Moving to a portfolio career - working as a technical board advisor and non-executive director.

Coding Chats episode 30 - Tom Hill and John Crickett discuss Tom's transition into technical advisory roles, exploring the concept of a portfolio career, the differences between fractional executives and board advisors, and the essential skills required for success in these positions. He emphasizes the importance of communication, understanding business dynamics, and navigating the complexities of the job market, particularly in the context of AI's impact on software engineering. Tom also shares insights from his unique career journey, from sound engineering to becoming a tech advisor.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Career Transitions: From Tech to Advisory Roles

03:24 Understanding Fractional Executives vs. Board Advisors

06:14 The Role of a Board Advisor: Responsibilities and Engagements

09:00 The Importance of Communication in Advisory Roles

12:06 Politics and Influence in Leadership

14:42 AI's Impact on Software Engineering: Myths and Realities

17:50 The Journey to Becoming a Technical Advisor

28:11 Navigating the Job Market Challenges

30:51 The Rise of Niche Recruitment

34:08 Transitioning to Tech Advisory

37:03 Understanding Business Financials

43:08 From Music to Tech: A Unique Journey

Tom's Links:

Tom's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhill-uk/John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways:

Tom Hill has embraced a portfolio career, combining various advisory roles.

Fractional executives focus on outcomes rather than just time spent.

Board advisors provide guidance without operational involvement.

Effective communication is crucial for translating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Politics is inherent in business dynamics, and navigating it is essential.

AI serves as an efficiency tool but won't replace software engineers soon.

The job market is currently chaotic, with many candidates and roles available.

Building skills for advisory roles involves understanding business fundamentals.

Tom's career path reflects a journey of continuous learning and adaptation.

Transitioning from technical roles to advisory positions requires a shift in perspective.