Sign up to our DirectorPlus newsletter
Subscribers get the best engineering leadership content in their inbox every month.
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
-
Think the technical interview is dead? Think again
The technical interview is evolving as AI-assisted coding becomes the norm.
-
The latest tech layoffs have all the hallmarks of AI washing
Looking closer at the latest Block and Atlassian layoffs.
-
AI adoption has to be driven from the top
Not by mandate, but clear leadership and guidance over why AI is being adopted.
New York • September 15 & 16, 2026
Cut through the hype.
Find what works at LDX3 New York
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.
The festival for modern engineering leadership
New York • September 15 & 16, 2026
More for managers of managers
-
How AI will shape software engineering in 2026
It’s time to close the gap between expectations and reality.
-
Is “agent-shoring” the end of software team offshoring?
The days of offshoring software development could be numbered
-
Your first team is the key to org-wide efficiency
Alignment with your peers is the best way to secure cross-team success.
-
5 uncomfortable predictions for engineering leaders in 2026
Home truths, not pie-in-the-sky predictions.
-
The performative trap of public recognition
Ensuring your team members receive proper acknowledgement for their work extends beyond shallow praise.
Videos for managers of managers
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
From code to commerce: Engineering’s role in driving business growth
Learn how engineering leadership drives business success by linking technical excellence to measurable outcomes, fostering commercial awareness, and optimizing performance at scale.
-
Building the AI enablement playbook
Learn how to lead AI adoption by reshaping systems, culture, and operations, not just rolling out tools.
-
Don’t get toasted: A leader’s guide to mental well-being
Real tools for managers’ mental well-being – from stress management to parenting wisdom – because leading teams shouldn’t mean burning out.
-
In partnership with DXBetter software faster
How the Core 4 framework helps teams measure and communicate productivity gains while balancing delivery pressure.
-
Rethinking collaboration: LLMs, teams, and cognitive load
Discover how LLMs can reduce cognitive load, boost team collaboration, and reshape engineering workflows without compromising quality or delivery.