Many years ago, I had someone on my team—let’s call him Raj. Raj was one of the sharpest software architects I’ve ever worked with. He designed elegant systems, solved the gnarliest problems, and quietly earned deep respect from his peers. When promotion season came, I was confident he was ready. But in the leadership review, …
Recently, a former Amazon GM posted a sarcastic message on LinkedIn outlining six “best practices” to get promoted in tech. His list included the following advice: Not everyone on LinkedIn immediately recognized the satire in this post. Some were offended, while others—perhaps uneasily—acknowledged that these tactics, unfortunately, can be effective. Climbing the Ladder: At What …
I remember preparing for a high-stakes conversation about a critical project that was in trouble early in my leadership career. The project was behind schedule, stakeholders were frustrated, and there was a real risk of damaging our credibility with a key customer. I needed to align my team, manage expectations, and find a way forward—all …
What factors influenced your decision to choose Art as your coach?During my initial introduction call with Art, I was immediately impressed by his extensive knowledge and expertise in the leadership space. My primary goal was to transition from being an individual contributor to becoming an effective and authentic leader. Art quickly identified the gaps in …
I wasn’t always good at delivering bad news to my manager. It wasn’t that I was afraid to do it—after all, I worked for companies that prioritized learning from failures rather than punishing mistakes. My challenge was different: I wanted to communicate the news in a way that would lead to a productive conversation and …
As of early 2025, 6.8 million people in the U.S. are unemployed, with a 4.0% unemployment rate (BLS.gov). In technology sector, unemployment increased to 2.9%, up from 2.0% at the end of 2024 (HR Dive). That means many of us have friends, former colleagues, or acquaintances reaching out for help with their job search. We’re …
As a tech leader, I’ve often found myself caught in the trap of needing to be right. It’s how many of us are wired—after all, in tech, precision matters. If I hear something that’s incorrect, my instinct is to jump in and correct it right away. It’s like spotting a bug in code—you don’t leave …
I’ve wanted to write about skip-level meetings for a while now. Let’s starting with a definition. A skip-level meeting is a one-on-one interaction between a senior leader and an employee who is two or more levels below them in the organizational hierarchy. Throughout my leadership career, these conversations have been more than just a management …
The end of the year is a natural time for reflection and forward planning. Many people take stock of the months gone by and set their sights on new beginnings. This is why New Year’s resolutions remain a popular tradition year after year. However, there’s an inherent challenge: most New Year’s resolutions fail to stick. …
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the joy of sharing warm and festive greetings with friends and family. This time of year also offers a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with people we may have drifted apart from, including those in our professional networks. You might be wondering, “Why would I want …
