Startups thrive on speed and hustle. But when everything feels urgent, how can you tell what actually matters?
☕️ We started with coffee, like most chats do. Black for me, cappuccino for Jimothy (he actually prefers Jim, or James). Corner terrace, Singelgracht. One of those confusing Amsterdam afternoons where the sky can’t decide − sunlight breaks through the clouds, then ducks back behind them. Just long enough to let a few leaves blow […]
In software engineering, we often rely on “exponential back-off” when retrying failed network requests − a technique where each subsequent attempt is spaced out further in time to avoid overloading the system. Oddly enough, I’ve found myself applying a similar concept to human communication. As a Engineering lead, I’m frequently on the receiving end of […]
Remember when a five‑digit Stack Overflow score was a flex? Today that, and a vintage 2022 playbook will buy you precisely zero leverage. Yesterday’s job, tomorrow’s irrelevance Many Engineering managers still run on three rituals: However, none of those moves the product faster. Meanwhile, AI agents are quietly doing code reviews, generating boilerplate, even writing RFCs. The org chart hasn’t […]
In a previous post, I looked at managing time effectively as an Engineering manager, drawing from Aviv Ben-Yosef’s insightful book, The Tech Executive Operating System. Today, let’s explore another valuable lesson from this book: how to recognize and handle impostor syndrome in the moments when it affects us most. We’re all familiar with IS − the […]
I recently attempted to write a blog post exploring how our human memory is limited and how easily things slip between the cracks when life gets overwhelming. The original draft was around 2,300 words – painstakingly researched, peppered with references to scientific studies, and teetering into “academic essay” territory. It ended up so dense and […]
So you’ve spent years honing your craft as an individual contributor (IC), and now you’re considering a transition to a leadership position. The appeal is obvious: greater influence, more responsibility, and a unique chance to shape your organization’s trajectory. However, stepping into a lead role comes with challenges that aren’t always highlighted in the job […]
Every Engineering manager knows the feeling: you wake up already juggling a thousand thoughts, your calendar is a battlefield, and Slack notifications seem endless. It’s a chaotic yet rewarding role, one where the pressure to deliver is only rivaled by the satisfaction of seeing your team succeed. In 2024, my days as an Engineering manager […]
Introducing a Security Awareness program is becoming increasingly important for organizations as the cybersecurity landscape changes rapidly. This undertaking becomes even more challenging if the security team is new to the organization and operates on a limited budget. In this blog post, I share my experience implementing a security awareness program enriched by extensive research […]
Security is becoming more important for businesses operating in an increasingly complex landscape of cyber threats and data breaches. Small businesses often don’t have the advanced security measures and resources that larger enterprises possess, making them particularly vulnerable targets for cyberattacks. A breach can result in significant financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities, which […]