The Peterman Pod

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.

Jayendra Jog is a software engineer turned founder and co-founder of Sei Labs, a crypto infrastructure startup, after leaving Robinhood. He shares insights about feeling jaded by promotion dynamics in tech and the challenges of career growth. Jayendra dives into his experience during the GameStop saga and how it influenced his entrepreneurial journey. He outlines lessons from raising $35 million in funding and highlights the unique value of crypto in transforming financial systems. His advice? Embrace risks and make decisions faster.

Brian Attwell, CTO at CloudKitchens and former senior engineer at Uber, shares captivating stories from his rapid rise in tech. He discusses the balance of luck and hard work, revealing the intense early efforts behind his success. Brian reflects on his biggest career regret—failing to speak up around Steve Jobs—and shares insights on prioritization and truth-seeking in team dynamics. His experiences with Travis Kalanick highlight the impact of strong leadership, while his journey emphasizes the importance of courage and continuous learning.

Joakim Recht, a Distinguished Engineer at Uber, shares insights from his engineering journey. He discusses the project that propelled his promotion and reveals the often unfair realities of promo committees. Joakim also emphasizes the importance of influence and mentorship, recommending an informal approach to mentoring others. He addresses the challenges of scaling technology and the politics that come with broader responsibilities. Finally, he reflects on lessons learned from his time at Uber and why he ultimately transitioned to a startup environment.

Ilya Grigorik, a Distinguished Engineer at Shopify with a rich history that includes founding PostRank, discusses his remarkable career trajectory. He shares insights into the acquisition by Google, emphasizing how company dynamics can shape integration processes. Ilya reflects on the importance of being a Principal Engineer, highlighting the value of a unique talent stack and the dangers of over-polishing work. He also advises young professionals to embrace their unique combinations of skills and to be brave in pursuing their passions.

Bobby Holley, the CTO of Firefox, shares his remarkable journey from intern to top engineer at Mozilla. He recounts gripping tales from the browser wars, highlighting the rise of Firefox against Internet Explorer and the shifting dynamics with Google. Bobby discusses vital projects like Slaughterhouse and Quantum CSS, as well as the importance of memory safety through Rust. He offers career advice on focusing on impactful work rather than promotions and emphasizes the need to protect the open web amidst rising AI browser competition.

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.