Dev Interrupted
How to Leverage a Non-Technical Background in Engineering Leadership | Melissa DePuydt
Mar 26, 2024
Melissa DePuydt, Sr. Director of Engineering at Upstatement, discusses leveraging her journalism background in engineering leadership. Topics include thinking like a journalist for effective planning, risk management, and decision-making, preparing for disruptions, conducting pre-mortems, and embracing diverse perspectives. Insights on career switching, team collaboration, and continuous learning are also shared.
33:56
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Embracing a non-technical background can enhance decision-making and quick information gathering in engineering leadership roles.
- Preparing for disruptions proactively by adopting a journalistic mindset, utilizing pre-mortems, and fostering adaptability amidst uncertainties.
Deep dives
Leveraging Non-Technical Background in Engineering Leadership
While transitioning from a journalism career to product engineering, there were initial feelings of imposter syndrome and a need to hide a non-technical background. However, as a product engineer at the Post, the speaker discovered that her journalism background helped in decision-making, quick information gathering, and contextual analysis. This unique perspective enabled her to approach engineering leadership differently, emphasizing the value of diverse backgrounds in leadership positions.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
