Beyond Coding Principal Software Engineer: Democracy at Work is Overrated
Aug 13, 2025
Dario Gieselaar, Principal Software Engineer at Elastic, shares his insights on thriving in the high-stakes world of big tech. He discusses the harsh realities of career advancement and promotion cycles, emphasizing the need for self-advocacy and direct feedback. Dario highlights why accountability matters and how navigating team dynamics can be smoother with a top-down approach. He also explores the balance between personal values and organizational compliance, proving that in the tech arena, winning isn't just about skills—it's about mindset.
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Missed Promotion Sparked Self-Advocacy
- Dario describes missing promo emails early in his career and feeling deeply frustrated for days.
- He then proactively pinged his manager and secured a promotion six months later.
Ask For A Promotion Checklist
- Ask your manager explicitly what you must do to get promoted and secure a clear agreement.
- Use that agreement as leverage because meeting defined expectations makes it hard for managers to say no.
Recognition Beats Money For Motivation
- Titles and recognition often matter more than raw pay for feeling valued at work.
- Dario stopped negotiating salary because recognition and usefulness became his main motivators.