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
00:29:07 - Why Most Engineering Teams Are Structured Wrong
00:32:17 - How to Spot a Toxic Tech Culture
00:34:44 - Will AI Replace Senior Engineers?
00:38:40 - Maintaining Technical Intuition Without Coding Daily
00:41:53 - When to Approve "Bad" Ideas for Team Morale
00:48:41 - The "Hard Part First" Rule for Innovation
#SoftwareEngineering #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth
