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Newsletter archive
AI agents and the missing link in DevOps
AI agents aren’t just assistants anymore – they’re making decisions. Are engineers ready for the shift or are they just too skeptical?
Carving out time for large-scale engineering chores
Determine what to prioritize, set out a path, and be prepared for some hiccups along the way.
Encouraging a passion for productivity
In this edition of DirectorPlus, Neha Batra, VP of Engineering at GitHub, explains how she creates a culture of productivity.
Framing AI rollouts in the right light
How can you introduce AI into teams in a way that doesn’t invite unrest within your org? It starts with presenting it in the right light.
Latest
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Is GitHub’s coding agent your newest junior dev?
GitHub’s new coding agent has some perks, but is still showing signs of significant growing pains. What are the current pain points?
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AI coding trackers are here. Proceed with caution
Companies are finally starting to track AI usage within their engineering orgs. Should we be worried or remain cautiously optimistic?
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Navigating the emotional rollercoaster of leadership
Any well-seasoned leader will know that it’s not always an easy journey. The key is to tackle the low moments with the right approach.
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5 AI agent frameworks for developer teams
If you’re thinking of dipping your toes into the agentic pool, here are some frameworks you could explore.
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Your go-to professional growth model
When you’re an engineering leader, finding the time to upskill is almost impossible. Following the S-curve model might keep you on track.
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The right way to make AI part of your tech strategy
With everyone scrambling to bake AI into their technical strategy, leaders may be resorting to unreliable and unscalable methods.
October 15 & 16, 2025
Agendas for New York events are live! 🙌
Essential reading
What is a Director of Engineering? The glue keeping engineering together
A director of engineering is responsible for keeping an entire engineering function humming. Find out what skills you need to climb the ladder to this vital position.
On our DirectorPlus playlist
Strategies to hone commercial awareness and drive business outcomes
Learn effective strategies for enhancing commercial awareness in tech teams, turning engineering into a business driver through alignment, impactful initiatives, and stakeholder engagement.
The path from Director to CTO: How to follow it, or how to mentor it
This talk is aimed at both aspiring Chief Technology Officers and those who are in a position to mentor future CTOs. Explore the journey from a Director of Engineering role to a CTO, focusing on the skills and experiences needed for this transition and how experienced leaders can guide others on this path.
Making the manager of manager’s mindset
Suzan Bond covers the difference between the two roles and the key mindset shifts leaders need to make to manage managers.
Agendas for New York events are live!
Lineup includes Addy Osmani, Kevin Goldsmith, Robin Bonatesta, and more…
New York • October 15 & 16, 2025
More for managers of managers
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In partnership with Multiverse
Embrace apprenticeships to uncover hidden developer talent
Three lessons learned from two recent Meta apprentices.
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PostgreSQL: The database that quietly ate the world
How the open source database slowly but surely infiltrated the enterprise as a go-to, developer-friendly choice.
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AI models can’t understand code. Does that matter?
New research highlights how little large language models understand about the code they are churning out. Should we care?
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In partnership with X-Team
A beginner’s guide to building a sustainable learning culture
Software moves fast, how can you build a culture ready to keep up?
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In partnership with X-Team
Cultivating a culture of learning
Establishing a genuine learning culture takes time and attention, from all levels of the organization.
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How Zalando uses its own Tech Radar to make better technology choices
A tech radar can help track emerging technologies and make better adoption decisions.
Videos for managers of managers
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Training innovation: The key to long-term success
Innovation doesn’t just happen – it’s a skill that must be trained. Learn practical techniques for fostering innovation in engineering teams, from mindset shifts to structured frameworks.
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Rebuilding trust: Leadership after layoffs
In today’s tech landscape, layoffs have become cyclical events. This talk examines the modern layoff process and provides strategies for rebuilding team trust.
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Leader or engineer? Navigating our technical identity crisis
Am I still technical enough? What does my team think?
Drawing from the hard-won lessons of a leadership initiative for 250 engineers, this talk uncovers unexpected truths in the conflict between technical depth and leadership.
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In partnership with ReveloEngineering leadership playbook, 2025: Three lessons every engineering leader needs this year
Learn three key lessons to lead AI adoption, build remote teams, and strengthen engineering culture.
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Global teams, seamless success: Managing diverse engineers for high-impact deliveries
Learn how to tackle the real challenges of managing global engineering teams – avoiding miscommunication, preventing team friction, and ensuring accountability – so you can drive on-time deliveries and build a motivated team that delivers quality software.
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Shaped by demand: The power of fluid teams
Discover how Demand-Led Planning enables teams of up to 200 people to reorganise quarterly and succeed without stable, long-lived teams.
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Lost and alone over the Pacific
On December 22, 1978, veteran US Navy pilot Jay Prochnow found himself lost over the Pacific after a navigation failure during a solo ferry flight. With no land in sight and nightfall approaching, he had to find a way to survive. This is the story of how he navigated out of the crisis – and what we can learn from his experience.
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Frictionless movement: How internal mobility transforms engineering culture
Creating an environment that not only makes it easy for people to move teams and roles but encourages that openness.
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Levelling up: Transitioning successfully into a manager of managers role
The talk I wish I’d found when I became a manager of managers. Tips and insights to prepare you for the road ahead.
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Rebuilding at scale: A CTO’s Journey in a high-growth fintech
How a high-growth fintech dealt with a major platform rewrite with 10 years of technical and commercial debt. And, more importantly, my own personal growth journey from tech leader to exec-level CTO.
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Don’t drop the baton, or how a team that communicates well collaborates well
Effective team communication shapes company culture at all levels. In this talk, we’ll explore habits, principles, and frameworks to foster healthy communication patterns.
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In partnership with SoftwireThe five stages of workplace culture
Discover the five key stages that built Softwire’s award-winning culture and motivated top engineering talent.