Tech Lead Journal

Henry Suryawirawan
Tech Lead Journal

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.

  1. #206 - The Fundamentals and Future of DevOps and Software Delivery - Yevgeniy Brikman

    4 DAYS AGO

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

    (06:49) Brought to you by Lemon.io ⁠Lemon.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 careers Listen 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 Bio Yevgeniy (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 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/206. Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram. Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

    1h 23m
  2. #205 - Measuring Code Quality in the Age of GenAI - Matt Van Itallie

    FEB 10

    #205 - Measuring Code Quality in the Age of GenAI - Matt Van Itallie

    (03:55) Brought to you by Lemon.io Lemon.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 stakeholders Whether 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 Wisdom Matt 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 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/205.Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

    58 min
  3. #204 - Stop Inflicting Daily Standups and Computer Science Riddles on Your Devs - David Guttman

    FEB 3

    #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.

    1h 2m
  4. #203 - Building Effective and Thriving Machine Learning Teams - David Tan & Dave Colls

    JAN 27

    #203 - Building Effective and Thriving Machine Learning Teams - David Tan & Dave Colls

    Is your ML project stuck in POC hell and failing to deliver real value? In this episode, I sit down with David Tan and Dave Colls, co-authors of the book “Effective Machine Learning Teams” to discuss the complexities of building and deploying ML models, building and managing effective ML teams, and ensuring successful ML projects. Key topics discussed:- Learn the key differences between ML engineering and traditional software engineering.- Why so many ML projects fail to reach production or deliver real business value and how to overcome common challenges.- Discover the ideal ML team composition and how to apply concepts like team topologies for effective collaboration.- The importance of product thinking in ML projects and best practices for designing robust, valuable ML products.- Essential engineering best practices for successful ML projects, including automated testing, continuous delivery, and MLOps practices. Listen out for:(02:35) Career Turning Points(04:54) Writing "Effective Machine Learning Teams"(08:29) ML Engineering vs Other Types of Engineering(12:24) ML and LLM(14:59) Why Many ML Projects Fail(19:53) ML Success Modes(23:32) Ideal ML Engineering Team Composition(31:39) Building the Right ML Product(39:23) ML Engineering Best Practices(49:14) MLOps(52:44) Make Good Easy(53:56) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom Tune in to learn how to build and deploy ML products that truly make a difference! David Tan’s Bio David Tan is a lead ML engineer with more than six years of experience in practicing Lean engineering in the field of data and AI across various sectors such as real estate, government services and retail. David is passionate about engineering effectiveness and knowledge sharing, and has also spoken at several conferences on how teams can adopt Lean and continuous delivery practices to effectively and responsibly deliver AI-powered products across diverse industries. Follow David Tan: - LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/davified - X – @davified - GitHub – https://github.com/davified Dave Colls’ Bio Dave loves building new things and helping others build too – products and services, people and teams – using technology, Data & AI. His work building the Thoughtworks Data & AI practice shows how these elements combine: creating a new business, consulting to leaders and making a home for data people to grow. Currently, Dave is working at Nextdata, pushing the frontiers of how organisations work with data. David thrives on navigating complex challenges and evolving environments. His extensive experience in large-scale digital transformations and deep tech R&D has honed his ability to align efforts and drive impactful results. A dedicated mentor, David is passionate about guiding data professionals in their career growth. He actively shares his expertise as a speaker, blogger, and author of the book “Effective Machine Learning Teams.” Follow Dave Colls:- LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/davidcolls Links: - 🎧 #198 - Better Software Faster: Measure & Improve Developer Productivity with DX Core 4 - Laura Tacho – https://techleadjournal.dev/episodes/198/ - 📚 Effective Machine Learning Teams – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/effective-machine-learning/9781098144623/ - Free preview and overview – https://www.thoughtworks.com/content/dam/thoughtworks/documents/e-book/EffectiveMLTeams_preface.pdf _____ 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/203.Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    59 min
  5. #202 - The Rise of AI in Shaping the Future of Work - André Neubauer

