The Peterman Pod

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.

Jake Bolam, a Principal Engineer at Instagram, shares his journey from Staff Engineer to his current role, providing insights into promotion strategies and work-life balance. He discusses the importance of accepting high-risk code reviews that might break production and his effective note-taking system in VSCode. Jake also emphasizes the value of genuine inquiry in tech leadership, team dynamics, and how fostering collaboration can drastically accelerate project timelines. His advice for maintaining productivity while prioritizing personal well-being is both practical and inspiring.

Philip Su, a former Distinguished Engineer at Meta and OpenAI, shares his fascinating journey working alongside industry legends like Zuck and John Carmack. He discusses the expectations for senior engineering roles, the challenges of transitioning between individual contributor and management, and the lessons learned from his impressive colleagues. Su also reflects on why he left Facebook, his quest for income equality, and the critical importance of writing skills in tech. His insights are both inspiring and packed with practical advice for software engineers.

Discover industry secrets that aren't taught in college, from navigating software engineering career levels to handling imposter syndrome. Learn about the importance of self-advocacy and how to measure your impact in tech roles. The discussion delves into the differences between big tech and startups, plus insights on college recruiting. Explore whether an MBA is essential for engineering management and the evolving role of AI in the job market. This conversation equips aspiring tech professionals with valuable advice for career success.

Jia Chen, a 21-year-old hackathon prodigy who has won 21 competitions and co-founded Sprint.dev, shares her inspiring journey. She discusses her transformation from a finance student to a tech entrepreneur, revealing winning strategies for hackathons and the importance of collaboration. Jia reflects on her decision to drop out of college, the challenges of standing out from a non-target school, and the power of personal branding. She also offers valuable advice for students contemplating bold career moves and emphasizes the benefits of networking in the tech world.