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Newsletter archive
AI agents and the missing link in DevOps
AI agents aren’t just assistants anymore – they’re making decisions. Are engineers ready for the shift or are they just too skeptical?
Carving out time for large-scale engineering chores
Determine what to prioritize, set out a path, and be prepared for some hiccups along the way.
Encouraging a passion for productivity
In this edition of DirectorPlus, Neha Batra, VP of Engineering at GitHub, explains how she creates a culture of productivity.
Framing AI rollouts in the right light
How can you introduce AI into teams in a way that doesn’t invite unrest within your org? It starts with presenting it in the right light.
Latest
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Interview tactics to find your footing in a chaotic job market
Navigating the current job market can feel daunting, but certain principles and internal guides can improve the process for you.
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Deloitte rolls out Claude to 470,000 employees
The consulting giant hasn’t been deterred by a recent embarrassing incident in Australia.
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The unseen fixes that boost engineering performance
At the intersection of toil and operational risk lies “perilwork.”
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What US engineering managers can expect to earn in 2026
Are there signs of life in the hiring market?
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Why I expect candidates to use AI in the hiring process
If you’re joining a team where AI use is commonplace, expect the interview process to test those skills.
November 3 & 4, 2025
Book now and save up to €250 💸
Essential reading
What is a Director of Engineering? The glue keeping engineering together
A director of engineering is responsible for keeping an entire engineering function humming. Find out what skills you need to climb the ladder to this vital position.
On our DirectorPlus playlist
Strategies to hone commercial awareness and drive business outcomes
Learn effective strategies for enhancing commercial awareness in tech teams, turning engineering into a business driver through alignment, impactful initiatives, and stakeholder engagement.
The path from Director to CTO: How to follow it, or how to mentor it
This talk is aimed at both aspiring Chief Technology Officers and those who are in a position to mentor future CTOs. Explore the journey from a Director of Engineering role to a CTO, focusing on the skills and experiences needed for this transition and how experienced leaders can guide others on this path.
Making the manager of manager’s mindset
Suzan Bond covers the difference between the two roles and the key mindset shifts leaders need to make to manage managers.
The conference for engineering leaders shaping the future of software
Berlin • November 3 & 4, 2025
Featuring
More for managers of managers
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Are DORA metrics right for your team?
DORA metrics can be a useful tool for tracking and improving performance. If you want the DORA 101 – look no further.
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Maintain team performance during unexpected change
You’ll have to experience change management at least once in your career. Make sure your teams can maintain performance through it all.
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In partnership with YLD
Tackling some DevOps antipatterns
And the case for adopting platform engineering and SRE practices to mitigate against them.
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Unlocking performance management for start-ups and scale-ups
Performance management is tricky terrain to navigate, especially when you’re in a start-up or scale-up. Here are some frameworks to help.
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The key to quickly unblocking decision-making
Unlock quick decision-making by evaluating what you know, what you don’t know, and, based on those things, hypotheses you can make.
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In partnership with YLD
How to get started with GenAI
Successful adoption of Generative AI starts with a solid foundation, both with your data and your people.
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Preparing your team for a tense election season
And should we even talk about politics at work in the first place?
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Can you lead a struggling team to success?
Taking a leadership position of a struggling team isn’t exactly a smooth ride. With ups and downs, it can be difficult to see a positive end.
Videos for managers of managers
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Dressing to the 9s
Everybody wants high reliability, but the path isn’t exactly clear. This talk is for people who need to know what works and what doesn’t.
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A safe place to land: Practical (and hyper-scale tested) advice for technical decision-making while evolving systems in place
Practical strategies for evolving systems at hyperscale while balancing innovation, stability, and reliability – featuring real-world insights from Fastly.
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In praise of “normal engineers”
Why building an engineering org that enables “normal” engineers to thrive is a bigger advantage than chasing top talent.
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Fast, informed, impactful: How to master decision-making
Master the art of efficient decision-making and turn slow, ineffective engineering decisions into a powerful competitive advantage.
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Were our values a lie? Leading teams through diversity’s collapse
As industry shifts impact diversity, leaders must stay true to their values. This talk provides strategies to uphold your principles, build resilience, and foster inclusivity and trust, even when the company no longer prioritizes them.
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So you want to hire engineering force multipliers?
10x engineers, platform engineering, infrastructure, DevEx… What do they have in common?
They’re hard to hire, easily burned out, difficult to grow, and likely to fail. Let’s talk about how to do it right.
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In partnership with PostmanHuman-first leadership, AI-powered
Discover how AI can free engineering leaders to focus on people, not process – driving innovation without losing the human core.
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What’s my job again? Developing self-management
Discover how self-management helps you define your role, lead effectively, and manage energy as a leadership constraint.
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Neurodiversity: From struggles to solutions, tips for leading a team
Offering practical tips for leading neurodiverse teams. Whether you’re neurodiverse or neurotypical – helping you to lead with confidence and support your colleagues to create a more inclusive environment.
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Debugging the most critical relationship in your work life: How to work better with an imperfect boss
Many bosses, despite their best efforts, struggle with communication, delegation, and career support for their teams. This talk explores how to navigate the complexities of working with your boss, balancing honesty with career impact, and building a more effective partnership.
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Metrics, KPIs & Developer Experience: Rethinking measurement for high-performing teams
This talk challenges traditional engineering metrics, exploring how to balance KPIs with developer experience using frameworks like SPACE, ensuring teams achieve great results without burnout.
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Balancing direction and empowerment
In this talk, Lara Hogan shares how to balance being empowering and being directive as a leader, as well as when you should switch up your approach.