SE Radio 731: Sonali Varde on AI and the Engineering Manager Role

Sonali Varde, Senior Software Engineering Manager at LinkedIn, joins host Kanchan Shringi to discuss how AI is changing the role of the engineering manager. They explore how AI is showing up in day-to-day management work, including operational reviews, planning, communication, workflow automation, and preparation for leadership discussions.

The conversation looks at how engineering teams are adopting AI tools and agents, what kinds of skills and practices are becoming more important, and how managers can think about context, review, testing, and operational rigor as AI-assisted development becomes more common. They also discuss how AI affects coaching, performance conversations, hiring, onboarding, team composition, and collaboration with peers and leadership. The episode considers both the opportunities and limits of AI for engineering management, with attention to human judgment, curiosity, ownership, and the continuing importance of technical and organizational understanding.