Managing Managers

Episode 22: Ethical engineering management with David Yee

May 25, 2024

VP of Engineering at the NY Times, David Yee, discusses managing managers, ethical leadership, delegation, and adapting management styles. He emphasizes principles over tasks, the challenges of transitioning into director roles, and the importance of ethical engineering management. Listen to the episode for more insights on humane management in the tech industry.

47:40

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Episode guests

David Yee

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Balancing authority with vulnerability is crucial for managers of managers, emphasizing the need for ethical decision-making and understanding complex human dynamics within teams.

Empathy, adaptability, and continuous self-assessment are key for effective leadership, highlighting the importance of embracing vulnerability and learning from mistakes.

Deep dives

Challenges in Transitioning to Management Roles

Transitioning to management roles presents challenges such as accepting new responsibilities and understanding the shift in mindset from individual contributor to manager. David Yi, a VP of engineering, shares his journey from being an engineer to a manager of managers, highlighting the complexities and learning curves associated with each phase of growth. As he reflects on his experiences, he emphasizes the need to balance authority with vulnerability, avoid micromanaging, and continuously learn from mistakes to evolve as an effective leader in managing managers.

Introduction

3min

Navigating the Complexities of Engineering Management Roles

19min

Navigating Managerial Transitions and Challenges

11min

Navigating Managerial Hierarchies

6min

Navigating the Journey of Managing Managers

3min

Navigating the Challenges of Leadership in Engineering Roles

2min

Guidance for New Managers of Managers and Contact Information

4min

In this conversation with VP Engineering at the NY Times, David Yee, we cover a huge amount of ground from how delegation differs for managers of managers, the focus on principles over tasks, adapting your management style, bad reasons why people want to be a director and what does ethical engineering management mean to him. Listen to this episode for more.

Guest Biography:

David Yee is VP of Engineering at the New York Times. As an engineering leader, he’s built and scaled teams at both small and enormous companies in the worlds of journalism, music, and art—with an emphasis on product-oriented engineering and humane management.

His career has included roles as Chief Architect and co-founder at 20 by 200, co-founder and CTO at Editorially, and Engineering Director of Chorus at Vox Media