Beyond The Build

• EP8: Winning Over Your Manager, Director & VP - The One-on-One Playbook

  Send us a textIn this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the critical skill every engineer needs, but few are taught: how to collaborate with leadership. From one-on-ones with your manager to hallway chats with directors and VPs, we cover what you should be saying, asking, and sharing to make your work more visible, effective, and aligned.We break down the types of conversations to have, how to tailor your updates to different levels of leadership, how to ask for feedback, and how to make sure your work doesn’t get lost in translation. Plus, we unpack the power of brag sheets and how to use them without sounding like, well, a jerk.

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• EP7: Structuring Meetings for Success: Write, Align, and Act

  Send us a textIn this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the art of running effective engineering meetings. We break down different types of meetings, when you should prep with documents (and how to write good pre-reads), how to align with key people before a big meeting, and why every meeting should have clear outcomes before it even starts.We also discuss how to structure meetings based on who's attending, the power of AI tools to automate note-taking, and how to turn meetings into action—not just another calendar event.Whether you’re a tech lead or an engineer, you’ll get practical tips to make your meetings shorter, more effective, and outcome-driven.Tune in to transform your meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools for team alignment and productivity!

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  25:39
• EP6: Work-Life Balance In Tech - The Hidden Cost of Climbing the Ladder

  Send us a textIf you’ve ever questioned whether your job title comes at the cost of your freedom, this one’s for you.In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the messy reality of work-life balance in tech—especially as your role and responsibilities grow. We ask the tough question: Is balance even possible once you start owning important projects or teams?From seasonal workloads to title-based expectations, we explore how your career trajectory affects your ability to unplug and whether balance is something you can maintain—or something that shifts with context.We also share personal experiences and offer practical tips on how to reduce the “work” and push for more “life,” even in high-ownership roles.

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  20:26
• EP5: Are You Smart Enough To Be A Software Engineer?

  Send us a textIn this episode of Beyond the Build, we open up about something nearly every software engineer faces but rarely talks about — imposter syndrome. From feeling like we’re not “technical enough” to questioning whether we belong in the rooms we’ve worked hard to get into, we share our personal stories, struggles, and how imposter syndrome has shown up throughout our careers.We also dive into the clever strategies and mindset shifts that have helped us push through those moments of doubt — including things we've learned from peers, mentors, and the job itself.If you've ever felt like you're faking it or waiting to be "found out," this one’s for you.

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• EP4: Developing "Taste" As A Software Engineer

  Send us a textIn this episode, Ope and I break down what it really takes to build strong technical skills as a software engineer. We go beyond just writing code and dive into how to deliberately sharpen your expertise by:Building a portfolio of projects that showcase your abilitiesDeveloping taste in engineering and writing about what you learnSurrounding yourself with an environment that pushes you to grow (or creating one if it doesn’t exist)Seeking scale—working on problems that challenge youAsking the right people for problems to solve—and actually following throughAnd, of course, we emphasize something engineers often forget: taking care of yourself. Knowing when to disconnect and have fun is just as important as grinding through hard problems.This episode is packed with practical insights for software engineers at any stage. Whether you're early in your career or looking to sharpen your edge, you'll walk away with actionable advice.

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