groCTO Originals

In this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovid-batra-73b38368/] is joined by Ben Matthews [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmatthews/], Senior Director of Engineering at Stack Overflow [https://www.linkedin.com/company/stack-overflow/], with over 20 years of experience in engineering and leadership. Ben shares his career journey from QA to engineering leadership, shedding light on the importance of creating organizations that function collaboratively rather than just executing tasks independently. He underscores the need for cross-functional teamwork and reducing friction points to build cohesive and successful teams. Ben also addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by the AI revolution, emphasizing Stack Overflow’s strategy to embrace and leverage AI innovations. Additionally, he offers valuable advice for onboarding junior developers, such as involving them in code reviews and emphasizing documentation. Throughout the discussion, Ben highlights essential leadership principles like advocating for oneself and one’s team, managing team dynamics, and setting clear expectations. He provides practical tips for engineering managers on creating value, addressing organizational weaknesses, and fostering a supportive environment for continuous growth and learning. The episode wraps up with Ben sharing his thoughts on maintaining a vision and connecting it with new technological developments. 💡 Highlights a) Getting Candid 📈 Journey from QA to Senior Director at Stack Overflow 🎿 Snowboarding enthusiast, calzone lover, and movie buff 🤝 Advocates for collaboration, emphasizing that tech is a “team sport” b) Key Takeaways 💡 Crafting cohesive teams by reducing friction 🤖 Staying ahead by embracing AI at Stack Overflow 📘 Effective onboarding & mentoring of junior developers 🔑 Ben’s top 3 leadership principles for success 📊 Unmissable advice for Engineering Managers 🎧 Full Episode This episode is also available on YouTube [https://youtu.be/CwHuXYAoWq0], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BrYhwhgIXIjVK87RgxkzH?si=H-hcN0sqQrK4X-nYti5e2g], iTunes/Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/grocto-originals/id1718883620?i=1000678599480], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/0e327ba7-2556-494b-96a1-7b23947d7d1d/episodes/e382075e-fbb1-4ac7-a5cc-26a559dc574e/grocto-originals-ben-matthews-from-stack-overflow-stack-overflow's-roadmap-for-scaling-tech-teams] & more. Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋 1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber. 2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com [https://grocto.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovid-batra-73b38368/] engages in a comprehensive discussion with Geoffrey Teale [https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffteale/], the Principal Product Engineer at Upvest [https://www.linkedin.com/company/upvest/], who brings over 25 years of engineering and leadership experience. The episode begins with Geoffrey's role at Upvest, where he has transitioned from Head of DevEx to Principal Product Engineer, emphasizing a holistic approach to improving both developer experience and engineering standards across the organization. The discussion further delves into the significance of product thinking for internal teams, highlighting the challenges and strategies of building platforms that resonate with developers' needs while competing with external solutions. Furthermore, Geoffrey offers valuable insights into the decision-making processes, the importance of simplicity in early-phase startups, and the crucial role of documentation in fostering team cohesion and efficient communication. 💡 Highlights a) Getting Candid 📈 Journey from Head of DevEx to Principal Engineer 🏦 Inside Upvest’s API-powered financial infrastructure model 🎶 Geoffrey’s passions: music, open-source, and eco-friendly tech b) Key Takeaways 💡 Crafting internal platforms that developers love 🔒 Balancing security, speed, and strict regulations ✍️ Importance of simplicity and clear documentation 🧩 Adapting product thinking to complex engineering challenges 🌍 Weighing platform options: Internal vs External 🛠 Frameworks for better decision-making in engineering 🎧 Full Episode This episode is also available on YouTube [https://youtu.be/09katOdXjLw], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2zq0D54FcgQpAQjcVJKMNp?si=tfC5Xs0MSDOloFdktbBVRg], iTunes/Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/grocto-originals/id1718883620?i=1000677046665], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/0e327ba7-2556-494b-96a1-7b23947d7d1d/episodes/0544b367-3ce2-4379-8682-8258d5124dac/grocto-originals-geoffrey-teale-from-upvest-product-thinking-secrets-for-platform-teams] & more. Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋 1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber. 2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com [https://grocto.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovid-batra-73b38368/] engages in an insightful conversation with Christopher Zotter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-zotter/], the Head of Digital Engineering at Sky, Germany [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sky-deutschland-gmbh-&-co-kg/]. Christopher brings a wealth of experience, including a decade of leading engineering teams and founding a software development agency. Known for his unique leadership philosophy, Christopher believes in the power of building trust, embracing failures, and fostering a transparent culture. He shares his journey from an apprentice in Germany to a leadership role, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and continuous learning. The discussion delves into the challenges and strategies of managing culturally diverse remote teams, effective communication, and transitioning from legacy systems to cutting-edge technologies. Christopher also highlights the significance of being a role model and integrating community involvement into one's career. This episode offers a deep dive into the principles and practices that can guide leaders in nurturing successful global development teams. 💡 Highlights a) Getting Candid 📈 Christopher’s journey from apprentice to a global leader 💼 Balancing leadership with running a side business b) Key Takeaways 🔑 How to build trust and foster a transparent team culture? 