Beyond Coding

Are you waiting for a promotion that never comes? In this episode, we break down why relying on your manager to define your growth is a career-limiting mistake and how you can take full ownership of your professional path.In this episode, we cover: Why hard skills get you hired but won't get you aheadHow to create growth opportunities when your company has no clear pathUsing RACI to own decisions and increase your visibilityConnect with Zanina:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaninakatiraReferences: RACI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrixTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:51 - Why hard skills get you hired but soft skills make you thrive 00:04:17 - How to connect your code to actual business results 00:06:44 - The art of storytelling for technical professionals 00:09:16 - Balancing execution speed with team collaboration 00:11:57 - The problem with forcing engineers into management roles 00:15:13 - Surviving when technology outgrows your current skillset 00:17:59 - Using the RACI method to clarify ownership and decisions 00:21:23 - What to do when your manager has no answers for your growth 00:24:40 - Why you should value scope of work over job titles 00:28:39 - How to pitch and negotiate impactful projects to leadership 00:33:00 - Expanding your perspective by networking outside your team 00:35:35 - Visualizing your ambition and defining what success looks like 00:39:16 - Overcoming the fear of asking for constructive feedback#careergrowth #softwareengineering #softskills

Software engineers often think adding AI is just a simple API call, but moving from a Proof of Concept to a stable production system requires a completely different mindset. Maria Vechtomova breaks down the harsh reality of MLOps, why rigorous evaluation is non-negotiable, and why autonomous agents are riskier than you think.In this episode, we cover:The essential MLOps principles every software engineer must learnHow to bridge the gap between a demo and a production-grade solutionStrategies for evaluating agents and detecting model driftThe security risks of customer service agents and prompt injectionPractical tips for using AI tools to boost your own productivityConnect with Maria:https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-vechtomovaTimestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:25 - Why the AI Hype Was Actually Good for Monitoring 00:03:07 - Real-World AI Use Cases That Deliver Actual Value 00:05:16 - MLOps Basics Every Software Engineer Needs to Know 00:08:08 - The Hidden Complexity of Deploying Agents to Production 00:12:02 - Minimum Requirements for Moving from PoC to Production 00:15:41 - Step-by-Step Guide to Evaluating AI Features Before Launch 00:18:08 - How to Handle Data Labeling and Drift Detection 00:21:55 - Why You Likely Need Custom Tools for Monitoring 00:24:56 - Why Engineers Build AI Features They Don't Need00:26:01 - How Software Engineers Can Learn Data Science Principles 00:31:36 - The Dangerous Security Risks of Autonomous Customer Service Agents 00:34:44 - Why Human-in-the-Loop is Essential for Avoiding Reputational Damage 00:36:18 - Boosting Developer Productivity with Opinionated AI Prompts 00:39:20 - Using Voice Notes and AI to Organize Your Life#MLOps #SoftwareEngineering #ArtificialIntelligence

Are your technical skills actually holding your career back? In this conversation with Anand Sahay, Global CEO of Xebia, we explore the controversial reality that "mediocre" engineers often climb the corporate ladder faster than technical wizards. And what you need to do to change that trajectory.In this episode, we cover:Why simplicity and business value beat complex code every timeThe specific mindset shift required to move from Senior Engineer to ExecutiveHow to maintain technical intuition and manage risk without micromanagingThe hidden arrogance that stops great engineers from becoming great leadersThis discussion is essential for software engineers, architects, and technical managers who want to break through the "tech ceiling" and understand how decisions are really made at the top.Connect with Anand:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ansahayTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:28 - How to Pitch to Executives (And Not Get Rejected) 00:03:42 - The #1 Trait of Elite Engineering Leaders 00:06:15 - Why AI Answers Destroy Your Credibility 00:10:11 - Why Mediocre Engineers Get Promoted Over Great Ones 00:14:15 - The Truth About the "Individual Contributor" Track 00:16:16 - The Arrogance Trap: Why Devs Fail at Business 00:22:08 - Stop Being a "One Man Army" (Unless You Do This) 00:25:32 - From Developer to CEO: The Uncommon Path 00:29:07 - Why Most Engineering Teams Are Structured Wrong 00:32:17 - How to Spot a Toxic Tech Culture 00:34:44 - Will AI Replace Senior Engineers? 00:38:40 - Maintaining Technical Intuition Without Coding Daily 00:41:53 - When to Approve "Bad" Ideas for Team Morale 00:48:41 - The "Hard Part First" Rule for Innovation#SoftwareEngineering #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth

Tools change and frameworks die, but your career doesn't have to. Marijn Markus joins the show to explain why "Don't be a fool with a tool" is the single most important piece of advice for modern software engineers and data professionals.In this episode, we cover:The "Meta-Skill" of learning how to learn new technologiesWhy real innovation often originates in "dark" industries like crime and warfareHow to future-proof your career against AI agents and automationWhy understanding the business problem is more valuable than writing the codeThis conversation is essential for engineers who want to move from memorizing syntax to mastering the skills that actually last.Connect with Marijn Markus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijnmarkusTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:01 - Realizing That Data Science Can Actually Save Lives00:04:36 - Predicting Refugee Movements With Hamburger Prices00:07:05 - Why You Should Try Different Roles Early in Your Career00:12:37 - Learning in Banking to Eventually Help Non-Profits00:15:38 - Why Certifications Are Compensation for Lack of Experience00:18:36 - The Single Most Important Skill in the Tech Field00:21:39 - "If They Understood the Problem, They Wouldn't Hire You"00:25:48 - Why Innovation Comes From War, Crime, and Adult Industries00:31:16 - The Danger of AI Agents and Automated Social Engineering00:35:03 - Focus on Skills That Do Not Have Expiration Dates00:39:47 - How to Navigate Truth in the Era of Deepfakes00:41:30 - Don't Be a Fool With a Tool (The Selenium Trap)00:45:25 - Rising Above the Tools to Become an Expert#SoftwareEngineering #CareerAdvice #Technology

Are you just executing tickets, or are you driving business impact?In this episode, Praveen Murugesan (VP of Engineering at Samsara) breaks down why the best engineers don't just write code and why "coding skills" alone won't get you there.He explains the critical shift from "software engineer" to "product engineer," why you shouldn't wait for permission to solve problems, and how to de-risk high-stakes projects like a true owner.In this episode, we cover:The difference between a "Ticket Taker" and a Product Engineer Why Product Managers should NOT be doing project management How to grow to Staff Engineer without managing a large team The exact interview questions to ask to test a company’s culture A real story of an engineer telling a VP: "That's not an important problem"Connect with Praveen Murugesan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveenmurugesanTimestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:55 - Product Engineer vs. Software Engineer: What’s the Difference? 00:06:20 - Why Product Managers Should Not Do Project Management 00:11:06 - The Danger of "Flying Blind" Without Business Context 00:15:24 - Why Curiosity Is the Ultimate Leverage in the AI Era 00:25:06 - Why the Best Ideas Must Win Regardless of Hierarchy 00:27:43 - The #1 Interview Question to Test for Engineering Ownership 00:32:12 - How to Test a Company’s Culture Before You Join 00:36:04 - Why You Don't Need to Be Senior to Be a Product Engineer 00:40:46 - Managing High-Stakes Projects and De-risking Failure 00:43:56 - What I Learned From Breaking Production at Salesforce 00:48:29 - The Myth About Staff Engineering and Managing Teams 00:51:59 - The Engineer Who Told the VP: "That's Not an Important Problem"#SoftwareEngineering #StaffEngineer #CareerGrowth