The Engineering Leadership Podcast

Discover the exciting launch of a new forum dedicated to engineering leaders! This innovative space encourages discussion on real challenges and fosters peer support. Engage in meaningful conversations, share insights, and look forward to upcoming AMAs with expert guests. It's a vibrant community where leadership and collaboration unite!

Prashant Ramarao, SVP of Engineering & Head of AI at Yahoo, discusses his journey from technical contributor to engineering leader while retaining his tech expertise. He shares insights on scaling leadership and effectively communicating with non-technical stakeholders. Prashant emphasizes the importance of humility and adaptability in leadership and explores personal learning strategies, like podcasts and AI tools, for ongoing education. Additionally, he delves into the concept of 'ambient AI' and its transformative potential, particularly in healthcare.

Craig McLuckie, Co-founder and CEO of Stacklok and Kubernetes co-creator, delves into the transformative role of AI in the startup landscape. He discusses the reduced barriers for innovation and the need for startups to pivot quickly in this evolving environment. McLuckie highlights community engagement as key to developing unique products and strategies. He reflects on the societal implications of automation, offering a hopeful perspective on the future of work. Emphasizing mistakes as learning opportunities, he champions a renewed spirit of innovation in entrepreneurship.

Anush Elangovan, Corporate VP of AI at AMD, shares his extensive experience in AI and software solutions. He discusses AMD's innovative approach to integrating hardware and software for a robust AI ecosystem. Anush highlights the importance of community engagement in software development and effective communication within tech teams. He shares insights into how AI is transforming healthcare, enhancing patient experiences, and speeding up drug discovery. Personal anecdotes further illustrate AI's impact on daily life and industry innovation.

Farnaz Azmoodeh, CTO at Linktree, shares her journey from Google to leading substantial projects at Snap. She discusses the necessity for engineering leaders to shift mindsets from delivery to discovery. Farnaz emphasizes the power of data-driven decision-making over anecdotal evidence and the art of pivoting strategy for fast, efficient cross-functional teams. She also highlights how AI is reshaping the collaboration between product, design, and engineering, and the emergence of trends in technology and proactive medicine that enhance user engagement.

Wade Chambers, an engineering leader with over 25 years of experience at companies like Twitter and Amplitude, shares insights on empowering engineering teams. He discusses the importance of fostering true ownership to boost innovation and performance. Wade highlights common traps leaders fall into and provides strategies for effective coaching and feedback. He delves into the dynamics of ownership, emphasizing the role of candid conversations and trust in restoring accountability. Listeners will learn how to align individual goals with organizational vision for transformative success.

Funmi Oludaiye, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, and Sasha Hall, an Engineering Manager at Planitar Inc, share valuable insights on engineering leadership. They delve into building authentic partnerships between engineering and business, overcoming departmental silos, and navigating complex stakeholder relationships. The discussion also highlights aligning technical debt with business value and the importance of strategic communication. Funmi and Sasha emphasize thoughtful decision-making and the need for a supportive community among engineering leaders.

Vinod Marur, SVP of Engineering at Databricks, shares his vast expertise from leading teams at Google and Rubrik. He discusses the need for leaders to recalibrate their priorities in dynamic environments, emphasizing the danger of routine. Vinod offers strategies for assessing core priorities and maximizing leverage on time management. He also talks about evolving hiring practices in the AI era, the importance of building accountability through team rituals, and how effective communication fosters a culture of strategic growth.

Jon Hyman, co-founder and CTO of Braze, brings a wealth of experience from his time at Bridgewater Associates to the conversation. He discusses the challenges of scaling leadership and team dynamics during early growth, emphasizing adaptability and effective management. Jon also dives into the evolution of product strategy in the mobile app landscape and the importance of understanding customer needs. The podcast touches on building a document-driven culture, the fusion of technical and relational dynamics in enterprise SaaS, and his current literary interests.

Rukmini Reddy, Senior Vice President of Engineering at PagerDuty, shares her insights on navigating change and uncertainty in tech leadership. She discusses the evolution of engineering roles post-pandemic, highlighting the rise of financial acumen and emotional intelligence. Reddy emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions to align teams with their mission and the necessity of creating safe spaces for open communication. Additionally, she introduces a seven-step framework to guide organizations through transitions, fostering a culture of resilience and adaptability.