Beyond Coding Why Mediocre Engineers Get Promoted Over Great Ones (CEO Explains)
Dec 31, 2025
Join Anand Sahay, Global CEO of Xebia, whose background in engineering and sales bridges the gap between technical prowess and business savvy. He discusses why mediocrity often trumps excellence in career advancement, revealing how engineers can shift from coding to executive thinking. Anand emphasizes the power of simplicity over complexity, the risks of AI misinterpretation, and the importance of understanding business dynamics. He encourages engineers to engage beyond their tech skills, embrace teamwork, and remain adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape.
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Lead With The Core Why
- Start with the most important part and justify the why when you pitch to executives.
- Executives will probe to see if your idea is thought-through, so lead with core reasoning and outcomes.
Simplicity Wins Executive Trust
- Simplicity beats technical complexity when communicating to executives and customers.
- Anand Sahay says lucid, outcome-focused explanations win trust and funding.
Why Mediocre Engineers Rise
- Great engineers often prefer technical elegance over business outcomes and become difficult collaborators.
- Anand warns this leads mediocre but cooperative engineers to climb the hierarchy instead.