LeadDev's PriorityZero
S1E13 Learning to let go when managing managers with Shopify's Allison Malloy
Jan 13, 2025
Allison Malloy, Director of Engineering at Shopify, shares her fascinating journey from aspiring astronaut to tech leader. She discusses the unexpected challenges of transitioning to management and the necessity of letting go when overseeing other managers. Remote team dynamics take center stage as she highlights the importance of communication and trust. Additionally, Allison dives into Shopify's mission of unifying services and enhancing team capabilities, all while ensuring that major project goals are appropriately set for future advancements.
44:31
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Allison Malloy's journey illustrates the organic transition from aspiring astronaut to an unintentional yet effective leader in software engineering.
- The challenges of managing remote teams highlight the need for strong communication strategies and the importance of unifying services at Shopify.
Deep dives
Early Inspirations in Software Engineering
The speaker shares her journey into software engineering, which began with a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. She pursued engineering in university, inspired by events such as receiving an email from a female astronaut who went to space. Her initial exposure to coding came when she created websites for organizations like the Canadian Safety Council during summer jobs. These formative experiences laid the foundation for her long career in software development, highlighting the connection between early interests and later professional choices.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
