Tech Lead Journal

Emily Bache, an independent consultant and technical coach, shares insights on elevating software engineering through coaching. She discusses the Samman Method and ensemble programming, emphasizing their roles in enhancing team collaboration and code quality. Emily explains how AI can reinforce, rather than replace, fundamental engineering practices. She advocates for structured learning within work hours and cautions against common pitfalls in mentoring, showcasing the need for hands-on, collaborative coding as essential for modern development.

Michi Kono, CTO at Garner Health and former engineering leader at Meta, sheds light on the critical management systems that empower high-performing engineering teams. He discusses why organizations often slow down during hypergrowth, emphasizing accountability over mere code delivery. Michi shares tactics for designing effective org charts that enhance autonomy and foster a culture of learning from mistakes without blame. He also highlights when managers should step back from coding and the vital role of communication as teams scale.

Mohan Krishnan, Head of Engineering at Grab and former leader at Google, discusses building high-performing engineering teams in the AI era. He emphasizes the enduring value of foundational skills like TDD and system design, suggesting they become even more crucial alongside AI tools. Mohan shares insights on effective team dynamics using a 'sports team' analogy, advocating for hands-on leadership. He also addresses the unique tech challenges in Southeast Asia and offers career tips for professionals navigating AI in software development.

Kief Morris, a Distinguished Infrastructure Engineer at Thoughtworks and author of the O'Reilly book on Infrastructure as Code, shares his insights on modern cloud systems. He discusses the significant evolution of Infrastructure as Code over the past five years, stressing the need to align infrastructure decisions with business objectives. Kief highlights challenges in managing growing complexities, the rise of platform engineering, and compares tools like Terraform and OpenTofu. He also delves into the role of AI in infrastructure management, emphasizing a balance between innovation and governance.

Patrick Leung, CTO of Faro Health and ex-Google Duplex Engineering Lead, dives into the groundbreaking use of AI in clinical trials. He explores how AI can cut drug development time and costs dramatically while maintaining compliance with stringent regulations. Discussing challenges like AI hallucinations, Patrick emphasizes the need for human oversight. He also reflects on the evolution of AI technologies, the promise of artificial general intelligence, and offers practical advice for thriving in an AI-driven world. The conversation uncovers AI's true potential in transforming healthcare.

Ganesh Datta, co-founder and CTO of Cortex, discusses achieving engineering excellence through platform engineering. He shares insights from his journey, emphasizing the connection between engineering practices and business outcomes. Ganesh highlights the crucial role of leadership, clear metrics, and a supportive culture in driving operational efficiency. He dispels common misconceptions about internal developer platforms and explores how generative AI can enhance engineering processes and incident analysis. This conversation is packed with actionable strategies to transform engineering teams.

Klaus Breyer, an experienced B2B SaaS CPTO, shares insights on transforming the software development landscape. He argues that traditional manufacturing mindsets hinder innovation and proposes a design-centric approach. Discover how Agile practices often lead to micromanagement and silos. Breyer emphasizes empowering small, dynamic teams to solve real problems rather than just following orders. He also discusses the crucial balance between optimism and pessimism in leadership, advocating for enhanced collaboration and communication among interdisciplinary teams.

Annie Vella, a Distinguished Engineer at Westpac NZ with 20 years of experience, delves into the identity crisis many software engineers face as AI reshapes their roles. She emphasizes the dangers of over-reliance on AI, warning it may compromise quality and hinder skill development. Annie discusses the need for engineers to adapt their skills beyond just coding, embrace AI as a team member, and balance rapid delivery with long-term quality. She also offers crucial advice for junior engineers entering this evolving landscape.

Omer Rosenbaum, CTO and co-founder of Swimm, shares insights on closing the knowledge gap in legacy code using AI. He discusses the importance of human oversight when employing AI, highlighting its limitations in understanding complex systems. Omer emphasizes the critical role of documentation, especially for junior developers navigating the AI landscape, and warns against over-reliance on AI tools. He offers practical advice for conducting effective research in tech organizations, stressing the balance between leveraging AI and maintaining contextual knowledge.

In this engaging discussion, Piotr Sarna, a software engineer and open-source enthusiast, shares insights from his book, 'Writing for Developers'. He highlights the common writing struggles developers face and offers practical tips to cultivate a supportive writing culture. Topics include overcoming writer's block, leveraging AI to enhance writing, and identifying valuable writing topics from daily work. Piotr also emphasizes the transformative power of writing for personal branding and career advancement, making it an essential skill for developers.