Interview with Rod Garcia, VP of Engineering at Slack. He talks about the importance of understanding the big picture before implementing processes, shares the steps he uses to determine if a process needs improvement, and tells stories of process management from previous projects and from his current workplace.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Process management 101Creating engaging processesMaking sure your processes workCommon mistakes in process managementAutomating processes at SlackCreating more efficient and engaging processes - StorytimeExcerpt from the interview:"We often feel the need to balance every confusing behavior with a process. The outcome isn’t great because a process doesn’t improve human behavior. Instead of processes, behavior problems can be solved by coaching conversations or retrospective team meetings. Processes enable us to collaborate much easier, but it’s the trust among teammates that powers the process. These two aspects have a snowball effect: when the challenges in behavior continue despite having a process in place, the team gets frustrated, which causes even more problems, so they introduce additional processes. It becomes a slippery slope, and it doesn’t help teams to do their work effectively."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with James Stanier, Director of Engineering at Shopify. He talks about setting yourself up for success by planning for the unexpected, goal- and achievement tracking and keeping your calendar under control. Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Reasons to manage your energy, not your timeTips to manage your energyAspects of managing your energy, not your time Energy management for senior leaders vs. ICsCommunication with colleagues while managing your energyExcerpt from the interview:"I have flexibility over my calendar. I’m in a high-intensity environment, but I have more time than I used to. I have noticed that my previous habits didn’t suit my current situation, and I realized that managing my energy was more important than managing my time. "Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Steven Lopez, VP of Engineering, Technology and Operations at Deem. We go through real life examples and take a deep dive into choosing the right tech stack for your business and team, especially while leading a digital transformation.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Parts of a tech stackChoosing a tech stack for a project vs. digital transformationOther tools to consider when choosing a tech stackHow to choose a tech stack connected to company valuesThe process of digital transformationCommon mistakes in digital transformationStory of choosing Deem’s tech stackExcerpt from the interview:"You need to make sure to customize the tech stack according to the company’s industry. Each industry has different needs when it comes to choosing the right tech stack. For example, in fields that use credit cards, you have to take PCI security standards into account.Ten to 15 years ago, digital transformations were different. People came up with a tech stack, and they would implement it right away. Technologies are moving so fast nowadays that I recommend defining the tech stack only after you do your due diligence and digital transformation experts have looked at your company thoroughly.In the age of agile implementations, we have to be flexible enough to try new things. We set hypotheses, and we try out whether they work, and we make necessary updates."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Álvaro Moya, Founder of LIDR.co. He shares his approach to building high-performance teams. He talks about the importance of clearly defined values and goals within the company, and shares which areas can be improved to foster high performance.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Defining high performance Measuring high performance in software engineeringBuilding high-performance teamsImproving a team's performance Priorities in high-performance teams Advice for leaders on building high-performance teamsSpotting high performers Building a high-performance team from scratchExcerpt from the interview:"Code is easy to alter to make it work better. Doing the same with people takes a lot of time and effort. The more people you have on your team, the more difficult your job is as a leader. You’ll have to make a conscious effort to allocate time for your team.If you want to create a high-performance atmosphere, you have to be consistent. Day after day, you have to be clear about what you value and what you don’t tolerate. Your team will align with these values, and you’ll create psychological safety and a collaborative work environment as a result."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Sergej Kunz, Co-founder of 1inch Network. He shares valuable advice on how to start a DAO, and talks about his own experience creating such organization in the DeFi space.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:DAO 101The story of 1inch NetworkLessons from starting a DAOParticipating in 1inch NetworkCommunication within the networkExcerpt from the interview:"We built our project over two nights, and we didn’t sleep at all. We went through the hackathon, and pitched our idea to everyone. Someone said that it was going to be the next big thing. A few days later, we recognized that people started using 1inch. They did swaps because they got better rates there than on other platforms. It became famous because we solved a problem with it. When you build something that solves a problem, people will use it because it helps."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Lloyd Moore, VP of Engineering at Blockdaemon. He talks about building and keeping well-aligned teams, planning for success, and reacting to the quick changes of the blockchain field. Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Introducing BlockdaemonPreparing for scaling Building successful teamsOutsourcing 101Leadership challenges at BlockdaemonResponding to market changes and competitorsExcerpt from the interview:"Having a plan is better than no plan, even if there are some obstacles while executing it. Our plan was to be in a position where we could pivot depending on market needs. We’ve always tried to make plans that enabled us to grow organically instead of creating a grand plan for the next few years. We’ve built some of our components knowing that we may or may not need them in the future, but they allowed us to react to market changes as they were happening."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Somer Esat, Senior Engineering Manager at Blizzard. He talks about the role of engineering managers in engineer coaching and career development.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Managers in engineer coachingDaily engineer coachingCoaching engineers in their career developmentSteps in engineers' career developmentCoaching engineers to be flexibleCoaching engineers when choosing tracksChallenges of the leadership trackExcerpt from the interview:"The key is that you’re working with people; they’re not just resources. People have things that happen in their lives, within and outside of work as well. Both are important, because they determine how they feel. You must be ready to manage your team’s feelings. They’re humans, and sometimes they’ll be more excited to be at work, and other times, they’ll be more focused on their personal lives. Engineering managers can ensure that the team is able to talk about these feelings. If you’re not mindful of that, you might as well have robots working with you."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Jehanzeb Khan, Senior Software Engineering Manager at Electronic Arts. He shares his tips and experience on implementing OKR performance management.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:OKR performance management 101OKRs in practiceOKR-driven vs. non-OKR-driven organizationsChoosing the right goal-setting methodIntroducing OKRs to your teamCommon OKR performance management mistakesExcerpt from the interview:"A few years ago, we were trying to shift to a more quantitative approach in performance management. We wanted to see how the input from engineers added up and how they contributed to the quality and the value of our product. (...)We realized that setting up SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals - wouldn’t be as aligned. For example, we wanted to be the best place for the best people, and provide the best opportunities, but it was hard to set the goals to achieve all these aims. Being “the best place for the best people” is a difficult goal to measure for anyone who’s not a manager working directly with people. It’s challenging to break it down into actionable steps."Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Ritendra Datta, Director of Engineering at Meta. He gives valuable advice on improving cross-functional collaboration by holding empathy sessions and scaling cross-functional teams mindfully. Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:Different cross-functional rolesCross-functional collaboration in practiceTips to improve cross-functional collaborationEncouraging respect among cross-functional partners Cross-functional empathy sessionsCommon mistakes during cross-functional collaborationScaling cross-functional teamsInvolving management in growing cross-functional teamsHiring leaders for scalingExcerpt from the interview:"We have cross-functional empathy sessions, where people get together for 4 hours and represent all cross functions. The key tech lead, an IC, a manager, a product manager, a data scientist and a UX researcher will meet somewhere outside of the office, and spend the day talking to each other.They could discuss what they do on a daily basis, and what’s frustrating about it. The representatives of each function gain a better understanding of the different positions, and why the work of each function is valuable and challenging in its own way. Every time we have these cross-functional empathy sessions, everyone goes home humbled by what others are doing and the struggles they’re facing. They realize that everyone is working hard. They often describe it as “an eye-opening experience.” "Click here to read the full interview!

Interview with Tyler Hartley, Director of Software Engineering at Johnson & Johnson. He talks about the philosophies, habits and challenges of truly agile organizations.Sign up to the Level-up Engineering newsletter!In this interview we're covering:The definition of agileCharacteristics of agile organizationsTruly agile practicesBehaviours to encourage When not to choose agileAgile products at J&JChallenges of agile organizationsCommon mistakesBecoming an agile organization - J&J's storyMeasures of success in an agile environmentExcerpt from the interview:"Our team was working on a video recording feature, and we thought that including a passcode would be useful. Surgeons would have exclusive access to the recording tool, and they could ensure that they were the only ones who could start and stop the video.The feedback we got was an unequivocal no. They told us that they wouldn't care about pushing buttons in that high-stress environment, and that they would probably put the passcode on a sticky note on the device, making it pointless. We removed the feature because it didn’t add value. It only created friction."Click here to read the full interview!