How to pitch to executives effectively

Patrick and Anand explain starting with the most important point and anticipating executive skepticism and trust checks.

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Episode notes

Are your technical skills actually holding your career back? In this conversation with Anand Sahay, Global CEO of Xebia, we explore the controversial reality that "mediocre" engineers often climb the corporate ladder faster than technical wizards. And what you need to do to change that trajectory.

In this episode, we cover:

Why simplicity and business value beat complex code every time
The specific mindset shift required to move from Senior Engineer to Executive
How to maintain technical intuition and manage risk without micromanaging
The hidden arrogance that stops great engineers from becoming great leaders

This discussion is essential for software engineers, architects, and technical managers who want to break through the "tech ceiling" and understand how decisions are really made at the top.

Connect with Anand:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ansahay

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:28 - How to Pitch to Executives (And Not Get Rejected)

00:03:42 - The #1 Trait of Elite Engineering Leaders

00:06:15 - Why AI Answers Destroy Your Credibility

00:10:11 - Why Mediocre Engineers Get Promoted Over Great Ones

00:14:15 - The Truth About the "Individual Contributor" Track

00:16:16 - The Arrogance Trap: Why Devs Fail at Business

00:22:08 - Stop Being a "One Man Army" (Unless You Do This)

00:25:32 - From Developer to CEO: The Uncommon Path