Office Hours – Becoming a leader with Ankita Kulkarni

Ankita Kulkarni is an engineer manager and educator with more than 10 years of experience as a software engineer, now teaching developers about the transition into management.

When Ankita became a manager, she had to find mentors to help her learn the subtle intricacies of being a successful manager. Now, she’s taking what she learned and teaching developers about what that transition looks like, and how to decide if that’s how you’d like to further your career.

• - @kulkarniankita9: https://twitter.com/kulkarniankita9
• - @vcarl_: https://twitter.com/vcarl_
• - @reactiflux: https://twitter.com/reactiflux

Links referenced:

• 1. Engineering manager's mind map: https://bit.ly/3J7HzVC
• 2. Developer to Leader Program Waitlist: https://bit.ly/3Lb1Zj5
• 3. KulkarniAnkita.com: https://bit.ly/3ZyDYak

Topics discussed:

• [00:00:17] Being laid off as a bittersweet opportunity
• [00:01:32] Building databases at IBM and doing freelance web dev on the side
• [00:03:31] New appreciation for coworkers after freelancing
• [00:06:56] Getting her first management opportunity
• [00:08:15] Leadership vs management
• [00:11:28] Intrinsic motivation and finding a team that supports your goals
• [00:14:03] Developer to Leader program
• [00:15:50] How do you recognize a good leader?
• [00:17:42] Teams as a group of individuals
• [00:20:33] Psychological safety in software teams
• [00:23:01] Having empathy as a leader
• [00:27:25] Serving those you lead
• [00:29:06] Spotting burnout as a leader
• [00:30:27] Setting the tone on a team
• [00:32:27] Proactively setting team norms
• [00:34:49] Prioritizing your own growth as a leader
• [00:36:42] The value of informal chats
• [00:39:48] Soft skills in your career
• [00:40:50] How to get a taste of the management track

• (00:00) - Recording
• (00:17) - Being laid off as a bittersweet opportunity
• (01:32) - Building databases at IBM and doing freelance web dev on the side
• (03:31) - New appreciation for coworkers after freelancing
• (06:56) - Getting her first management opportunity
• (08:15) - Leadership vs management
• (11:28) - Intrinsic motivation and finding a team that supports your goals
• (14:03) - Developer to Leader program
• (15:50) - How do you recognize a good leader?
• (17:42) - Teams as a group of individuals
• (20:33) - Psychological safety in software teams
• (23:01) - Having empathy as a leader
• (27:25) - Serving those you lead
• (29:06) - Spotting burnout as a leader
• (30:27) - Setting the tone on a team
• (32:27) - Proactively setting team norms
• (34:49) - Prioritizing your own growth as a leader
• (36:42) - The value of informal chats
• (39:48) - Soft skills in your career
• (40:50) - How to get a taste of the management track