The Peterman Pod

David Fowler is a Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft, known for his impressive journey from intern to distinguished engineer, achieving 11 promotions along the way. He shares insights on navigating Microsoft’s leveling system and the importance of mentorship in career advancement. David emphasizes the value of initiative in driving innovation and the evolution of the workplace culture under new leadership. He also reflects on balancing work-life dynamics and the art of salary negotiation for new graduates, offering wisdom for those starting their careers.

David Singleton, the former CTO of Stripe and ex-VP at Google, shares his remarkable journey from junior engineer to tech leadership. He discusses innovative hiring practices at Stripe that bypassed the traditional Leetcode approach. Singleton emphasizes the necessity for engineering leaders to maintain coding skills and provides insights into effective communication and team culture in remote settings. He also reflects on personal growth, the pivotal book that shaped his career, and his new venture in building AI platforms for consumers.

Celebrate a milestone of 25,000 subscribers with a fun dive into the origins of the show! Discover the storytelling journey and memorable moments that shaped the podcast. Listen in as the host shares dreams for future guest appearances and how they plan to inspire the next generation of engineers. Hear about the balancing act of podcasting while juggling a full-time job, along with insights gained from listener feedback. It's a heartfelt thank you to the audience and a peek behind the curtain at what’s to come!

Stefan Mai, a Senior Manager with a wealth of experience from Meta and Amazon, now runs his own interview preparation company, Hello Interview. He shares his fascinating journey of climbing the corporate ladder, contrasting the cultures of Amazon and Meta. Dive into the challenges of performance improvement plans and the unique dynamics of tech management. Stefan discusses the rise of AI in interview prep and offers insights on landing roles at top firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, all while providing valuable advice for aspiring leaders.

Sash Zats, a Staff Engineer (IC6) at Instagram, has an exciting background in iOS, hardware, blockchain, and AI prototyping. He discusses the unique experience of switching teams 10 times in 9 years, revealing how it fueled his career growth. Sash shares insights about Instagram's blockchain initiative and his work on Threads before its launch. He emphasizes the value of prototyping and effective collaboration between engineers and designers, highlighting how these experiences shaped his innovative approach within tech.

Ethan Evans, an Amazon VP with a remarkable journey from being fired twice to leading over 800 engineers, shares key lessons from his career. He discusses the importance of soft skills and how they shaped his promotions at Amazon. Insightful tales about working with Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy reveal contrasting leadership styles. He also dives into Amazon's performance management practices, including stack ranking and the complexities of performance reviews, offering valuable advice for aspiring leaders and reflections for his younger self.

Dwayne Reeves, a Senior Staff Engineer at Meta and Tech Lead of the widely-used programming language Hack, shares his inspiring journey from a new MIT grad to a tech leader. He discusses the advantages of static typing, its impact on coding efficiency, and his personal experiences dealing with imposter syndrome. Dwayne reflects on pivotal promotions in his career and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and support in professional growth. He also offers heartfelt advice for his younger self, shedding light on the realities of navigating a tech career.

Carey Nachenberg, Chief Scientist at GoogleX and a cybersecurity expert, shares his remarkable career journey from intern to innovator. He opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome and the significance of interpersonal skills over intelligence in tech. Carey delves into his experiences with complex malware like Stuxnet and developing the cybersecurity project Backstory. He also discusses the challenges of gaining credit in collaborative work and how AI is reshaping education for his students. A blend of personal growth and professional wisdom!

Michael Novati, a former Senior Staff Engineer at Meta, shares his fascinating journey of rapid career growth, achieving a senior position by age 27. He reveals pre-IPO stories about working with Mark Zuckerberg and discusses the critical role of code committers at Meta. The conversation delves into how large language models might reshape coding and the evolving engineering culture from a chaotic to a more balanced approach. Novati also reflects on the importance of teamwork, personal growth, and the delicate balance between talent and hard work in career advancement.

Simon Kindström, a rising Staff Software Engineer at Instagram, joined Meta as a new grad and has been promoted every year since, earning prestigious performance ratings along the way. He shares insights on the journey through rapid promotions and the challenges of management. Simon discusses the intriguing world of secret equity bonuses and offers advice he wishes he'd known earlier. He reflects on the pivotal moments of personal growth, the balance between technical and managerial roles, and the importance of maintaining well-being in a high-pressure environment.