180 episodes

Great technical leadership requires more than just great coding skills. It requires a variety of other skills that are not well-defined, and they are not something that we can fully learn in any school or book. Hear from experienced technical leaders sharing their journey and philosophy for building great technical teams and achieving technical excellence. Find out what makes them great and how to apply those lessons to your work and team.

Tech Lead Journal Henry Suryawirawan

    • Technology
    • 4.7 • 10 Ratings

Great technical leadership requires more than just great coding skills. It requires a variety of other skills that are not well-defined, and they are not something that we can fully learn in any school or book. Hear from experienced technical leaders sharing their journey and philosophy for building great technical teams and achieving technical excellence. Find out what makes them great and how to apply those lessons to your work and team.

    #167 - Uncovering Blind Spots: How Great Leaders Unleash Great Performance - Marisa Murray

    #167 - Uncovering Blind Spots: How Great Leaders Unleash Great Performance - Marisa Murray

    “A blind spot is the gap between your intention and your impact. The more you can narrow the gap, the more you’re going to be able to be effective in your role and drive more performance."

    Marisa Murray is the CEO of Leaderley and the author of “Blind Spots”. In this episode, Marisa delves into blind spots and explains why leaders must uncover them to become truly effective and great. She describes a blind spot as the gap between our intention and impact, and explains how it can be difficult for leaders to get feedback about their blind spots.

    Marisa shares the 7 different blind spots from her book and dives deeper into three of them in this conversation: false assumptions, unhealthy detachments, and mismatched mindsets. Marisa also suggests how we can cultivate a culture to help us uncover our blind spots and also shares her practical tips for acknowledging positive intent.  

    Listen out for:


    Career Journey - [00:01:46]
    Writing “Blind Spots” - [00:07:05]
    Blind Spot - [00:10:08]
    Intention and Impact - [00:11:51]
    Strengths and Blind Spots - [00:14:48]
    Getting Feedback for Leaders - [00:18:45]
    7 Blind Spots - [00:23:07]
    Bias and Blind Spot - [00:29:43]
    False Assumptions - [00:31:41]
    Unhealthy Detachment - [00:35:28]
    Mismatched Mindsets - [00:41:34]
    Uncovering Our Blind Spots - [00:45:05]
    The 3As of an Iteractive Leader - [00:48:12]
    3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:49:33]

    _____

    Marisa Murray’s BioMarisa Murray P. Eng., MBA, PCC is a leadership development expert and the CEO of Leaderley International, an organization dedicated to helping executives become better leaders in today’s rapidly changing, highly complex world. Marisa leverages her over two decades of executive experience as a former Partner with Accenture and VP at Bell Canada in providing executive coaching, and leadership development services for organizations including Molson-Coors, Pratt & Whitney and Queen’s University.

    Follow Marisa:


    LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/murraymarisa
    Leaderley International – www.leaderley.com

    Weekly Leaderley tips – https://www.leaderley.com/leadership-tips
    Get feedback for free at https://www.leaderley.com/FeedbackFriend


    _____

    Our Sponsors

    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 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.





    Like this episode?

    Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/167.
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    • 53 min
    #166 - The Kanban Guide You Should Know About - Colleen Johnson

    #166 - The Kanban Guide You Should Know About - Colleen Johnson

    “Kanban is a strategy for optimizing the flow of value to your customers by focusing on three main goals: efficiency, effectiveness, and predictability."

    Colleen Johnson is the CEO of ProKanban, and in this episode, we delve into the fundamentals of Kanban and how you can use it to optimize your workflow. We start by defining Kanban and exploring its core principles. You’ll learn why work item age is the single most important aspect you should track in Kanban. Colleen then explains the concept of Service Level Expectation (SLE) and how it can improve predictability and client satisfaction. We also discuss the importance of smaller batch sizes, defining workflow policies, handling blockers, and the benefits of completing already started work items to optimize flow.

    We also touch on scaling Kanban beyond an individual team and discuss why Kanban is suitable for navigating unpredictable situations like the current economic climate. Towards the end, Colleen shares Women in Kanban, a community and scholarship programme to empower women to excel in Kanban.  

