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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
The full LeadDev Berlin lineup just dropped 🎉
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
New York • September 15 & 16, 2026
More for managers of managers
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How to hire force multipliers (not 10x engineers)
Long heralded as the “brilliant jerks” of tech, their damage can run deep when it comes to team culture. Hire a force multiplier instead.
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“Vibe hacking” signals seismic shift for engineering leaders
Blackhat hackers have an addition to their armoury. Here’s how engineering leaders can safeguard their systems and stay on high alert.
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Is GitHub’s coding agent your newest junior dev?
GitHub’s new coding agent has some perks, but is still showing signs of significant growing pains. What are the current pain points?
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AI coding trackers are here. Proceed with caution
Companies are finally starting to track AI usage within their engineering orgs. Should we be worried or remain cautiously optimistic?
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4 ways to manage the lows of leadership
Any well-seasoned leader will know that it’s not always an easy journey. The key is to tackle the low moments with the right approach.
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5 AI agent frameworks for developer teamsÂ
If you’re thinking of dipping your toes into the agentic pool, here are some frameworks you could explore.
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Your go-to professional growth modelÂ
When you’re an engineering leader, finding the time to upskill is almost impossible. Following the S-curve model might keep you on track.
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The right way to make AI part of your tech strategy
With everyone scrambling to bake AI into their technical strategy, leaders may be resorting to unreliable and unscalable methods.
Videos for managers of managers
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We doubled engineering productivity at eBay, but couldn’t change culture
Learn how to use stories to improve your influence as a leader.
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How to grow your engineers into great leaders
Clear signals, habits, and opportunities that help individual contributors grow into effective managers long before the title changes.
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One silver bullet: Adaptability
Hire for adaptability over pedigree, and build teams that can learn, grow, and deliver in a changing industry.
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In partnership with Skiller WhaleAI productivity at enterprise scale
Turning AI adoption into real productivity gains requires changing habits, building skills, and scaling learning across the entire organization.
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In partnership with DockerShip 10x code safely with agents
Learn how to safely turn AI-generated code into shipped software without slowing developers or compromising enterprise governance.
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What does a CTO even do?
A reverse-engineering framework to help engineering leaders broaden impact, break growth ceilings, and develop the skills required for senior technical leadership.
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Up and down the management track: Equalising your leadership style across the pressure of scale
A real-world guide to shifting your mindset and skills as you move between managing people, managers, and entire organizations.
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In partnership with TailscaleInclusion: What works, and why I’m still talking about it
Explore practical ways to make inclusion part of everyday teamwork, from communication styles to better collaboration and decision-making.
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In partnership with DXThe state of AI in software development: Insights across 400+ organizations
Learn where AI actually boosts developer productivity, how leading teams measure impact, and practical ways to separate measurable gains from hype.
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In partnership with UnblockedYour agents lack context: Here’s how to fix “You’re absolutely right!”
Learn how to build the context layer AI agents need to produce organization-aware, permission-safe, genuinely useful code.
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Mentoring that actually changes careers
A practical, human take on mentoring that actually helps people grow, by sharing real experience and honest guidance.
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Inclusive leadership across cultures: Practical patterns for global engineering teams
Concrete, repeatable patterns for leading global teams across cultures, reducing friction, building trust, and helping diverse voices contribute fully.