    JAN 20

    #202 - The Rise of AI in Shaping the Future of Work - André Neubauer

    “Looking at the development pace of this area, it’s just a question of when generative AI will take over larger parts of software engineering. It’s a leadership responsibility to ensure your organization is ready for AI and you are taking the right path.” AI is changing EVERYTHING – including the way we build software. Are you READY for it? In this episode, we dive deep into the impact of AI on the future of work, particularly in the software development space. Join me and André Neubauer as we explore: * The evolution of AI: From early code generation to today’s advanced Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs). * The rise of Agentic AI: How AI agents are collaborating to automate complex tasks and reshape software development workflows. * The impact on organizations: How companies can leverage AI to boost productivity, foster innovation, and navigate the challenges of this new era. * The future of software teams: Will AI replace developers or empower them? Discover why smaller, leaner, high-performing teams might be the way forward. * Leadership in the age of AI: Essential strategies for leaders to successfully integrate AI into their organizations and address the concerns of their teams. Listen out for: (00:02:11) Career Turning Points (00:07:56) Giving a Talk on “The Role of AI in Future Workplaces” (00:10:30) What Drives the AI Advancements (00:18:54) The Levels of AI Advancement (00:25:01) AI in Software Engineering (00:26:53) Concerns on Tech Debt and Issues (00:31:11) Impact of AI to Organizations (00:34:34) Smaller and Leaner Teams (00:37:15) The Rise of Solopreneurship (00:41:32) Getting People Onboard to AI (00:44:40) Leadership Measures for Adopting AI (00:49:34) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom _____ André Neubauer’s Bio For nearly two decades, André Neubauer has shaped Tech & Product and its interface with the business in varied settings, from startups to major corporations. His journey began in software engineering and evolved into technical leadership, a role he’s passionately undertaken for the past 15 years. As CTO, he’s spearheaded transformative projects and strategies, backed by an academic foundation in informatics and business economics. Always at the forefront of modern leadership practices, he’s transformed companies into tech powerhouses. Beyond his role as CTO, he actively mentors tech leaders and consults businesses, guiding them through their tech challenges. Follow Andre: * LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/andreneubauer * Newsletter – devpg.substack.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/202.Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    53 min
  6. #201 - Building Evolutionary Architectures: Automated Software Governance - Rebecca Parsons

    JAN 13

    #201 - Building Evolutionary Architectures: Automated Software Governance - Rebecca Parsons

    “Evolutionary architecture became a necessity, not because anybody wanted it to be, but because you didn’t have a choice. You have to be able to change your systems to keep up with changing business and consumer expectations, let alone regulatory frameworks.” In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Rebecca Parsons, coauthor of Building Evolutionary Architectures and ex-CTO of ThoughtWorks, on the topic of evolutionary architecture. Rebecca shares the definition and principles of evolutionary architecture, as well as some important practices that software engineering teams can adopt to support it. Rebecca also offers her perspective on the impact of AI in software development and evolutionary architecture. Key takeaways: - Evolutionary architecture supports guided, incremental change across multiple dimensions. - Fitness functions are a key tool for implementing evolutionary architecture. - Some of the important engineering practices for evolutionary architecture include continuous delivery, evolutionary database, contract testing, and choreography over orchestration. - AI coding assistants can help analyze and understand complex legacy systems, aiding in refactoring and modernization efforts. - Over-reliance on AI coding assistants may hinder the development of proper abstraction and critical thinking skills, especially in junior developers. Listen out for: (00:02:35) Career Turning Points (00:08:38) Why Adopt Evolutionary Architecture (00:11:06) Evolutionary vs Rewrite (00:13:41) Architecture Definition (00:16:45) Evolutionary Architecture Adoption (00:20:56) Evolutionary Architecture Definition (00:22:32) Fitness Function (00:26:07) Commonly Adopted Fitness Functions (00:29:33) Principles of Evolutionary Architecture (00:35:24) Conway’s Law & Postel’s Law (00:39:40) Practices of Evolutionary Architecture (00:45:41) The Impact of AI to Evolutionary Architecture (00:48:44) The AI Worries (00:52:32) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom _____ Rebecca Parsons’ BioDr. Rebecca Parsons is currently independent, having been Thoughtworks CTO and CTO Emerita for over 15 years. She has more years of experience than she’d like to admit in technology and large-scale software development. She recently co-authored the book Building Evolutionary Architectures with Neal Ford and Pat Kua. Before ThoughtWorks she worked as an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Central Florida, after completing a Director’s Post Doctoral Fellowship at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her interests include parallel and distributed computation, programming languages, domain specific languages, evolutionary architecture, genetic algorithms, and computational science. Rebecca received a BS in Computer Science and Economics from Bradley University, and both an MS and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rice University. Follow Rebecca: LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/dr-rebecca-parsons X – x.com/rebeccaparsons 📚 Building Evolutionary Architectures – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/building-evolutionary-architectures/9781492097532/ _____ 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/201.Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    57 min
  7. #200 - Become a Great Engineering Leader - James Stanier

