IT audit

Excerpt from the interview:
"We were teaching people how to communicate in a more agile way, and to collaborate effectively. We made sure the code was well-tested, and that everything was documented so we didn’t lose important information.
It was more about team shaping and making sure that the work was flowing in a proper way. Of course, there were technical challenges as well, but those were manageable.
Since then, the company has grown immensely. We worked with them for a long time, but we’ve stepped away, and they’re thriving.
For us, this is success. They took the lessons to heart, they understood our philosophy, and they continue to build on it."
https://codingsans.com/blog/it-audit?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Click here to read the full interview! )

Interview with Pau Minoves, CTO at Typeform. He talks about leaders' role in managing culture change in the workplace during rapid growth in a company's scaleup phase.
https://codingsans.com/engineering-management-newsletter?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!)
In this interview we're covering:
Establishing the right environment for growth
Culture change management as a leader
Benefits of strong company culture
Challenges of culture change in the workplace
Introducing new standards
Importance of team autonomy
Scaling tips

Excerpt from the interview:
"When I joined Typeform, there was 20% time dedicated for personal projects on Fridays. It wasn’t working. People try to do things, but there is always somebody missing, and you lose context from Friday to Friday.
So we tried a different approach.
Instead of working on those projects on Fridays, we dedicated the last 10 days of the quarter to them. Suddenly, people got their Fridays back to do their normal work. On the other hand, they dedicate all their attention to their side projects in these dedicated sprints. During the side project sprints, on Mondays, we kicked off ideas, and had the demo on the second Friday.
It blew our minds: without even asking, around 60% of the projects were product oriented."
https://codingsans.com/blog/culture-change-in-the-workplace?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Click here to read the full interview!)

https://codingsans.com/state-of-engineering-management-2022?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (State of Engineering Management 2022 report)
Interview with Dylan Hansen, Senior Director of Engineering Enablement and Engagement at Salesforce dicussing the results of the State of Engineering Management 2022 report. We analyze the most interesting findings to get more insight and commentary from a fellow engineering leader.
In this interview we're covering:
Self-improvement in leadership
Hiring and retention
People and performance management
Engineering brand
Remote work

https://codingsans.com/engineering-management-newsletter?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Sign up for the Level-up Engineering newsletter!)

Interview with David Siegel, CEO at Meetup. He talks about ways the leaders at Meetup and he has been utilizing to motivate employees and combat the Great American Resignation.
https://codingsans.com/engineering-management-newsletter?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!)
In this interview we're covering:
Takeaways from the pandemic
Improving employee retention and motivation
Communication in a hybrid environment
Supporting leaders at Meetup
Improving work-life balance
Building a community
Communicating your mission right

Excerpt from the interview:
"I received an email a few days ago from a Meetup organizer. The subject line said, ”Thanks for Meetup.”
The email read, "David, I'm grateful for Meetup. My mom is in the hospital, and she's probably going to die. Because of all the great friends I've made through running my groups, I'm not alone. People come over to support me at this difficult time. Thank you!"
This is a real story. Every few weeks, I get a few powerful emails like this. As a leader, you need to connect with your customers, and you need to find ways to tell these stories to your team, so they connect with the customers as well."
https://codingsans.com/blog/how-to-improve-employee-retention?utm_source=Podcastandutm_medium=platforms (Click here to read the full interview!)