    Listen out for:


    Career Journey - [00:01:18]
    Kanban - [00:04:24]
    Work Item Age - [00:04:59]
    Calculating Work Item Age - [00:10:20]
    Small Batch Size - [00:13:08]
    Service Level Expectation (SLE) - [00:16:54]
    Managing Blockers - [00:21:05]
    Stop Pulling More, Finish Open Work Items - [00:24:46]
    Optimizing Flow - [00:28:14]
    Scaling Kanban Beyond a Team - [00:30:17]
    Kanban in the Current Tough Time - [00:34:37]
    Tools to Get Started - [00:37:21]
    Women in Kanban - [00:39:33]
    Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:41:45]

    _____

    Colleen Johnson’s BioColleen is the CEO of ProKanban.org, an inclusive Kanban learning community. She is also co-founder of ScatterSpoke, a proud Atlassian Ventures Portfolio company driving actionable improvements through retrospective data. She has presented and taught agile to audiences around the world. As a coach, she has worked across a range of industries with clients like Wells Fargo, eTrade, Home Depot, Tanium, Gemini, and more. Colleen helps organizations apply a systems thinking approach to aligning agile methodologies end-to-end. She has served as a board member for Agile Denver, the Agile Uprising, and chair of the Mile High Agile Conference. She is happiest in the woods, camping with her three kids and very patient husband.

    Follow Colleen:


    LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/colleen-johnson/
    Twitter – @scrumhive
    Threads – @colleenrae.j
    ProKanban – prokanban.org
    Women in Kanban – https://prokanban.org/women-in-kanban/

    _____

    Our Sponsors

    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 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.





    Like this episode?

    Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/166.
    Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
    Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    • 48 min
    #165 - Learning to Program in the Era of Generative AI - Leo Porter & Daniel Zingaro

    #165 - Learning to Program in the Era of Generative AI - Leo Porter & Daniel Zingaro

    “As software engineers, only a fraction of your time is spent coding. A lot of your time is spent thinking. And I’m not seeing LLMs taking that away from us anytime soon, at least, for now."

    Can AI help you learn to code? Will AI take your developer job? Join me discussing these topics with Leo Porter and Daniel Zingaro, the co-authors of “Learning AI-Assisted Python Programming”.

    In this episode, we discuss the impact of AI assistants on how we learn and approach programming, particularly for students and educators. We examine the shifting skillset of developers, emphasizing the importance of code reading, specification, testing, and problem decomposition over syntax and library semantics.

    We also confront critical questions like the ethical implications of AI, the potential impact on developers’ job, and whether it can help lead us to a more equitable society.  

    Listen out for:


    Career Journey - [00:01:11]
    AI Assistant - [00:07:55]
    How AI Assistant Affect Student - [00:11:04]
    Problem Decomposition Skill - [00:16:46]
    How LLM Works - [00:19:47]
    Prompt Engineering - [00:23:36]
    Automating Tedious Tasks - [00:29:29]
    AI Ethical Issues - [00:33:30]
    AI Replacing Developers - [00:40:08]
    A More Equitable Society - [00:47:34]
    3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:55:58]

    _____

    Leo Porter’s BioLeo Porter is a Teaching Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UC San Diego. He is best known for his award-winning research on the impact of Peer Instruction in computing courses, the use of clicker data to predict student outcomes, and the development of the Basic Data Structures Concept Inventory. He co-wrote the first book on integrating LLMs into the instruction of programming with Daniel Zingaro, entitled “Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming: With GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT”. He also co-teaches popular Coursera and edX courses with over 500,000 enrolled learners. He is a Distinguished Member of the ACM.

    Daniel Zingaro’s BioDr. Daniel Zingaro is an award-winning Associate Teaching Professor of Mathematical and Computational Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga. He is well known for his uniquely interactive approach to teaching and internationally recognized for his expertise in active learning. He is the co-author of “Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming” (Manning Publications, 2023), author of “Algorithmic Thinking” 2/e (No Starch Press, 2024), co-author of “Start Competitive Programming!” (self-published, 2024), and author of Learn to Code by Solving Problems (No Starch Press, 2021).

