The Confident Commit Strategic career decisions ft. Cate Huston, Engineering Director at DuckDuckGo
Sep 12, 2025
Cate Huston, Engineering Director at DuckDuckGo and author of "The Engineering Leader," discusses career ownership and sustainable leadership. She challenges the idea that promotions define success, urging professionals to be "directly responsible individuals" for their growth. The conversation highlights the importance of self-awareness in career choices, the significance of constructive debates in fostering collaboration, and the need for clear communication to promote productivity. Huston’s insights offer valuable strategies for thriving in engineering roles.
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Own Your Career, Not Just Promotions
- Career growth is not the same as promotion; you must own your career trajectory.
- Only you can decide how work fits your life and whether to maximize market value or personal balance.
Buying Versus Renting Your Skills
- Know whether your current role is 'buying' or 'renting' marketable skills and act accordingly.
- Staying too long in a role that drifts from market value makes future moves harder and may require pay or title compromises.
Take A Tactical Step Back To Re-skill
- If you lack critical skills from a bad environment, take a deliberate step back to re-skill even if title or pay drops.
- Treat taking a lower role as a mindful investment to accelerate future growth.
