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Keeping a finger on the pulse is all too easy these days, with news outlets and bloggers vying to gain attention in your already-cluttered inbox. Cutting through the noise, we’re here to bring you ten tech leadership newsletters – in no particular order – that will help you stay ahead of the curve.
1. The Pragmatic Engineer
Founded by ex-Uber and Microsoft engineer Gergely Orosz in 2021, The Pragmatic Engineer offers two weekly editions to over 800,000 subscribers. Every Tuesday, expect long-form educational articles drawn from real engineering challenges, complete with actionable tips. On Thursdays, Orosz updates subscribers on industry trends with The Pulse. While there is an option to subscribe for free, paid subscriptions unlock more editions and perks.
2. Hacker Newsletter
The Hacker Newsletter has been around since 2010, and is a free weekly digest of handpicked titles from The Hacker News thread featuring sections like #Favourites and #Ask HN, where users can pose open-ended questions.
While not an overt leadership newsletter, it promises industry insights, career development guidance, recommendations for books or tools, and work/life tips.
3. Irrational Exuberance
Will Larson’s Irrational Exuberance newsletter goes out every Wednesday. With a focus on software engineering, technology, and leadership insights, Larson draws from lessons in his career as an engineering executive at Stripe, Calm, and now Carta.
Whether you’re looking to build resilient teams, navigate org dynamics, or just get a book review, Larson’s newsletter is a great place to start. Subscribe to Irrational Exuberance for free to receive Larson’s blend of philosophical reflections and technical precision.
4. Leadership in Tech
Leadership in Tech is a leadership newsletter created by Jakub Chodounsky, a CTO at Hatch. The newsletter primarily targets CTOs, engineering managers, and senior engineers and is published on Mondays. Every edition consists of a curated list of articles and resources, sparing you from sifting through blogs and LinkedIn posts yourself.
The aggregated content is free to read, covering topics like technical insights, team management strategies, communication, and decision-making.
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5. The Engineering Manager
James Stanier draws on his experience as a director of engineering at Shopify to bring you practical career advice. From new managers to experienced leaders, the newsletter is a hub for learning more about tools, mentorship, team leadership, and engineering woes.
Though The Engineering Manager provides ample practical advice, Stanier also peppers interviews and book reviews into the mix. Sign up for Stanier’s newsletter to get free, monthly insights.
6. MIT Tech Review
In a rapidly evolving industry, it’s good to keep tabs on what’s happening at the leading edge. MIT Tech Review has several newsletters covering expert insights, climate tech, strategy, or trend analysis.
Take your pick of daily or weekly updates, with certain newsletters like The Download and Weekend Reads being free. Other content can only be accessed with a “Pro” membership.
7. Engineering Leadership
Whether you’re a seasoned manager, just stepping into the role, or looking to be promoted into people management, the Engineering Leadership newsletter is a fantastic resource.
Authored by fractional CTO Gregor Ojstersek, this newsletter boasts over 93,000 subscribers who tune in to up to two weekly releases. If you want to stick to the unpaid route, expect to receive newsletter editions on Sundays about all things engineering and team-related. If you’re a paying subscriber, you’ll receive extra resources on Wednesdays in addition to guides, templates, and full access to newsletter archives.
8. Level Up
Brought to you by Pat Kua, a tech leader with over 20 years in the field, this curated newsletter acts as an amplifier for other industry veterans to share their insights on topics such as leadership strategies, organizational dynamics, and personal productivity.
Expect the Level Up newsletter in your inboxes every Sunday, with introductory thought pieces from Pat, before a segue into other leaders’ thoughts, advice, and tools.
9. Refactoring
With over 120,000 subscribers, Luca Rossi’s Refactoring newsletter is not without its fans. Subscribers can expect two newsletter digests a week. Monday promises a free, short email with three actionable ideas for professional development, while Wednesday’s edition is reserved for paying subscribers where Luca draws on his own experience and research through longer articles. As a paying subscriber, you also get access to Luca’s 130+ articles and podcast episodes.
10. LeadDev Originals
It’d be remiss not to mention our weekly newsletter, Originals. We send out Originals every Thursday, filled to the brim with our latest LeadDev articles and webinars from our community of engineering leaders. Whether you’re an IC or an engineering manager, we’ve got something for you. We cover topics like personal development, tools, team performance, and much more.
And, if you’re a manager of managers, our monthly newsletter DirectorPlus can help, covering real case studies on how top senior engineering leaders solve tough challenges.
