Blog

124: The Secret to Customer Experience that Engineers Need to Know with Annette Franz

124: The Secret to Customer Experience that Engineers Need to Know with Annette Franz

by | Aug 31, 2023 |

In this episode, meet the woman who (literally) wrote the book on Customer Understanding, Annette Franz.

We talk about the importance of understanding your customer as an engineer, not only to design great products, but to build a great career.

She started her career at J.D. Power and Associates in 1992, and has spent the last 30 years as a customer experience leader for dozens of brand names you would recognize, and in her own consulting firm. Annette was named one of “The 100 Most Influential Tech Women on Twitter” by Business Insider.

Annette says people come before products. You are going to want to know why, and what to do about it.

She is author of two powerful books, Customer Understanding: Three Ways to Put the “Customer” in Customer Experience (and at the Heart of Your Business), and Built to Win: Designing a Customer-Centric Culture That Drives Value for Your Business.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to bridge the gap between product and VOC for YOU.

read more
122: Engineering Hard Choices with Pete Hunt | The Face of Facebook’s React.js

122: Engineering Hard Choices with Pete Hunt | The Face of Facebook’s React.js

by | Aug 24, 2023 |

In this episode, we meet a leader who has gone from engineer, to CEO, then back to engineer, and back to CEO again, Pete Hunt.

If you want to make an impact through technology, and can’t decide if Fortune 100 or Inc. 1000 is right for you, or you struggle to make hard choices in engineering your career… then you are going to love learning from Pete.

In his early career, Pete led Instagram’s web team, built Instagram’s business analytics products, and helped to open source Facebook’s React.js (you can find him speaking at conferences around the world on YouTube).

After that, he co-founded and served as CEO of Smyte, an anti-abuse provider that was acquired by Twitter. During these experiences he discovered the keys to building and leading a data engineering team, and making hard choices like selecting an app’s tech stack.

Now, Pete is the CEO of Elementl which builds Dagster, an open-source data orchestration tool.

So press play and let’s chat… if 2 billion users are benefitting from Pete’s hard choices, you can too.

read more
117: Leadership Dilemma – When Do You Fire an Employee?

117: Leadership Dilemma – When Do You Fire an Employee?

by | Jul 31, 2023 |

In this episode, we tackle the sensitive topic of managing underperforming team members and making the tough decision to let someone go.

We dive into the balance of tough love versus extending grace, and how hard personal circumstances can impact an individual’s ability to perform.

We explore the question of whether empathy has been demonstrated in these situations, and share specific actions leaders must take to create A-player teams.

So press play and let’s chat… if you’re a leader or manager struggling with hiring and firing decisions, this episode is a must-listen.

read more
114: Do You Need a Vacation? Go from Escape to Energy by Shifting the Vacation Paradigm

114: Do You Need a Vacation? Go from Escape to Energy by Shifting the Vacation Paradigm

by | Jul 17, 2023 |

In this episode, I debunk the fallacy surrounding vacations as a remedy for work-related stress and dissatisfaction.

Summer is here and vacation plans are in the air. Join me as we explore a fresh mindset that encourages intentional time off for energy renewal, and a shift away from relying solely on vacations to address career burnout.

Discover practical strategies for achieving sustainable success and true rest that go beyond the traditional vacation narrative.

Get ready to redefine your approach to time off and unlock a new level of balance and fulfillment in your professional journey.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to rethink our vacation days!

read more
111: Morning Victory – 5 Habits of Mediocrity Engineering Leaders Must Avoid

111: Morning Victory – 5 Habits of Mediocrity Engineering Leaders Must Avoid

by | Jul 3, 2023 |

In this episode, learn from a recent conversation with Mark, an engineering leader facing burnout. His turnaround began by taking control of his life from the moment his feet hit the floor.

The fact is, you probably have habits that hinder your progress.

From snooze buttons to social media, I’ll show you how these 5 behaviors negatively impact your mindset and productivity. If you replace these bad habits with good ones, the results you can create in your career will compound over time.

Don’t underestimate the power of a mindful morning routine. There may be 1000 good options for what to do, but these 5 bad options you must avoid.

So press play and let’s chat… It’s time to start your day on the path to success!

read more