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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
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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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How DeepSeek upended everything
The Chinese AI model has called into question a whole host of assumptions for the tech industry.
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What is diff authoring time? The developer metric taking Meta by storm
Why has Meta fallen in love with it?
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Meta and the great DEI rollback
Once an emblem of inclusivity, Meta has officially joined tech’s anti-DEI bandwagon.
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Do managers still need to be hands on?
While remaining hands-on is naturally tempting for engineers, it’s not always the most effective way to lead.
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11 red flags to watch out for during interviews
How to spot warning signs whether you’re a candidate or hiring manager.
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Gut-based engineering leadership is failing
Why instinct isn’t enough for stakeholders who need clear, actionable answers.
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Is IaC broken?
Complex rollouts and rigid procedures have taken the shine off of Infrastructure as Code. Can it be fixed?
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What engineering managers need to know for 2025
Here are 9 things you need to know as we move into 2025.
Videos for managers of managers
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The performance curve: A legacy model in modern disguise
A critique of modern performance management, exposing its flawed assumptions and hidden biases, while offering actionable insights for leaders to build fairer, more effective systems that align with their morals and modern organizational goals.
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The sprinter’s leadership mindset
What engineering leaders can learn from the discipline, focus, and strategy of a sprinter.
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Training innovation: The key to long-term success
Innovation doesn’t just happen – it’s a skill that must be trained. Learn practical techniques for fostering innovation in engineering teams, from mindset shifts to structured frameworks.
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Rebuilding trust: Leadership after layoffs
In today’s tech landscape, layoffs have become cyclical events. This talk examines the modern layoff process and provides strategies for rebuilding team trust.
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Leader or engineer? Navigating our technical identity crisis
Am I still technical enough? What does my team think?
Drawing from the hard-won lessons of a leadership initiative for 250 engineers, this talk uncovers unexpected truths in the conflict between technical depth and leadership.
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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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Global teams, seamless success: Managing diverse engineers for high-impact deliveries
Learn how to tackle the real challenges of managing global engineering teams – avoiding miscommunication, preventing team friction, and ensuring accountability – so you can drive on-time deliveries and build a motivated team that delivers quality software.
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Shaped by demand: The power of fluid teams
Discover how Demand-Led Planning enables teams of up to 200 people to reorganise quarterly and succeed without stable, long-lived teams.
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Lost and alone over the Pacific
On December 22, 1978, veteran US Navy pilot Jay Prochnow found himself lost over the Pacific after a navigation failure during a solo ferry flight. With no land in sight and nightfall approaching, he had to find a way to survive. This is the story of how he navigated out of the crisis – and what we can learn from his experience.
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Frictionless movement: How internal mobility transforms engineering culture
Creating an environment that not only makes it easy for people to move teams and roles but encourages that openness.
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Levelling up: Transitioning successfully into a manager of managers role
The talk I wish I’d found when I became a manager of managers. Tips and insights to prepare you for the road ahead.
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Rebuilding at scale: A CTO’s Journey in a high-growth fintech
How a high-growth fintech dealt with a major platform rewrite with 10 years of technical and commercial debt. And, more importantly, my own personal growth journey from tech leader to exec-level CTO.