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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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How Stack Overflow is innovating to keep up with AI disruption
Large language models, trained on public data, have pushed Stack Overflow toward an existential crisis.
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What the end of Section 174 means for software developer hiring
New US law brings in significant tax changes, which could change the face of hiring.
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How to communicate mandates (even if you disagree with them)
You may not agree with a mandate, but that shouldn’t affect the way you communicate it to your team.
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How to hire force multipliers (not 10x engineers)
Long heralded as the “brilliant jerks” of tech, their damage can run deep when it comes to team culture. Hire a force multiplier instead.
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“Vibe hacking” signals seismic shift for engineering leaders
Blackhat hackers have an addition to their armoury. Here’s how engineering leaders can safeguard their systems and stay on high alert.
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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The quickly evolving role of QA
In fast-paced software development environments, the way you think about quality assurance needs to change.
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DEI is under threat, can you fight back?
Corporate DEI initiatives may be on life support, but there are steps progressive leaders can take to keep them on track and improve the health of their organizations.
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What UK engineering managers can expect to earn in 2025
Here’s what senior developers and engineering managers in the UK can expect to earn in 2024 and beyond.
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Breaking down the WordPress drama
A dispute has riven the WordPress community in half, how does this impact developers?
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How to craft a realistic technology roadmap
Technology roadmaps are difficult things to navigate. Having a realistic approach can save you a lot of time and energy.
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What US engineering managers can expect to earn in 2025
Here’s what senior developers and engineering managers in the United States can expect to earn in base salary during 2025 and beyond.
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How do I progress without a clear career ladder?
Help! As a new Director, it’s unclear what’s expected of me.
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Use 1:1s to develop engineering managers reporting to you
As a manager of managers, these meetings are vital for getting the most from your reports.
Videos for managers of managers
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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.
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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.
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Building the AI enablement playbook
Learn how to lead AI adoption by reshaping systems, culture, and operations, not just rolling out tools.
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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.
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In partnership with DXBetter software faster
How the Core 4 framework helps teams measure and communicate productivity gains while balancing delivery pressure.
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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.
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How to delete everything: The clean-slate approach to technical strategy
Learn how clean-slate thinking can break technical deadlocks, improve system resilience, and inspire actionable strategies for complex engineering challenges.
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Rethinking growing engineers in the age of AI
Explore how to grow future senior engineers in an AI-driven world that sidelines traditional junior roles.
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Give everyone a challenge – Leadership growth in stable times
Learn how to grow engineering leaders through impact-focused challenges, not headcount, even in low-growth environments.
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In partnership with O’ReillyHelping your engineers find time to learn and upskill
Webinar recording: discover how to support your engineers to learn and practice new skills.
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In partnership with CircleCIHow to build experimentation into your technical roadmap
This webinar is for engineering leaders who believe that a strong culture of experimentation drives innovation – and who want to convince peers and stakeholders that it should be part of your technical strategy