This case study outlines the issue of two contract engineers being hired to work remotely for two days per week, which caused resentment among the permanent on-site engineers. The lesson learned is that transparent and proactive communication is essential in a hybrid delivery team. To address the issue, a remote-working policy was created and approved by the CTO and Head of HR, and communicated to the engineers.

Plato

Colleen Tartow, Ph.D.

Director of Engineering at Starburst Data

Developing Your Personal Brand: A Brief Guide to Creating an Elevator Pitch

This article discusses the importance of having an elevator pitch to present yourself in a professional setting. It provides advice on how to create a two-minute pitch that includes ten things you are good at and proud of, and how to turn those into stories. It also suggests asking friends and colleagues to help identify your strengths, and to practice the pitch to make it sound natural. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of having a consistent message about yourself across all platforms.

Plato

Sowmiya Chocka Narayanan

CTO at Lily App

How to Engage Offshore Engineers

This article discusses the challenges of hiring offshore engineers for an early stage startup with limited funding. The author suggests that by investing time into building the offshore team, and providing them with enough context to understand the product, it is possible to achieve the same quality of work as engineers based in the US.

Plato

Jimmy DePetro

Senior Director and Head of Engineering at Wag Labs

Choosing Candidates Who Share Your Company Culture

The challenge of hiring the right people for the job is difficult, especially when it comes to understanding how they will fit into the company culture. As a manager, it is important to ask questions to determine how they will work with the team and to look for signs of an open attitude and willingness to grow. Clear expectations and regular check-ins are necessary to ensure that the employee is on the right track. Ultimately, every person a manager works with provides a learning experience and helps to build a more diverse managerial experience.

Plato

Aditya Sawhney

VP of Engineering at Axcient

Delivering Value By Focusing on Outcomes

This article outlines the steps taken to move an organization from a chaotic, activity-driven approach to a more outcome-based perspective. This included setting goals based on business problems, making smarter goals that were measurable, actionable, and attainable, and transitioning to a data-driven decision-making process. The team was also given ownership of issues and outcomes, and the OKR process was made more flexible and gamified. As a result, the team was more focused on getting business outcomes and the organization was able to become more data-driven.

Plato

Luis Villegas

Chief Technology Officer at Bungie

How to Transition Into an Executive Role

An engineer realized that technical skills alone would not help him grow his career, so he began to focus on learning the language of business, understanding what motivates people, and building high-performance teams. He gained an MBA to validate himself and gain clarity on what he wanted to pursue. After years of dedication to his company, he was able to become the Chief Technology Officer. He learned that time management is the number one challenge when moving into an executive role, and that growing your career is not about being the best at what you do, but being the best collaborator you can be.

Plato

Brie Ransom

Head of Quality and Engineering Productivity at

Reclaiming Productivity: Time Management Tips

The author discusses the importance of time management and introduces time blocking as a critical technique. They explain that time blocking involves scheduling all tasks, to-dos, and projects, rather than just setting aside general blocks of time. The author shares their personal challenge of having too many tasks and tools to keep track of, and how they found a solution in Reclaim.ai, an AI scheduling automation app. They explain how they use Reclaim.ai to manage their tasks, set priorities, and estimate task durations. The author also mentions the benefits and downsides of using Reclaim.ai, as well as alternative methods for time blocking.

Plato

Quang Hoang

Cofounder and CEO at Plato

Ways to make your business start-up profitable

This mentee is looking for advice on how to grow their start-up and make it profitable. The mentor explains the five phases they went through with Plato, from confirming the problem to finding and hiring mentors, launching the beta-phase, and reaching the fifth phase with 20 mentors, 5 paying companies, and 50 users. The key lessons learned are that a strong start-up is based on a solid foundation and that it is important to maintain communication with customers to build trust and ensure long-term growth.

Plato

Who to follow

Viswanadha Pratap Kondoju

Engineering Manager @ Credit Karma

Melby Mathew

Sr. Manager, Stitch FIx ex-LinkedIn, ex-Zillow, passionate about mentorship & teaching. #TechManager #SEO #Mentorship

Sridhar Ramakrishnan

at Slack, ex-Fitbit, 9+ years of leading teams

George Abraham

Product leader, high performance teams, cross-functional projects, strategic initiatives.

Mugdha Myers

ex-Google Engineering Lead

Nono Guimbi

EM, Executive Coach & Mentor

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Latest Stories

Sherman Poon

CIO /Partner at Blockchain, Media, AI and Medical Services Startup

Software Developer for 18 Years: What’s Next?

After 18 years in software development, professionals may find themselves at a crossroads, particularly in high-cost cities in the East. While staying in a technical role for a lifetime is seen as honorable in the West, economic pressures and societal expectations in the East can make it challenging to maintain a comfortable lifestyle as a developer. The escalating costs of living and competitive job market push many developers to advance beyond the technical track into roles like project management or team leadership. Additionally, the fast-paced nature of the tech industry and the influx of younger talent with new skills can make it difficult for senior developers to stay competitive. As a result, exploring new avenues such as technical leadership, specialization, management, entrepreneurship, or consulting and mentorship becomes crucial for maintaining financial stability and career satisfaction. The key is to recognize the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the cultural and economic context and align one's next steps with personal aspirations and market realities.

Plato

Daniel Woolfson

Senior Engineering Manager at The Engineer Experience

Effective Strategies for Managing Remote Engineering Teams

Managing remote engineering teams is crucial in today's evolving work landscape. This article provides insights into best practices and proven strategies for overseeing dispersed engineering teams. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication channels, leveraging project management tools, promoting a collaborative culture, providing adequate support and resources, emphasizing results-oriented performance, and regularly assessing and adapting strategies. By implementing these tactics, managers can navigate the challenges of remote team management and drive success in the remote work environment.

Plato

Limor Bergman Gross

Executive Coach at LBG Consulting Service Ltd

Navigating the Challenges of Transitioning to an Engineering Manager Role

Transitioning to an engineering manager role comes with its own set of challenges, but by being strategic, building relationships, and advocating for oneself, success can be achieved. It is important to proactively plan one's career and advocate for personal growth and development. Building relationships with key stakeholders and finding allies within the organization can greatly help in advocating for oneself and influencing change. Understanding the motivations of others and aligning interests can also aid in gaining support for ideas. If promotion opportunities are limited, focusing on expanding responsibilities and taking on more challenging tasks can showcase potential for future growth. Seeking out mentors within the organization can provide guidance and support throughout the career transition process. Overall, being proactive, building relationships, and advocating for oneself are key to navigating the challenges of transitioning to an engineering manager role.

Plato

David García

Head of Engineering at Cense AG

Effective Strategies for Providing Feedback to Managers

This article discusses effective strategies for providing feedback to managers in the engineering field. It emphasizes the importance of constructive feedback for personal and professional growth. The article provides insights from top-tier engineers, including tips on framing feedback objectively and addressing the manager's impact. It also highlights the significance of promoting junior team members and offers strategies for providing feedback, such as asking for permission and being solution-oriented. Overall, the article emphasizes the value of effective feedback in fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Plato

Jose Ciccio

Senior Engineering Manager at Ladder Health

Maximizing Your Growth: A Guide to Getting the Best from Platohq Mentorship

Plato platform's mentorship program is designed to empower individuals on their journey towards success. By setting clear objectives, establishing a strong relationship with your mentor, actively engaging and participating, seeking feedback and implementing suggestions, continuously learning and growing, and reflecting on the experience, you can maximize the benefits of the mentorship program. Mentorship is a continuous journey of learning and growth, and by embracing the opportunity, you can unlock your full potential in pursuit of your professional aspirations.

Plato

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