    11/25/2024

    #200 - Become a Great Engineering Leader - James Stanier

    “Leadership is where you have, not necessarily a large organization, but increasing scope and increasing impact, while bringing lots of people along with you.” In this milestone episode of the podcast, James Stanier returns for the third time to discuss his latest book, “Become a Great Engineering Leader.” We explore the role of an engineering leader and delve deep into the nuances of engineering leadership. James explains the difference between an engineering leader and an engineering manager through the lens of the three levels of warfare: strategy, operational, and tactical. We then discuss the importance of organizational chart design and some best practices, including Conway’s law and how to avoid politics. James also talks about the importance of time management, always having a long-term view of your work (long-termism), and the critical role of writing in leadership. We discuss important approaches such as one-way vs. two-way doors and balancing between writing vs. bias for action. Finally, James explains the importance of strategic thinking, why a strategy is not necessarily a plan, and how an engineering leader can communicate their strategy effectively. He also provides practical tips for upcoming engineering leaders and discusses how we should all navigate a career in technology.   Listen out for: (00:02:19) Writing "Become a Great Engineering Leader" (00:04:21) The Role of Engineering Leader (00:05:57) Engineering Leader vs Engineering Manager (00:09:36) Tenure Relevancy (00:11:30) The Importance of an Org Chart (00:13:44) Org Chart Best Practices (00:15:55) Conway's Law (00:17:16) Avoiding Politics (00:21:41) Writing Skills & Time Management (00:26:35) T-Shaped Leadership (00:28:39) Long-termism (00:33:02) Leadership is Writing (00:36:13) Writing vs Bias for Action (00:38:20) One-Way vs Two-Way Door (00:41:09) Reading & Seeking Information (00:44:46) Strategic Thinking (00:48:05) A Strategy is Not a Plan (00:52:23) Communicating Your Strategy (00:55:39) Becoming an Engineering Leader (01:01:56) 3 Engineering Leader Wisdom _____ James Stanier’s Bio James Stanier is Director of Engineering at Shopify. James holds a Ph.D. in computer science and runs theengineeringmanager.com. He has over a decade of experience with building people and software. He is also the author of Become an Effective Software Manager and Effective Remote Work. Follow James: LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/jstanier X – x.com/jstanier The Engineering Manager Blog – theengineeringmanager.com The Engineering Manager Newsletter – theengineeringmanager.substack.com 📚 Become a Great Engineering Leader – pragprog.com/titles/jsenglb/become-a-great-engineering-leader/ 📚 Become an Effective Software Engineering Manager – pragprog.com/titles/jsengman/become-an-effective-software-engineering-manager/ 📚 Effective Remote Work – pragprog.com/titles/jsrw/effective-remote-work/ _____ 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/200. Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    1h 7m
  8. #199 - Think Like an Engineer, Talk Like an Executive, and Go Beyond Your Limits - Pramoda Vyasarao

    11/18/2024

    #199 - Think Like an Engineer, Talk Like an Executive, and Go Beyond Your Limits - Pramoda Vyasarao

    “As an engineer, you don’t have to drop your technical skills, but you need to communicate like an executive. The more you communicate this way, you will have more opportunities and more impact on your job.” Pramoda Vyasarao is an engineering leader turned coach with two decades of experience at Oracle and Meta, and the author of “Beyond Your Limits”. In this episode, Pramoda shares his insights on the importance of communication for engineers, as well as his inspiring journey of achieving 52 lofty goals in over 20 years and going beyond his limits. Having joined Toastmasters in 2003 to improve his public speaking, Pramoda believes engineers should focus on developing their communication skills to advance their careers and become better leaders. He discusses his TALL framework for effective communication: talking with structure, asking insightful questions, listening deeply, and leadership development. Our conversation also delves into key topics from Pramoda’s book, “Beyond Your Limits”. Pramoda discusses the importance of setting goals and finding life’s meaning, sharing his own inspiring journey in his goal-oriented life. He explains the power of thoughts, how our thoughts can influence our feelings and actions significantly, and the three common saboteurs to achieving our goals: time, purpose, and belief. Tune in to learn practical advice on improving your communication and leadership skills, as well as how to achieve your big goals and realize your true potential.   Listen out for: Career Turning Points - [00:02:13] Going Through Layoff - [00:03:42] Joining Toastmasters - [00:05:25] Tips for Being a Great Speaker - [00:07:34] Think Like an Engineer, Talk Like an Executive - [00:09:17] Your Communication Gives You More Opportunities - [00:11:45] Written Communication Skills - [00:13:41] TALL Framework for Communication and Leadership - [00:15:24] T = Talking with Structures - [00:19:08] L = Listening Deeply - [00:21:59] ABC Framework for Leadership - [00:25:19] Why Writing “Beyond Your Limits” Book - [00:33:31] The Power of Thoughts - [00:37:39] Top 3 Saboteurs of Goal Achievement - [00:41:12] 7 Step Framework for Goal Achievement - [00:47:56] Creating Milestones & Habits - [00:51:01] Pramoda’s Biggest Goal Achievement - [00:54:28] 3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:57:13] _____ Pramoda Vyasarao’s Bio Pramoda Vyasarao, the founder of Changesmith Coaching LLC, has a rich background in computer science and boasts over two decades of experience with tech giants like Oracle and Meta. Beginning his career as an engineer and eventually transitioning into a management role, he recognized the importance of structured leadership development. This realization spurred his journey into leadership coaching. With 17 years of coaching experience, Pramoda has significantly impacted thousands of individuals across 11 countries. He specializes in fostering personal growth for senior leaders through one-on-one coaching and cohort-based courses that focus on communication, leadership, and storytelling. Pramoda is the author of the bestselling book “Beyond Your Limits.” Follow Pramoda: LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/pramodavyasarao Digital Courses – changesmith.me/courses Live Courses – maven.com/changesmith 📚 Beyond Your Limits – amazon.com/Beyond-Your-Limits-Achieving-Happiness/dp/B0D5ZDX3P5 🎧 Beyond Your Limits Audiobook – open.spotify.com/show/4tHbhirBUklc2Zehq5f9NN _____ 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/199. Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

    1h 2m

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

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.

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