Not all software engineers want to become engineering managers. Anand Safi is an Engineering Manager at Mark43, and while his career journey from software engineer to software manager was rather intentional, he joins the show to chat about other options for promoting your best engineers. He also shares how Toastmasters helped him become a more empathetic speaker, how to deal with non-technical bosses, and how companies can keep their metaphorical plates spinning while adding more.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Tips for building software with uptime requirements that have life-altering consequences


• How to balance managerial and technical responsibilities as an engineering manager


• How to deal with non-technical bosses who are detached from the day-to-day of those they lead


• How a program like Toastmasters can help engineers speak about their technical work in a non-technical fashion


• How companies can promote engineers without forcing them to be managers


• The difference in skill set between creators and enablers


• How to fuel innovation while sustaining your current environment


• What dual-track agile is


• The benefits of cancelling routine meetings for a week to host a team hackathon

This episode is brought to you by The Jed Mahonis Group, where we make sense of mobile app development with our non-technical approach to building custom mobile software solutions. Learn more at https://jmg.mn.

Recorded April 15, 2021 | Edited by Jordan Daoust | Produced by Jenny Karkowski

Show Links

Anand Safi on LinkedIn

Mark43’s website

Toastmasters International website

Mentor Cruise website

PlatoHQ website