In this engaging discussion, Charity Majors, CTO and Co-founder of Honeycomb.io, shares her vast expertise in observability and large-scale systems. She delves into the critical evolution from Observability 1.0 to 2.0 and the necessity for transparency in leadership. Charity emphasizes the importance of nurturing junior engineers and the role of personal values in shaping diverse tech environments. With insights on performance metrics and the interplay between AI and software engineering, she highlights the socio-technical pathways to building high-performing teams.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Unconventional CTO Role
Charity Majors, CTO of Honeycomb, doesn't directly manage a large team.
She prefers this setup, allowing her to focus on areas needing the most attention.
insights INSIGHT
R&D as Value Creators
R&D teams, often treated as cost centers, must become value creators.
This involves co-owning decisions with other teams and demonstrating clear value.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Accidental Co-founder
Charity Majors considers herself an "accidental co-founder."
Initially content as an engineer, she started Honeycomb due to investor interest and a sense of obligation.
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Sarah Drasner's "Engineering Management for the Rest of Us" offers practical advice for engineering managers, focusing on building strong teams and fostering a positive work environment. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding personal and team values, promoting transparency, and creating a culture of accountability. It provides actionable strategies for managing engineers effectively, addressing common challenges, and navigating the complexities of modern software development. Drasner's insights are particularly relevant for managers who are new to the role or those seeking to improve their management skills. The book's focus on empathy and understanding makes it a valuable resource for anyone in a leadership position.
Hope in the Dark
Laura Henry
Unfortunately, detailed descriptions of the book's content by Laura Henry are not provided in the available sources. It is distinct from the more well-known book 'Hope in the Dark' by Rebecca Solnit.
In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers with @CharityMajors, CTO and Co-Founder of @Honeycomb.io, the pioneers of observability for complex systems.
Charity’s career has been built on designing and managing massive distributed systems at Parse (acquired by Facebook), Facebook, and Linden Lab (makers of Second Life). She’s also the co-author of #ObservabilityEngineering and #DatabaseReliabilityEngineering (O'Reilly).
In this conversation, we don’t hold back! Charity and Aziza dive into what’s causing tears of joy and tears of frustration in the tech world as well as discussing:
🔍 Why observability is crucial and the shift from Observability 1.0 to 2.0
👀 The need for transparency and accountability in leadership
🌍 Performative DEI, personal values, and advice to future selves
🔑 What it means to be a CTO — going beyond traditional roles and assumptions
🤖 Why AI won’t build your teams, and the importance of junior engineers
💡 Socio-technical pathways to high-performing teams
...and so much more! 🌟
Cut The Onion, hosted by @AzizaOBeirne, is a mini-series where we peel back the layers of tech roles, exploring the stories of those working in tech across various industries. Honest takes, trends, and tips for going forward! Brought to you by @SmartOSC- www.smartosc.com
The Forward Podcast with SmartOSC 