📣 Embracing failure as a tool for growth and encouraging open dialogue 🌐 Navigating the complexities of remote leadership to drive effective team collaboration 👥 Integrating community involvement as a leader to stay connected and grounded Looking for top tech mentors like Christopher who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders. Accelerate your journey towards success🚀 🎧 Full Episode This episode is also available on YouTube [https://youtu.be/aqqgngd-vaM], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cQ8THpOiNVQdBsxPDY7dx?si=tMgQkEcxSE6u4R38515JyA], iTunes/Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/grocto-originals/id1718883620?i=1000675347748], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/0e327ba7-2556-494b-96a1-7b23947d7d1d/episodes/73315599-ffc4-44ed-9029-ee91c6ea67eb/grocto-originals-christopher-zotter-from-sky-the-art-science-of-leading-global-dev-teams] & more. Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋 1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber. 2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com [https://grocto.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovid-batra-73b38368/] engages with Vilas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vilas-veeraraghavan/], an accomplished engineering leader with significant experience at companies like Walmart, Netflix, and Bill.com. They discuss the concept of Developer Experience (DevEx) and how it extends beyond simply providing tools. Vilas highlights the importance of enabling developers with frictionless processes and addresses the multidimensional challenges involved. The conversation delves into Vilas’s journey in DevEx, insights from designing platforms and enabling developer productivity, and the necessity of engaging with key opinion leaders for successful adoption. Vilas shares personal anecdotes and learning experiences, stressing the significance of treating developer enablement as a product and encouraging collaboration. The discussion concludes with advice for those stepping into DevEx roles, underlining the evolving significance of this field in the industry. 💡 Highlights a) Getting Candid 🎥 Vilas’s love for cinema & BTS stories 🏃‍♂️ Unwinding through movement b) Key Takeaways 🔑 The role of frictionless processes in improving DevEx 🎯 Treating Developer Enablement as a product to drive real impact 🤝 How to engage with key opinion leaders for successful platform adoption 💬 Practical advice for those stepping into DevEx roles Looking for top tech mentors like Vilas who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders. Accelerate your journey towards success🚀 🎧 Full Episode This episode is also available on YouTube [https://youtu.be/vXcx_e-R-EA], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rmV94OJoWtGexPKXrNkQJ?si=pNRbB1VeS_G57crnevRKNQ], iTunes/Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/grocto-originals/id1718883620?i=1000673565323], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/0e327ba7-2556-494b-96a1-7b23947d7d1d/episodes/e1c3a7c9-1121-4725-8b2f-6a88ba2b3dd8/grocto-originals-vilas-veeraraghavan-ex-walmart-devex-it%E2%80%99s-not-just-about-dev-tools] & more. Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋 1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber. 2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com [https://grocto.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovid-batra-73b38368/] is joined by Carlos Neves [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-n-60173a21/], the Head of Engineering at Vitality [https://www.linkedin.com/company/vitalityuk/], as they explore the often challenging transition from an individual contributor (IC) to an Engineering Manager (EM). With over 15 years of experience in engineering and leadership, Carlos shares his journey from Portugal to the UK, his initial interest in computer science influenced by a cousin, and his passion for salsa dancing. The discussion delves into the importance of gaining horizontal exposure within an organization, understanding the nuances of management beyond technical skills, and building confidence to overcome imposter syndrome. Carlos emphasizes the significance of proactive communication, trusting the team through delegation, and seeking mentorship. He shares insights into making a conscious decision to transition into management, highlighting the need for self-assessment regarding technical passions and people management skills. The episode concludes with advice for those considering this career path and the introduction of groCTO Connect [https://grocto.substack.com/p/connect-1-1-mentorship-from-top-ctos], a mentoring initiative aimed at helping technical leaders advance. 💡 Highlights a) Getting Candid 🇵🇹 Carlos’ path from Portugal to the UK 💻 Balancing interests: Sports vs. Computer Science 💃 Salsa dancing as a creative outlet b) Key Takeaways 🧠 How to gain horizontal exposure for a smoother transition into management 💬 Tips for overcoming imposter syndrome through better communication 🤝 How to effectively delegate by trusting and empowering your team 🎯 Career reflection: Deciding between coding & people management Looking for top tech mentors like Carlos who can help you take up your new tech leadership role with confidence or guide you with your next career move? Sign up with groCTO Connect for 1:1 mentorship from top CTOs & tech leaders. Accelerate your journey towards success🚀 🎧 Full Episode This episode is also available on YouTube [https://youtu.be/-IbiSlQe4g4], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/23Ef7qnLMOx22GvyfRPAoZ?si=a2cd81710754407c], iTunes/Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/grocto-originals/id1718883620?i=1000671796613], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/0e327ba7-2556-494b-96a1-7b23947d7d1d/episodes/f9d20c16-1d2f-4749-8c64-44b58833c4f8/grocto-originals-carlos-neves-from-vitality-mastering-the-ic-to-engineering-manager-transition] & more. Thanks for listening to the podcast. That’s it for today 👋 1) Subscribe to groCTO — If you aren’t already, consider becoming a groCTO subscriber. 2) Share amongst fellow Engineering Leaders and CTOs! Your referral empowers & builds our groCTO community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com [https://grocto.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]