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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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Crafting the perfect LeadDev talk submission
Crafting the best version of your talk proposal for the LeadDev stage with the help of ChatGPT.
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Harness acquires Qwiet AI to combat AI-generated code risks
This merger is set to help address hidden security risks with the help of AI-assisted coding.
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The AI productivity myth is more harmful than you think
Perceived productivity may be up thanks to AI, but there’s debt collecting in the shadows.
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Lessons learned launching an MCP server
Steps you can follow if you’re thinking about launching your own MCP server.
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Why the UK was named top global tech growth hub
But funding hurdles and regulatory costs could stall the momentum.
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Ethics are being forgotten as the AI race heats up
Is the tech industry capable of the change needed to curb ethical and environmental concerns?
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Turning multi-agent AI into strategic business leverage
Using AI to help bolster business strategy, not just for the sake of it.
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Motivating your team when promotions are frozen
Keeping motivation high during a period of uncertainty can be difficult. Here’s how to turn it around.
Videos for managers of managers
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In partnership with DXLeadership in AI-assisted engineering
Explore proven leadership strategies for AI-assisted engineering, fostering adoption, productivity, psychological safety, and measurable organizational impact.
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Building a cost-conscious culture: Technical and team strategies
Discover proven strategies to optimize cloud infrastructure costs and build a cost-aware engineering culture without slowing delivery.
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Build features, not fragile foundations
Learn how to balance feature delivery with technical debt reduction to maintain system health, velocity, and long-term stability.
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In partnership with ReveloEngineering leadership playbook, 2025: Three lessons every engineering leader needs this year
Learn three key lessons to lead AI adoption, build remote teams, and strengthen engineering culture.
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Uncovering silent struggles in leadership roles
A candid session revealing common hidden leadership challenges, with practical strategies to address and overcome them effectively.
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The AI-augmented team: Rethinking roles, skills, and leadership
Explore how AI assistants and agents are reshaping team structures, required skills, and leadership in modern engineering organizations.
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Making AI work for you: Examining and enhancing your developers’ workflows
Learn how to assess, adapt, and optimize developer workflows with AI to enhance collaboration, productivity, and measurable impact.
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Lessons learned using Generative AI for product development
Discover practical lessons on applying generative AI to product development, including model choices, evaluation methods, integration challenges, and innovation strategies.
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Beyond sentiment: A practical framework for evaluating and growing the leaders who report to you
This talk offers a practical framework for evaluating and growing the people managers who report to you through impact, competencies, and systems.
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The Pragmatic Engineer live podcast: How AI is changing engineering at Shopify with Farhan Thawar
Listen to a candid chat exploring Shopify’s AI strategy, remote velocity, and a unique approach to career growth.
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Software engineering with GenAI
A look at how AI coding tools are reshaping software engineering, how teams are adapting, and what remains unchanged in the development process.
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The creative technologist
Learn how to build a creative practice to help you become a more creative leader.