    Follow Leo & Daniel:


    Leo’s LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/leoporter/
    Daniel’s LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/danielzingaro

    _____

    Our Sponsors

    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 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.



    Like this episode?

    Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/165.
    Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
    Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    • 1 hr 4 min
    #164 - Lead Developer Career Guide - Shelley Benhoff

    #164 - Lead Developer Career Guide - Shelley Benhoff

    “The number one result of a good lead is reduced technical debt. Seeing technical debt just melts away and then stops occurring in the future. If you are a good lead, your systems will be stable all the time.”

    Are you a developer ready to step up and lead? Join us as we explore the world of lead development with Shelley Benhoff, author of “Lead Developer Career Guide”.

    In this episode, Shelley sheds light on the core responsibilities of a lead developer, clarifying the distinctions between different leadership titles within the field. We discuss the must-have leadership and mentoring skills you need to transform you into an inspiring leader. Shelley defines key success metrics and provides a self-assessment checklist to gauge your readiness for this exciting role. Shelley also covers the importance of a lead developer in optimizing development processes and fostering strong collaborations with stakeholders.  

    Listen out for:


    Career Journey - [00:00:59]
    Tips for Building Courses - [00:02:20]
    Writing “Lead Developer Career Guide” - [00:04:28]
    The Different Lead Developer Titles - [00:06:45]
    Leadership Skills - [00:08:43]
    Main Responsibilities - [00:10:28]
    Mentoring - [00:12:42]
    Success Measure - [00:14:22]
    Getting Appreciated - [00:16:19]
    Career Trajectory - [00:18:13]
    Readiness Check - [00:21:42]
    Leadership Styles - [00:24:12]
    Development Standards - [00:27:50]
    Optimizing The Development Process - [00:30:02]
    Learning from Different Stakeholders - [00:31:29]
    Writing Technical Documentation - [00:33:36]
    Preventive Measures - [00:36:55]
    Providing Estimates - [00:39:44]
    3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:41:50]

    _____

    Shelley Benhoff’s BioShelley has 20+ years of experience in IT as a Business Owner, Author, Speaker, Docker Community Leader, and Sitecore Technology MVP. She has a passion for tiaras, technology, gaming, and general nerdery. She loves to learn new things as well as mentor and teach others. She teaches content creation, content marketing, leadership, communication, Docker, and Sitecore development. Shelley is currently a Co-Owner of HoffsTech, LLC, an organization that she started with her family to provide online courses and digital media production.

    Follow Shelley:


    Website – hoffstech.com
    Twitter / X – @SBenhoff
    LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/shelley-benhoff-69787513/
    Tiaras and Tech Podcast – https://tiarasandtech.com/
    TikTok – @tiarasandtech
    Instagram – @tiarasandtech
    Threads – @tiarasandtech

    _____

    Our Sponsors

    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 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.



    Like this episode?

    Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/164.
    Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
    Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    • 46 min
    #163 - Becoming an Intentional Engineer and Tech Leader - Jeff Perry

    #163 - Becoming an Intentional Engineer and Tech Leader - Jeff Perry

    “The whole idea of being intentional is instead of being reactive or unintentional and just letting your life come to you, we have this opportunity to choose what we want to do and who we want to become."

    Are you tired of feeling uninspired and disengaged in your engineering career? If so, this episode is for you!

    Jeff Perry is back again for a second episode with his latest book, “The Intentional Engineer”. In this episode, Jeff uncovers the keys to building a meaningful, fulfilling career by cultivating more intentionality. We dive into the ‘quiet quitting’ phenomenon happening worldwide, and Jeff shares his personal story of disengagement during a particular stage in his career.

    Learn Jeff’s Intentional Engineer model to assess your current situation and start becoming more intentional toward your lives and career. You will also learn the importance of identifying your core values, the power of mindsets, getting your career clarity, finding your genius zones, and a few core skills you should learn for living more intentionally!  

