Dev Interrupted
Dev Interrupted

Dev Interrupted

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Episodes

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The Dev Interrupted Podcast is the premier podcast made exclusively for software engineering leaders. Hosts Dan Lines & Conor Bronsdon invite expert guests from around the world to explore strategy and day-to-day topics ranging from dev team metrics to accelerating delivery. Join us weekly for new episodes.

Recent Episodes

How to Leverage a Non-Technical Background in Engineering Leadership | Melissa DePuydt
MAR 26, 2024
How to Leverage a Non-Technical Background in Engineering Leadership | Melissa DePuydt
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33 MIN
Preparing for Your First VP of Engineering Role | Honeycomb VPE, Emily Nakashima
MAR 19, 2024
Preparing for Your First VP of Engineering Role | Honeycomb VPE, Emily Nakashima

On this week’s episode, host Conor Bronsdon sits down with Emily Nakashima, VP of Engineering at Honeycomb.io, to discuss how you can prepare to be a VP of Engineering, and how the role differs among companies. Being a VPE varies based on company size, culture, and the existing team's makeup, and Emily provides valuable advice for engineers aspiring to leadership positions.

Emily also discusses using personality tests for better team dynamics and the need for regular self-evaluation as an integral part of career advancement. The conversation closes by talking about the impact of AI on the workforce, the importance of aligning engineering and business goals, and the potential of AI to enhance rather than replace human skills.

Episode Highlights:

01:27 Why does Emily think there isn't a standard VP of Engineering role?
06:29 The archetypes of the VPE role
10:15 How does the VPE role change as an organization grows?
14:46 Preparing to become a VP of Engineering before you get the role
20:11 How you can use personality tests in organizational design
26:00 How is the VP of Engineering role changing in 2024?
30:53 Teams are having to accept realities about production software with regards to AI

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35 MIN
How to Build Influence as an Engineering Leader | Kelly Vaughn
MAR 12, 2024
How to Build Influence as an Engineering Leader | Kelly Vaughn

This week, host Conor Bronsdon welcomes back Kelly Vaughn, Director of Engineering at Spot AI, to talk about building influence as an engineering leader. Kelly shares insights on the importance of leadership skills for both individual contributor and managerial roles and outlines her three pillars of trust, communication, and empowerment.

Conor and Kelly discuss strategies for staying technically fresh despite moving up in management, exploring the balance between staying close to product development and avoiding micromanagement. Lastly, they touch on the potential of AR/VR technology, with a focus on the business implications of Apple's Vision Pro and the future of immersive experiences.

Episode Highlights:

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1:09 How should engineering leaders think about building influence?
03:53 The impact of changing roles or companies on your performance 
08:07 Why you lose important context when making assumptions
09:32 How ICs can help manage their team
10:49 Key ways to build influence and trust
16:00 How important is trust when giving or recieving feedback?
22:27 How do leaders stay close to their product as their org grows?
28:58 Our thoughts on Apple Vision Pro and AR VR in general

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33 MIN
How to Achieve Predictable Software Delivery at Scale | Syngenta’s Jason Krohn
FEB 27, 2024
How to Achieve Predictable Software Delivery at Scale | Syngenta’s Jason Krohn

On this week’s episode, host Conor Bronsdon is joined by Jason Krohn, Global Head of Delivery at Syngenta. Jason delves into how his teams at Syngenta leverage software engineering intelligence to achieve predictable delivery at scale.

Jason also explores how aligning work with employees' passions contributes to success and retention at Syngenta. He discusses the challenges and solutions in implementing efficient DevOps processes and ensuring organizational buy-in for the vision. Additionally, Jason highlights the importance of empowering teams with autonomy and providing the necessary tools for proactive decision-making.

Whether you're leading a small team or managing an enterprise, Jason's insights offer valuable lessons on driving efficiency, scaling effectively, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Episode Highlights:

1:46 Scaling teams that are empowered and autonomous
4:01: The four pillars for retaining talent in tech teams.
12:51 Tackling organizational change
18:41 Using metrics to achieve predictable delivery
21:45 Why your engineering teams' need to care about metrics, not just be compliant
26:20 Addressing production delays and DevOps integration
28:55 Leadership's role in communicating the 'why’
33:05 The Importance of Coaching When Mentoring

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36 MIN
The Startup CTO's Handbook | Zach Goldberg
FEB 20, 2024
The Startup CTO's Handbook | Zach Goldberg

This week, host Dan Lines welcomes back Zach Goldberg, CTO and author of the book 'The Startup CTO's Handbook: Essential Skills and Best Practices for High Performing Engineering Teams.’ Zach shares insights from his extensive career as a CTO and his journey in writing a book that condenses the wisdom of numerous other influential works into a single, comprehensive guide.

We explore the three core sections of his book:

  • Management Fundamentals: Interviewing, Hiring, Performance Management, Budgeting, etc. 
  • Technical Leadership Concepts: Developer Experience, Tech Debt, etc. 
  • Hard Technology Decisions: Pragmatism, Tech Stack, etc.

Zach provides advice for not only CTOs but anyone in a technical leadership position, offering strategies to develop empathy and understanding within technical organizations.

Episode Highlights: 

  • 1:59 From Startup CTO to Author and Executive Coach
  • 3:41 The Origin of Best Practices and Genesis of the Handbook  
  • 10:25 Why the Startup CTO’s Handbook isn’t just for CTOs 
  • 13:02 Part 1: Management Fundamentals Beyond Coding
  • 24:50 Part 2: Technical Leadership Concepts & Developer Experience
  • 30:57 Part 3: Technology Decisions from a Pragmatic Perspective

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40 MIN