Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career cover image

Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

The things engineers are desperate for PMs to understand | Camille Fournier (author of “The Manager’s Path,” ex-CTO at Rent the Runway)

Sep 15, 2024
Camille Fournier, author of 'The Manager’s Path' and former CTO at Rent the Runway, shares her wealth of experience in tech leadership. She discusses the common frustrations engineers have with product managers, like communication breakdowns and misallocated credit. Camille offers insights on avoiding major rewrites in software, the transition from engineer to manager, and the importance of clear collaboration with platform teams. She also emphasizes striking a balance between effective management and personal well-being, topped off with tips for new managers.
01:23:15

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Product managers must acknowledge engineers' contributions and encourage open discussions to improve team morale and collaboration.
  • Engineers appreciate when PMs exhibit empathy by understanding the complexities of their work, fostering a supportive atmosphere.

Deep dives

The Importance of Credit Sharing

Project managers (PMs) often face criticism from engineers for not adequately sharing credit for projects. Engineers may feel overshadowed by PMs who are the face of initiatives and take the spotlight during presentations. It's crucial for PMs to recognize the hard work of engineers and ensure that acknowledgment is shared. Creating opportunities for engineers to discuss their contributions can enhance team morale and foster a collaborative environment.

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