The Peterman Pod

Asian Dad Energy, an anonymous long-time software engineer and former big-tech architect who was laid off after 25 years, shares candid career moments. He recounts his layoff and severance, explains consulting versus big-tech work and pay, and reflects on age, burnout, and why he started a viral YouTube channel. Short, frank stories about navigating tech careers and transitions.

Nimit Sohani, a Stanford PhD and AI researcher now at Cartesia who previously worked as a quant at Citadel. He contrasts AI research and quant careers, discusses PhD value and research taste. He explains Cartesia's voice AI work, low-latency TTS and long-context models. He compares startups vs big labs and debates state space models versus transformers.

Join Igor as he shares his unique journey of requesting a demotion at Meta, revealing the intricacies of senior-level expectations. He contrasts the cultures of Meta and Google, highlighting the pressures and challenges each environment presents. Discover why he values coding and mentorship over promotions and the unexpected lessons from his projects. Igor also reflects on career regrets and offers sage advice for those navigating the corporate landscape. It's a candid discussion on career choices and the realities of tech life.

Laurent Charignon, a Staff Engineer and engineering manager with a rich background at Stripe, Airbnb, and Instagram, explores the intricate world of management. He shares untold rules of calibrations and the subtle nuances of transitioning from individual contributor to manager. Laurent offers insight on overcoming bureaucracy and emphasizes the importance of clear career goals. He also discusses mentorship, coaching pitfalls, and the unique challenges of promoting from Senior to Staff engineer, making this conversation a treasure trove for aspiring tech leaders.

Adrien Friggeri, principal engineer (IC8) at Meta, shares his inspiring career trajectory from new grad to tech leader. He delves into his experience building Bento, a key developer tool, and reflects on leading teams at Facebook and Instagram. Adrien discusses the importance of taking calculated risks, the value of agency in a hackathon culture, and transitioning to management to scale projects. He emphasizes the need for broad skills, networking, and staying curious while offering valuable advice for those starting their careers in tech.

Fiona Fung, an engineering leader at Anthropic and former Senior Director at Meta, brings her wealth of experience to the table. She explores the critical balance between impact and team health, sharing insights from her journey at Microsoft and Facebook. Discussion includes the importance of effective mentoring, the cultural contrasts she observed at Facebook, and why dogfooding is essential for empathy. Fiona also highlights the significance of feedback and kindness in leadership while encouraging younger listeners to embrace their career journeys.

In this insightful discussion, senior engineers share essential career advice for software developers. They warn against hastily pursuing titles, highlighting the importance of balance to avoid burnout. Trusting oneself and confronting imposter syndrome are emphasized as keys to taking on bolder projects. Building relationships outside work is deemed crucial for life fulfillment. Specializing in unique skills and focusing on decision-making over just coding can enhance career impact. The guests encourage courage, emotional awareness, and seeking environments that recognize one’s strengths.

Join Rong Yan, a senior engineering leader with a PhD in computer vision and a swift rise from frontline manager at Meta to senior director at Snapchat. He shares invaluable insights on transitioning to higher roles, identifying key skill gaps, and the importance of strategic thinking. Discover his perspective on the cultural differences between LA and the Bay Area and get the inside scoop on working closely with Evan Spiegel. Rong emphasizes the need to define your career North Star and adapt to challenges while prioritizing meaningful impact over titles.

Boris Cherny, the Creator of Claude Code and former Principal Engineer at Meta, shares insights from his prolific career in tech. He discusses his journey from early projects at Facebook, emphasizing the value of generalist engineering culture. Boris explains how Claude Code succeeded by enhancing productivity and adapting for non-developers. He also gives advice on finding impactful side projects and highlights the importance of building trust in organizations. His reflections on competition and user focus are enlightening for anyone in tech!

Marius Schulz, Senior Staff Engineer (IC7) at Meta, shares his journey in web engineering, from leading major projects at Instagram to being the first engineer for Threads Web. He discusses how he navigated a blocked promotion despite exceeding expectations and how he responded constructively to feedback. Marius reveals insights on the importance of ownership and adapting to high-pressure deadlines. He also reflects on career planning and gives advice to his younger self about balancing ambition with well-being.