engineering leadership Archives

212: Two Major Announcements and One Big Thank You

by Max Ahumada | Mar 17, 2025 | Podcast

In this episode, I have two major announcements to share with you.

First, The Happy Engineer Podcast is pressing pause as we wrap up Season 1. Don’t worry—it’s not the end forever, but it’s time to focus my energy on scaling the impact of our Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint coaching program. My mission is to help engineering leaders accelerate their careers without burning out, and the demand for coaching has grown beyond what I can balance alongside the podcast.

The second big announcement? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out..

I want to say a huge thank you for your support—this community has been incredible, and we’re just getting started.

So press play and let’s chat… about what’s next for The Happy Engineer Podcast and how you can still grow with us.

211: Critical Growth Lessons from Software Engineer to CEO with Daniel Loreto | Founder & CEO at Jetify

by Max Ahumada | Mar 10, 2025 | Podcast

Tune in for the critical growth lessons from starting software engineer all the way to Founder & CEO.

How do you manage up? What matters most in big tech vs startups? Why do some leaders burn out and others make it?

Daniel Loreto is the founder and CEO of Jetify, a startup offering a suite of tools to accelerate and simplify cloud application development and deployment.

Before founding Jetify, Daniel held senior engineering roles at Google, Twitter, and Airbnb, where he led the development of Airbnb Luxe. He also served as VP of Engineering at $2B startup Vitra.

Daniel completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science at MIT.

So press play and let’s chat… these lessons are worth their weight in career gold!

210: The 3 Levels of Mentorship and Why Engineers Struggle to Find Mentors

by Max Ahumada | Mar 3, 2025 | Podcast

In this episode, I break down the #1 reason why most engineering leaders struggle to find great mentors—and how to fix it. If you’ve ever felt unsure about who to ask, how to build that relationship, or whether you even need a mentor, you’re not alone. I walk you through a simple, three-level framework that takes you from getting advice to securing a sponsor—someone who will actually go to bat for you when it matters most.

Plus, we take a page from Tony Robbins’ playbook on how he built a world-class network of mentors to fast-track his success. I’ll share practical strategies you can use right now to expand your circle, make the right asks, and unlock career-changing relationships.

If you’re tired of waiting for growth to happen and ready to take control of your future, this episode is for you.

So press play and let’s chat… about the mentors who will change your career.

209: How to Land Your Dream Job Without Blindly Applying Online

by Max Ahumada | Feb 24, 2025 | Podcast

Are you tired of job hunting and networking advice that isn’t even realistic?

“Go have coffee with someone every day for 40 days.”

Sure thing coach, and meanwhile you can do my job for me and come babysit my kids!

In this episode, you will meet Cassandra Thompson, a globally recognized speaker whose work casting contestants for Wheel of Fortune, strategizing on the recruitment team at Riot Games, and coaching ambitious professionals made her into a networking paragon.

She has helped over 100,000 subscribed job-seekers on YouTube, sharing her powerful insights and advice in free video coaching with MILLIONS of views.

Near the end of our chat, Cassandra shares two things you MUST NOT DO when preparing for a career move.

So press play and let’s chat… because your next role is right around the corner!

Then join The Happy Engineer Community online and get access to bonus content and coaching in our free group >>

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehappyengineer

208: Do You Make This Common Mistake in Engineering Management?

by Max Ahumada | Feb 17, 2025 | Podcast

In this episode, I share the story of Greg, who found himself trapped in a lose-lose leadership dilemma—step in and fix his team’s mistakes, or delegate and risk failure. Sound familiar?

Greg had been making great progress in his leadership journey, but when pressure hit, he fell back into old habits of doing instead of leading. The result? More hours, more stress, and creeping burnout.

Together, we unpacked the real issue—not just delegation, but the hidden cost of keeping underperformers on the team. I share the most important leadership question that will transform how you assess and develop your team, and we break down the two clear choices every leader must make: coach them up, or coach them out.

If you’ve ever struggled with letting go of work, managing underperformance, or balancing leadership with workload, this one’s for you.

So press play and let’s chat… Are you leading your team, or covering for them?

206: The Best Advice You Can Give Someone Looking for Success

by Max Ahumada | Feb 3, 2025 | Podcast

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you push, your goals just aren’t happening fast enough?

A few episodes ago, I talked about the worst advice I’ve ever heard, and today, we’re flipping the script. I’ll take you back to a pivotal coaching session where I realized my frustration with “slow progress” was actually self-imposed. I’ll also share two experiences—one at an amusement park and another in my business—that taught me the power of patience, surrender, and presence.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not moving fast enough toward your goals, this episode is for you. You’ll learn why chasing speed can actually slow you down and how shifting your mindset can make your vision a reality sooner than you think.

So press play and let’s chat…are you stuck in the waiting game or embracing the ride?

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