Episode 18: Onboarding and prioritising time in a 2000-person eng org with Thiago Ghisi
Mar 30, 2024
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Thiago Ghisi shares insights on onboarding, prioritizing time in a large engineering organization. He discusses challenges of transitioning to an engineering management role, managing engineering teams effectively, and the importance of establishing a positive onboarding experience. The conversation also touches on strategies for managing managers, central tech contacts, and influential leadership books.
Transitioning to management involves nuanced challenges from different work contexts.
Managing manager roles require focus on strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration.
Deep dives
Creating a Podcast on Management
Tiago Gesien shares his journey of creating a podcast on management with former managers and engineers, highlighting the need for open discussions on management topics. The podcast emerged from a community of entrepreneurs exploring small bets and experimentation. This platform provided a space for sharing experiences and insights not commonly discussed elsewhere.
Transition to Leadership
Tiago's transition from senior engineer to director of engineering was shaped by his experiences at ThoughtWorks and a startup, where he took on management responsibilities. Moving to American Express, Tiago faced new challenges and opportunities that led him to take on a director role. His initial struggles transitioning to direct management highlighted the complexities of navigating technical and managerial responsibilities.
Managing Managers vs. Individual Contributors
Tiago reflects on the differences between managing managers and individual contributors. As a manager of managers, his focus shifted towards broader issues, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. Unlike managing individual contributors, the emphasis was on developing relationships across business units, navigating dependencies, and aligning with the organization's long-term goals.
Leadership Development and Cultivating Culture
Tiago emphasizes the importance of creating a leadership team and fostering a cohesive organizational culture. He discusses the challenges of integrating diverse perspectives, leveraging strengths, and promoting cross-functional collaboration within his team. Over time, his efforts have led to a more effective leadership structure and a shared sense of mission and culture within the organization.
Thiago Ghisi covers his background of moving from a consulting career to a management role, his experience of onboarding in different contexts and why he thinks joining as a director is easier than joining as an engineering manager of a team. We also spent some time understanding his current role at Nubank, which has more than 2000 engineers and how he allocates his time effectively.
Guest Biography
Thiago Ghisi is an engineering leader who has worked at places like Apple, ThoughtWorks and Amex. He is currently a Director of Engineering at Nubank and also runs a podcast, “Engineering Advice You Didn't Ask For”