Maher Hanafi from Betterworks | Driving Engineering Productivity as a VPE

In this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra welcomes Maher Hanafi, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, to discuss engineering productivity hacks. Maher shares insights from his 16+ years of engineering and leadership experience, emphasizing the importance of passion and individualized growth paths for team members.

He recounts how his early interest in gaming and experiences as a guild master in World of Warcraft shaped his leadership style, teaching him valuable lessons in social intelligence and teamwork. Maher outlines his proprietary framework for peak performance focusing on shared understanding, trust, and competence, and highlights the significant benefits of leveraging generative AI tools like GitHub Copilot for improving productivity. The episode also delves into the complexities of implementing new technologies and managing distributed teams, underscoring Maher's strategies for overcoming these challenges through continuous learning and fostering a collaborative culture.

💡 Highlights

💬 A framework built on trust, competence & shared understanding

🎮 How gaming shaped Maher's leadership style

🤖 The role of GenAI tools like GitHub Copilot in boosting productivity

🌍 Tackling the challenges of distributed teams and new tech adoption

🎧 Full Episode

Listen on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.

Read the Episode Transcript.

Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋

1) Subscribe to groCTO by typo — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber.

2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & helps build groCTO.