    Listen out for:


    Writing “The Intentional Engineer” - [00:03:31]
    Jeff’s Story of Becoming Intentional - [00:08:33]
    Quiet Quitting Phenomenon - [00:11:17]
    Being Intentional - [00:14:41]
    Intentional Engineer Model - [00:17:50]
    Going Beyond the Tipping Point - [00:21:25]
    Identifying Core Values - [00:25:01]
    The Power of Mindsets - [00:28:00]
    Outwards vs Inward Mindsets - [00:33:10]
    Getting Career Clarity - [00:36:42]
    Genius Zone - [00:39:57]
    Getting More Into Genius Zone - [00:42:54]
    Skills to Support Your Intentions - [00:45:42]
    3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:48:44]

    _____

    Jeff Perry’s BioJeff Perry is a leadership and career expert known for helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their potential in all facets of life. Given his background in engineering, business, and leadership, he specializes in working with engineering and technical professionals, but the principles he shares are universal.

    Jeff received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington.

    Follow Jeff:


    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcperry/
    Personal Website – jeff-perry.com
    Engineering Career Coach Podcast – https://engineeringmanagementinstitute.org/the-podcast/

    _____

    Our Sponsors

    Miro is your team's visual workspace to connect, collaborate, and create innovations together, from anywhere.

    Sign up today at miro.com/podcast and get your first 3 Miro boards free forever.



    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 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.



    Like this episode?

    Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/163.
    Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
    Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    • 51 min
    #162 - Scaling for Success: People Priorities for High-Growth Organizations - Andrew Bartlow

    #162 - Scaling for Success: People Priorities for High-Growth Organizations - Andrew Bartlow

    “The People Playbook: First, be clear about your goals and communicate with massive clarity to your team what you’re trying to accomplish. Second, be brilliant at the basics."

    Andrew Bartlow is the co-founder of the People Leader Accelerator and the co-author of “Scaling for Success”. In this episode, Andrew discusses the common challenges faced by high-growth organizations and offers strategies for successful scaling.

    He emphasizes the significance of organizations creating a unique people’s playbook and cautions against blindly adopting best practices from other companies. Andrew highlights 7 essential people practices organizations should prioritize, which includes organizational structure, learning & development, and culture & engagement.  

    Listen out for:


    Career Journey - [00:03:55]
    Writing “Scaling for Success” - [00:06:56]
    High-Growth Organization Challenges - [00:08:52]
    Goldilocks Zone - [00:11:11]
    People Playbook - [00:12:52]
    The Danger of Best Practices - [00:15:13]
    Crisis of Leadership & Autonomy - [00:17:29]
    Lack of Role Clarity - [00:21:34]
    7 Key People Practices - [00:25:45]
    Key Practice: Organizational Structure - [00:30:44]
    Politics & Power Dynamics - [00:37:49]
    Key Practice: Learning & Development - [00:40:30]
    Key Practice: Culture, Engagement & Communications - [00:46:22]
    Sensing Employee Engagement - [00:52:17]
    3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:55:14]

    _____

    Andrew Bartlow’s BioAndrew Bartlow has almost 25 years of experience as a thought leader in organizational effectiveness, and as a practical operator linking business strategy to HR priorities inside corporations. In addition to advisory and mentoring activities through Series B Consulting, Andrew serves as an Operating Partner & Senior Advisor for Altamont Capital Partners, the cofounder and Network Director for WiseGrowth Networks, the cofounder and Managing Partner of People Leader Accelerator, and an HR Venture Advisor for SemperVirens Venture Capital.

    Follow Andrew:


    LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/bartlow
    People Leader Accelerator – peopleleaderaccelerator.com
    Series B Consulting – seriesbconsulting.com

    _____

    Our Sponsors

    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 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.



    Like this episode?

    Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/162.
    Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
    Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

thatengineeringguy14 ,

Great mix of topics

The Tech Lead Journal is putting out great episodes on a range of topics that can be helpful to technical leaders. The mix of tech topics and personal development helps them to create conversations about ALL the things that go into being a great leader in tech.

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