David Mytton (CEO @ Arcjet & Co-founder @ Console) shares insights on “what makes a great DevTool company!” We unpack lessons on bootstrapping vs. seeking VC funding & why it’s important to stick with one; building prototypes; considerations for selling your company; and his founder journey with Server Density, Console & now with Arcjet. David also highlights GTM practices for finding reliable channels & distribution, why documentation can make a critical impact on dev tool sales, the impact of design, and translating the benefits of dev tools for finance teams vs. developers.

The tech industry and AI landscape evolves fast—so how can engineering leaders help their teams stay agile, innovative, and resilient in the face of rapid change? Melody Meckfessel (CTO @ Jasper) joins us to share how to develop the skill of navigating ambiguity, guide investment decisions on what to build / how, avoid over-complexity, & develop agile communication processes through rapid change. Melody also covers what it means to be an AI-first company,  how to avoid self-limitations & move from prescriptive to inspirational to empower your teams.

In this episode, local ELC chapter leaders share some of their favorite engineering leadership principles, covering practices to build trust! Andy (Chicago) discusses tactics for scaling communication practices in parallel with your org, using humor strategically, and bridging gaps between teams post-M&A. James (South Bay) shares what engineering leaders can learn from the best online courses by making a “Day One” commitment. John (Toronto) shares how to level up your teams & enable them to do more through servant leadership. Thank you Andy Kortz (CTO @ Integra Testing), James Tyack (Senior Managing Engineer @ Coursera), and John Ross (Director of Cloud and Infrastructure @ Kubra) for sharing your insights! Check out all of our local chapters & get involved here: [elc.community/home/clubs](https://elc.community/public/clubs)

During the discussion, we talked about shifting from annual performance reviews to a more continuous, leadership-driven approach, with a focus on daily team support. Besides, we also included challenges in rolling out performance management systems, especially given financial constraints and different leadership styles.

Kathryn Vandiver (Former VP of Engineering @ Quanata) shares insights on providing new leadership during significant organizational change. First, we dissect what transitioning from an individual contributor to engineering manager is like. Then, we discuss what it’s like stepping into an EM role informally vs. formally; how to host conversations that foster trust; tips for transforming teams from competition to collaboration; helping people get unstuck; and tools for changing hearts and minds. Kathryn also covers frameworks for creating collective agreements between eng leaders & eng teams – and identifying what a successful outcome for collective agreements looks like.

We discuss the four modes of coaching and navigate career growth in expanding / contracting companies with James Birchler. James shares highlights from the recent coaching / mentoring workshop he facilitated, and breaks down how each mode of coaching differs tactically. We also cover the dilemma of linear career/leadership growth vs. exponential company growth, different common communication challenges eng leaders face, why people / organizational challenges are harder than technical issues, and how to prepare for & execute uncomfortable conversations. James also shares his unique journey to technical leadership & how past management roles – even in non-tech spaces – have helped shape his thoughts on coaching & eng leadership today.

Natalie Glance, Chief Engineering Officer @ Duolingo joins us for a conversation on unleashing potential in your employees! We discuss practices that have helped Duolingo create a meaningful path for hiring & developing engineers through their onboarding & internship programs. We also cover topics including scaling your eng org, upskilling recent grads / new hires, balancing meaningful work with measurable impact, communicating alignment within your org, formal & informal steps for building eng leadership capabilities, and essential skills for managers of all types.

In this episode, we explore building an AI-first company and engineering org with Rong Yan (CTO @ HeyGen)! We dive into the potential of HeyGen’s interactive avatars, imagining how they can help engineering leaders scale their impact, foster team alignment, coach effectively, and accelerate decision-making. Rong shares insights on the structure of an AI-first company and optimizing for AI teams with engineering capabilities. Plus what it means to “lead with speed” and balance product quality and velocity in an AI-first company and key leadership principles, like why it’s crucial to invest in your top performers and how to act as a productivity multiplier.