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Newsletter archive
AI agents and the missing link in DevOps
AI agents aren’t just assistants anymore – they’re making decisions. Are engineers ready for the shift or are they just too skeptical?
Carving out time for large-scale engineering chores
Determine what to prioritize, set out a path, and be prepared for some hiccups along the way.
Encouraging a passion for productivity
In this edition of DirectorPlus, Neha Batra, VP of Engineering at GitHub, explains how she creates a culture of productivity.
Framing AI rollouts in the right light
How can you introduce AI into teams in a way that doesn’t invite unrest within your org? It starts with presenting it in the right light.
Latest
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Why AI economics are fundamentally broken
Making money from software is not the same equation in the AI era.
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If 95% of generative AI pilots fail, what’s going wrong?
Learning the right lessons from that MIT study
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New study suggests major productivity boost when using Cursor’s coding agent
Is this the massive productivity benefit we’ve been waiting for?
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How to go back to being a technical engineering manager
A guide for getting back to hands-on management.
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Shadow AI is leaving software teams dangerously exposed
Two thirds of organizations report exploits involving vulnerable LLM code.
Deadline: January 4, 2026
Call for Proposals for London 2026 is open!
Essential reading
What is a Director of Engineering? The glue keeping engineering together
A director of engineering is responsible for keeping an entire engineering function humming. Find out what skills you need to climb the ladder to this vital position.
On our DirectorPlus playlist
Strategies to hone commercial awareness and drive business outcomes
Learn effective strategies for enhancing commercial awareness in tech teams, turning engineering into a business driver through alignment, impactful initiatives, and stakeholder engagement.
The path from Director to CTO: How to follow it, or how to mentor it
This talk is aimed at both aspiring Chief Technology Officers and those who are in a position to mentor future CTOs. Explore the journey from a Director of Engineering role to a CTO, focusing on the skills and experiences needed for this transition and how experienced leaders can guide others on this path.
Making the manager of manager’s mindset
Suzan Bond covers the difference between the two roles and the key mindset shifts leaders need to make to manage managers.
The festival for modern engineering leadership
London • June 2 & 3, 2026
More for managers of managers
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How leaders can beat the first quarter slump
After the buzz of New Years Eve and all the aspirations that follow fizzle out, what can you do to regain some momentum?
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How to combat bias in the hiring process
Don’t let bias dictate your next hire and make hiring decisions based on skills, not gut feelings.
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AI agents and the missing link in DevOps
AI agents aren’t just assistants anymore – they’re making decisions. Are engineers ready for the shift or are they just too skeptical?
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How the scales tipped against tech workers
The bosses are back in charge and expectations for what a job in tech looks like is changing rapidly. Is the industry losing its lustre?
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The 6 warning signs of overengineering
How to look for the signs of overengineering in software, why it happens, and how to prevent unnecessary complexity to build maintainable systems.
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How banks caught up in the battle for developer talent
Who will win the battle of big banks vs big tech jobs?
Videos for managers of managers
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Debugging the most critical relationship in your work life: How to work better with an imperfect boss
Many bosses, despite their best efforts, struggle with communication, delegation, and career support for their teams. This talk explores how to navigate the complexities of working with your boss, balancing honesty with career impact, and building a more effective partnership.
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Metrics, KPIs & Developer Experience: Rethinking measurement for high-performing teams
This talk challenges traditional engineering metrics, exploring how to balance KPIs with developer experience using frameworks like SPACE, ensuring teams achieve great results without burnout.
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Balancing direction and empowerment
In this talk, Lara Hogan shares how to balance being empowering and being directive as a leader, as well as when you should switch up your approach.
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The performance curve: A legacy model in modern disguise
A critique of modern performance management, exposing its flawed assumptions and hidden biases, while offering actionable insights for leaders to build fairer, more effective systems that align with their morals and modern organizational goals.
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The sprinter’s leadership mindset
What engineering leaders can learn from the discipline, focus, and strategy of a sprinter.
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Training innovation: The key to long-term success
Innovation doesn’t just happen – it’s a skill that must be trained. Learn practical techniques for fostering innovation in engineering teams, from mindset shifts to structured frameworks.
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Rebuilding trust: Leadership after layoffs
In today’s tech landscape, layoffs have become cyclical events. This talk examines the modern layoff process and provides strategies for rebuilding team trust.
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Leader or engineer? Navigating our technical identity crisis
Am I still technical enough? What does my team think?
Drawing from the hard-won lessons of a leadership initiative for 250 engineers, this talk uncovers unexpected truths in the conflict between technical depth and leadership.
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In partnership with ReveloEngineering leadership playbook, 2025: Three lessons every engineering leader needs this year
Learn three key lessons to lead AI adoption, build remote teams, and strengthen engineering culture.
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Global teams, seamless success: Managing diverse engineers for high-impact deliveries
Learn how to tackle the real challenges of managing global engineering teams – avoiding miscommunication, preventing team friction, and ensuring accountability – so you can drive on-time deliveries and build a motivated team that delivers quality software.
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Shaped by demand: The power of fluid teams
Discover how Demand-Led Planning enables teams of up to 200 people to reorganise quarterly and succeed without stable, long-lived teams.
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Lost and alone over the Pacific
On December 22, 1978, veteran US Navy pilot Jay Prochnow found himself lost over the Pacific after a navigation failure during a solo ferry flight. With no land in sight and nightfall approaching, he had to find a way to survive. This is the story of how he navigated out of the crisis – and what we can learn from his experience.