You don’t need to be a technical expert to be a great manager – learn how to lead, support, and challenge teams working across unfamiliar tech stacks.
Drawing from experience as a former iOS engineer turned multi-stack engineering manager, the speaker explores how strong leadership isn’t about knowing every line of code but about creating an environment where engineers can thrive. Attendees will learn how to build trust and credibility without being the most technically knowledgeable person in the room – through better team processes, advocating for systems improvements, and enabling peer-driven growth.
The session also covers concrete tactics for supporting technical development: sourcing quality feedback, fostering mentorship structures, and knowing when to bring in outside expertise. With insights from both sides of the reporting line – as a manager and as an engineer reporting to non-experts – this talk highlights how leadership grounded in empowerment, not micromanagement, drives lasting team success.
Key takeaways
- Lessons learned from managing – and being managed – outside the tech stack
- How to quickly build technical trust without being a deep expert
- Creative strategies to support engineers’ growth beyond hands-on code reviews
- Why effective leadership means empowering, not micromanaging
