Forging Ahead, the unpaved path to Engineering Management

In this session, we will explore the journey of transitioning from an individual contributor to a first-time Engineering Manager. Drawing from personal experiences, we will delve into some of the challenges, triumphs, and key learnings that come with this significant career shift. It’s a very common scenario that new Engineer Managers struggle to navigate the change to their new role despite having had a great career as Individual Contributors.

This talk is targeted at engineers who are stepping into an Engineering Manager role for the first time, as well as for those who are coaching individual contributors transitioning into this role.

1. Forging Ahead
The unpaved path to
Engineering Management
Javier Turegano

2. My journey
REA Slack ??? Canva
2-
2012-2019
2-
2019-2023
2-
2023
2-
2024 ...

7. Valencia ????????????

8. ❤️ Teaching

13. The journey

14. The real journey

15. EM is a career change
XP
Fighter Wizard

16. ??????️‍♂️ Identify areas to develop
?????? Craft a career plan
?????? Create coaching circles
Supporting new EMs
Career change

17. Curiosity is a superpower

18. Supporting new EMs
??????‍♀️ Lead by example
❓Ask lots of questions
Curiosity

19. Managing is multidirectional

20. Supporting new EMs
??????️ Personal stakeholder
map exercise
Multidirectionality

21. Avoid surprises

22. Clarity = Kindness
Priorities
Expectations
Decisions
Direction
Changes

23. Supporting new EMs
?????? Don’t surprise them
ℹ Equip them with information
?????? Practice creating
communication plans
Clarity

24. Lean on your career framework

25. Supporting new EMs
?????? Create a framework
??????‍?????? Help them familiarizise
⚒️ Use the framework
Framework

26. Software development
is a team sport

27. Best team ever

28. Teams are systems

29. Supporting new EMs
????????????‍??????‍???????????? Share practices from
other teams
Teams

30. Be deliberate when hiring

31. Supporting new EMs
??????Help them navigate your
hiring practices
⚡️Facilitate lateral moves
Hiring

32. Real interactions create bonding

33. Supporting new EMs
❤️ Encourage real life
interactions
?????? Budget for them
Bonding

34. Stay up to day with tech

35. Supporting new EMs
??????️‍♂️Encourage it as part of your
career framework
??????‍??????Create forums to facilitate
learning
Tech

36. Swing the pendulum

37. Supporting new EMs
??????️‍♂️ Facilitate their transitions
Pedulum

38. GOOD LUCK

39. Thank you!
Javier Turegano
jturegano
@setoide