Code Saiyan

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Management

Turns out managing people is nothing like managing a codebase, and pretending otherwise is how you end up with a team that ships bugs and burnout in equal measure. Lessons from actually being in the seat — the good calls, the ones I'd take back, and the ones I'm still not sure about.

The Managerial Immune System: How Leadership Protects Itself 🧬🔥

The Managerial Immune System: How Leadership Protects Itself 🧬🔥

Managers are protected by a “managerial immune system” — ICs are judged on measurable output while managers are judged on vibes. If we want better leadership, we need real expectations, real metrics, and real consequences.

🧭 The Uneven Tracks of Engineering Careers

🧭 The Uneven Tracks of Engineering Careers

ICs must prove they can do the job before they’re promoted. Managers are promoted first, then given years to prove they can do the job. Until both tracks are held to the same standard of readiness and accountability, engineering culture will remain uneven.

People, Not Resources ❤️ A Valentine’s Reminder for Managers

People, Not Resources ❤️ A Valentine’s Reminder for Managers

This Valentine’s Day, show your team some real love—by never calling them “resources” again. People want to feel seen, valued, and supported. Not allocated like office supplies. 💝

⚔️ The Raid Leader’s Guide to Engineering Teams

⚔️ The Raid Leader’s Guide to Engineering Teams

When the Demogorgon shows up, you’d better have the right party. In Part 2 of my RPG series, I share how to balance your engineering team like a pro — from role gaps to flex builds to knowing when your party’s become a guild.

🎭 Role-Playing Archetypes of Engineers (Stranger Things Have Happened)

🎭 Role-Playing Archetypes of Engineers (Stranger Things Have Happened)

Engineering teams are like RPG parties: tanks, mages, rogues, and healers all working together. Here’s how I think about engineer archetypes — and why I lead like a Raid Leader, not the hero. 🎮✨

The Many Faces of Power: A Field Guide to Leaders Who Rise, Rule, and Ruin

The Many Faces of Power: A Field Guide to Leaders Who Rise, Rule, and Ruin

Watching today’s world stage made me reflect on the leaders I’ve worked with up close. Not emperors or generals, but executives, managers, and founders. Different scale, same patterns. This is a field guide to leadership archetypes that rise in uncertainty and what they quietly cost us.

Make the Backlog Work for You, Not the Other Way Around 🪵

Make the Backlog Work for You, Not the Other Way Around 🪵

A backlog is not a to-do list, a feature dump, or a trash bin of ideas. It’s a communication tool. If it’s not reflecting user value and team focus, it’s working against you. Here’s how to fix that.