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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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Think the technical interview is dead? Think again
The technical interview is evolving as AI-assisted coding becomes the norm.
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The latest tech layoffs have all the hallmarks of AI washing
Looking closer at the latest Block and Atlassian layoffs.
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AI adoption has to be driven from the top
Not by mandate, but clear leadership and guidance over why AI is being adopted.
Berlin • November 9 & 10, 2026
AI. Burnout. Big decisions.
The pressure is real. Berlin is where you work through it.
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 festival for modern engineering leadership
London • June 2 & 3, 2026
More for managers of managers
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AI-assisted coding and unsanctioned tools headline 2026’s biggest security risks
Predicting the biggest security threats in 2026.
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How engineering leaders can better leverage AI in 2026
Supercharge your leadership next year with these AI-powered workflows.
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Hard-won lessons on building and scaling ML models
How small teams can deploy highly adaptable autonomous systems.
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Are smart machines making us dumber?
Without a well-thought AI adoption strategy, you could be leading your team into an automation paradox trap.
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OpenAI report: Enterprise AI is still in the “early innings”
Insights into AI usage from 1 million business customers.
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Testing is a skill. Quality is a discipline.
As quality assurance makes way for quality engineering, how do you change mindsets?
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The great engineer hiring paradox
“The story isn’t that jobs are vanishing, it’s that the bar for skills is rising.”
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Why Zig is moving on from GitHub
A scathing review has broader implications for AI use by major platforms.
Videos for managers of managers
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Building the AI enablement playbook
Learn how to lead AI adoption by reshaping systems, culture, and operations, not just rolling out tools.
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Don’t get toasted: A leader’s guide to mental well-being
Real tools for managers’ mental well-being – from stress management to parenting wisdom – because leading teams shouldn’t mean burning out.
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In partnership with DXBetter software faster
How the Core 4 framework helps teams measure and communicate productivity gains while balancing delivery pressure.
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Rethinking collaboration: LLMs, teams, and cognitive load
Discover how LLMs can reduce cognitive load, boost team collaboration, and reshape engineering workflows without compromising quality or delivery.
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How to delete everything: The clean-slate approach to technical strategy
Learn how clean-slate thinking can break technical deadlocks, improve system resilience, and inspire actionable strategies for complex engineering challenges.
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Rethinking growing engineers in the age of AI
Explore how to grow future senior engineers in an AI-driven world that sidelines traditional junior roles.
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Give everyone a challenge – Leadership growth in stable times
Learn how to grow engineering leaders through impact-focused challenges, not headcount, even in low-growth environments.
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In partnership with O’ReillyHelping your engineers find time to learn and upskill
Webinar recording: discover how to support your engineers to learn and practice new skills.
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In partnership with CircleCIHow to build experimentation into your technical roadmap
This webinar is for engineering leaders who believe that a strong culture of experimentation drives innovation – and who want to convince peers and stakeholders that it should be part of your technical strategy
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Growing the next generation of leaders: Levelling up your teams
Dana discusses how you can identify the skill gaps in your teams and support your managers as they transition to leadership.
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Make it count; A no-nonsense guide to engineering metrics for the busy leader
Gain practical insights on engineering metrics that help busy leaders prioritize effectively, address delivery challenges, and measure team performance to maximize impact and productivity.
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Alignment, autonomy, accountability
Explore essential management principles that build trust, enhance team engagement, and support smooth progress, equipping leaders with strategies to guide without micromanaging.