Author of The Engineering Leader Newsletter https://newsletter.rafapaez.com 📥
It’s not favoritism.
It’s trust, credibility, and relationships.
Today's newsletter:
🔹 3 core pillars
🔹 Why high agency isn’t enough
🔹 2 simple visuals
What’s 1 thing you do to build social capital?
It’s not favoritism.
It’s trust, credibility, and relationships.
Today's newsletter:
🔹 3 core pillars
🔹 Why high agency isn’t enough
🔹 2 simple visuals
What’s 1 thing you do to build social capital?
I thought only my mom would read. Now it's 2k engineers and leaders reading it every week.
Huge thanks for every read, like, share.
Not onboard? Subscribe in 2 seconds (link in my bio)
I thought only my mom would read. Now it's 2k engineers and leaders reading it every week.
Huge thanks for every read, like, share.
Not onboard? Subscribe in 2 seconds (link in my bio)
The first learned to decode the system.
Every company runs on two playbooks:
1. The official one: what they tell you.
2. The real one: what actually works.
The first learned to decode the system.
Every company runs on two playbooks:
1. The official one: what they tell you.
2. The real one: what actually works.
No endless take-homes.
No 8-round interview marathons.
These are just 3 of my 7 non-negotiables for a fair interview process.
Full list in my latest newsletter.
What are your own non-negotiables when you're on the candidate side?
No endless take-homes.
No 8-round interview marathons.
These are just 3 of my 7 non-negotiables for a fair interview process.
Full list in my latest newsletter.
What are your own non-negotiables when you're on the candidate side?
Every title on this list nudged my thinking, sharpened my leadership, or helped me see the world a shade clearer.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 👇
Every title on this list nudged my thinking, sharpened my leadership, or helped me see the world a shade clearer.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 👇
This Sunday, I’m dropping a bold, controversial take that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Not on the list yet?
📥 Subscribe now and don’t miss it (check my bio)
This Sunday, I’m dropping a bold, controversial take that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Not on the list yet?
📥 Subscribe now and don’t miss it (check my bio)
Being passive will.
Silent layoffs quietly phase out low-agency engineers—the ones who wait for instructions instead of shaping outcomes.
Being passive will.
Silent layoffs quietly phase out low-agency engineers—the ones who wait for instructions instead of shaping outcomes.
That’s flow, and it’s where your best work lives.
In my latest post, I div into how to reach it, protect it, and lead teams that thrive in it.
open.substack.com/pub/rafapaez...
That’s flow, and it’s where your best work lives.
In my latest post, I div into how to reach it, protect it, and lead teams that thrive in it.
open.substack.com/pub/rafapaez...
But it is rapidly transforming what it means to be an engineer.
In my latest newsletter issue, "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀)", I explore how AI is reshaping our profession:
newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/the-end-of...
But it is rapidly transforming what it means to be an engineer.
In my latest newsletter issue, "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀)", I explore how AI is reshaping our profession:
newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/the-end-of...
Great leadership is about trust, not control.
Great leadership is about trust, not control.
It sounds harmless. But hidden in that simple question, there is a can of worms just waiting to explode.
If you’ve been around long enough in tech, you’ve probably lived some version of this drama.
So how do we fix it?
It sounds harmless. But hidden in that simple question, there is a can of worms just waiting to explode.
If you’ve been around long enough in tech, you’ve probably lived some version of this drama.
So how do we fix it?
Your job isn't just about assigning tasks; it's about crafting an environment where each individual thrives and collectively lifts the team.
Your job isn't just about assigning tasks; it's about crafting an environment where each individual thrives and collectively lifts the team.
100x Product Engineers vibe coding. Startups moving at crazy speed. Leaders in founder mode.
Good luck leading by the book.
But there's a way to thrive: Introducing Vibe Leading. 👇
100x Product Engineers vibe coding. Startups moving at crazy speed. Leaders in founder mode.
Good luck leading by the book.
But there's a way to thrive: Introducing Vibe Leading. 👇
With GenAI lowering the barrier, some managers are returning to code, not out of failure, but love for building.
Have you seen this shift?
Ever thought about going back?
With GenAI lowering the barrier, some managers are returning to code, not out of failure, but love for building.
Have you seen this shift?
Ever thought about going back?
Well, it does—if your goal is to destroy your team.
Inexperienced managers often confuse:
– Visibility for impact
– Lone-wolf heroes with team multipliers
– Flashy achievements with long-lasting results
Well, it does—if your goal is to destroy your team.
Inexperienced managers often confuse:
– Visibility for impact
– Lone-wolf heroes with team multipliers
– Flashy achievements with long-lasting results
But what exactly does 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 mean? Is it just about short-term, flashy achievements — or should it be something more?
Today's newsletter article is a guest post from Jose Parreño Garcia: newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/measuring-...
But what exactly does 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 mean? Is it just about short-term, flashy achievements — or should it be something more?
Today's newsletter article is a guest post from Jose Parreño Garcia: newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/measuring-...
Great managers do not simply demand more. They create the conditions for sustainable high performance. 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱.
👉 Read more here: newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/sustaining...
Great managers do not simply demand more. They create the conditions for sustainable high performance. 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱.
👉 Read more here: newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/sustaining...
1/ You realize you love it: leadership, team growth, strategic thinking, and all the challenges it brings
2/ You quickly realize it’s not your road: you urgently steer back toward the technical path (just like the car below!)
Have you ever taken this detour?
1/ You realize you love it: leadership, team growth, strategic thinking, and all the challenges it brings
2/ You quickly realize it’s not your road: you urgently steer back toward the technical path (just like the car below!)
Have you ever taken this detour?
What if actively choosing not to chase promotions could become one of your best career decisions?
What if actively choosing not to chase promotions could become one of your best career decisions?
Speed is crucial, but it’s pointless if you’re building the wrong thing
To succeed, you need:
✅ SPEED: Move quickly to stay ahead.
✅ DIRECTION: Focus on what creates real impact.
Don’t just race—race toward the right finish line.
Speed is crucial, but it’s pointless if you’re building the wrong thing
To succeed, you need:
✅ SPEED: Move quickly to stay ahead.
✅ DIRECTION: Focus on what creates real impact.
Don’t just race—race toward the right finish line.
Have you met an engineer who’s not just a coding genius, but also a product visionary and an AI-savvy leader?
They deliver 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝘅 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁—or more.
Have you met an engineer who’s not just a coding genius, but also a product visionary and an AI-savvy leader?
They deliver 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝘅 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁—or more.