S1E10 Taming your imposter syndrome with Medium's Melissa DePuydt
Nov 25, 2024
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Melissa DePuydt, Director of Engineering at Medium, shares her fascinating journey from journalism to tech. She opens up about grappling with imposter syndrome, offering insights on how storytelling can foster confidence. The conversation dives into her innovative 'Scrappy vs. Scale' management framework, highlighting the need for adaptability in leadership. Plus, Melissa reveals the unexpected lessons learned from horseback riding, emphasizing patience and communication in both riding and leadership.
Melissa DePuydt's transition from journalism to software engineering exemplified how communication skills can bridge diverse professional fields.
Her Scrappy vs. Scale framework provides a strategic approach for adapting management styles to different team dynamics and environments.
Deep dives
Journey into Software Engineering
Melissa Depoit's entry into software engineering began unexpectedly, stemming from her initial interest in coding while dating her now-husband, who taught her HTML and CSS. Her experience in journalism proved to be a valuable asset as she transitioned, recognizing the similarities between coding and writing as forms of communication. This realization prompted her to pursue formal training through a boot camp, ultimately aligning her coding skills with her background in editing and story crafting. The journey to becoming an engineering manager was marked by her early roles that melded her writing expertise with technical challenges.
Transitioning from Journalism to Engineering
Melissa faced challenges when leaving her established career in journalism to become a web developer, chiefly the struggle of being a beginner once more. She had built a strong identity in journalism yet found joy in the editing process rather than reporting, signaling her shift in focus. This transition was reaffirmed when she identified a lack of technical skills that hindered her potential within a previous job, which propelled her decision to pursue development more seriously. The acknowledgment that her editing skills could translate effectively into a managerial role in engineering was pivotal to her career development.
Navigating Imposter Syndrome
Throughout her career shift to engineering, Melissa grappled with imposter syndrome, especially when transitioning from a field where she was confident to one where she felt like a novice. She learned to manage those feelings by recognizing them as part of the process rather than definitive indicators of her capabilities. Experience and repetition in her new role helped build her confidence, leading her to embrace vulnerability when presenting her ideas. This approach has allowed her to connect with others, demonstrating the importance of sharing personal struggles within professional environments.
The Scrappy vs. Scale Framework
In her talk, Melissa introduced the Scrappy and Scale framework, which she developed to evaluate her approach to engineering management based on the context of her work. She highlighted the differences between scrappy environments, where immediate implementation and task clarity are essential, and scale environments, characterized by stability and systematic processes. This framework allows managers to adapt their leadership styles depending on their team's needs, guiding them through varying degrees of operational challenges. By understanding the spectrum of team dynamics, leaders can better facilitate growth and development among their team members.
Melissa DePuydt, Director of Engineering at Medium, joins the show to talk about making the switch from journalism to software engineering, her experiences with imposter syndrome, and a Scrappy vs. Scale framework for adapting your management approach to different contexts.