Engineering Advice You Didn't Ask For S01E09 - How fast can one move in their career ladder?
May 17, 2022
Louie Bacaj, an engineering leader with experience in both startups and large tech firms, shares his insights on career progression. He discusses his rapid rise at a startup and the impact of saying yes to challenging tasks. Key topics include the importance of context in promotions, the trade-offs of intense work hours, and the risks of moving up too quickly. Louie emphasizes the significance of career momentum and recognizes that personal priorities shape different growth trajectories.
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Rapid Rise At A Hypergrowth Startup
- Louie joined Jet as a senior engineer and rapidly rose to director and then senior director after Walmart acquired Jet.
- He credits startup hypergrowth and saying yes to huge responsibilities for that fast climb.
Surf The Wave Of Company Growth
- Tiago and others describe "surfing the wave": join early, take context-heavy work, and promotions follow.
- Company stage and timing, not pure merit, often determine promotion speed.
Spot Momentum And Decide Fast
- Identify momentum quickly and decide whether to "grab the bull by the horn" and push for growth.
- Accept that rapid promotion often requires sacrificing time, but you can evaluate fit within months.
