Engineering management can look glamorous from the outside — but behind the scenes, it’s often a mix of tough calls, emotional juggling, and constant context switching. In this episode, we’re diving into the hard parts of being an engineering manager — from staying technical and handling conflict, to managing up, balancing expectations, and keeping your own sanity along the way.

06:04: Feeling productive 09:25: Staying technical 10:21: Handling conflicts 18:47: Balancing stakeholder expectations 21:30: Career growth 25:59: Isolation and pressure

In this episode, we explore how to become an effective engineering manager—even without a technical background. We’ll unpack what the role truly entails, how to leverage your strengths in communication, strategy, and people management, and ways to bridge technical gaps with curiosity and trust. Whether you’re transitioning from another field or stepping into your first EM role, this episode will help you lead confidently and earn the respect of your engineering team.

06:52: Why technical expertise is helpful but not essential 11:18: What is the role of an EM? 13:50: Non-technical strengths 17:19: Bridging the technical gap 21:21: Earning respect from engineers 25:02: Learning / Growth strategies 28:48: Impostor syndrome

In this episode, we’ll dig into how managers can balance output, impact, and quality, set meaningful goals, and coach engineers toward growth — not just manage them. We’ll also tackle how to handle underperformance, keep top talent motivated, and build teams that stay engaged without burning out.

02:04 - Why do we measure engineering performance? 03:40 - How to measure engineering performance 11:08 - SMART goals 18:39 - Handling underperformers 27:00 - Motivating and retaining high performers

Hiring great engineers is one of the most important—and difficult—parts of an engineering manager’s job. In this episode, we break down the full hiring journey: from writing effective job descriptions and structuring interviews to evaluating candidates and making the final call. We’ll also touch on building inclusive processes, avoiding common hiring pitfalls, and how to spot not just skill, but potential. Whether you're scaling a team or making your first hire, this episode is your playbook for hiring with intention.

• 02:04 Recruiting
• 08:13 Interview process
• 16:48 Team dynamics and collaboration
• 32:14 Cultural and values alignment

Remote work is here to stay—but managing a distributed engineering team comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. In this episode, we dive into what it takes to lead remote engineers effectively. From building trust and maintaining team cohesion to running productive async meetings and handling time zone differences, we cover the key habits and tools that make remote engineering teams thrive. Whether you're leading your first remote team or refining your remote leadership style, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply right away.

• 02:56 Setting yourself up for success
• 03:20 Communication
• 08:46 Building trust
• 30:30 Collaboration and innovation

Episode Notes

Engineering managers sit at the intersection of tech, product, and people—which means collaboration is key. In this episode, we explore how to build strong working relationships with product managers and stakeholders. From setting clear expectations and communicating progress to managing competing priorities and navigating tough conversations, we’ll share strategies to align teams and drive outcomes. Whether you're in a startup or a large org, this episode will help you lead more effectively across functions.

• 03:45 Product managers
• 10:58 Designers
• 18:57 Other stakeholders
• 22:40 How to build strong relationships

Episode Notes

As an engineering manager, project management isn’t just a skill—it’s part of the job. In this episode, we unpack what effective project management looks like from the EM seat. From setting realistic timelines and tracking progress to balancing technical depth with stakeholder expectations, we explore how to keep projects on track without becoming a bottleneck. Whether you're new to the role or looking to sharpen your execution game, this episode offers practical advice to help you lead projects with confidence and clarity.

• 02:08 Fundamentals of project management
• 05:28 The project lifecycle
• 06:24 Planning and estimation
• 17:01 Measuring progress
• 23:09 Handling scope creep
• 31:13 Communication and stakeholder management

Episode Notes

The first 90 days in any new role are crucial—but as a new engineering manager, they can make or break your trajectory. In this episode, we dive into how to approach your first three months with intention and clarity. From building trust with your team to understanding your new responsibilities, setting expectations, and avoiding common pitfalls, we lay out a roadmap to help you start strong. Whether you're stepping into management for the first time or looking to reset in a new role, this episode is your essential onboarding guide.

• 01:22 Our first 90 days as EMs
• 13:58 Building a new team vs. taking over an existing team
• 20:34 Observing to learn
• 25:07 Understanding the business and tech strategies
• 26:02 Building influence
• 31:09 Common pitfalls

Episode Notes

Stepping into management for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming. In this episode, we explore the critical shift from individual contributor to engineering manager—what changes, what stays the same, and what new challenges emerge. We’ll discuss common misconceptions, the mindset shift required, and practical tips for navigating your first few months in the role. Whether you're considering the move or already in the thick of it, this episode offers guidance to help you lead with confidence and clarity.

• 03:30 Responsibilities of an IC vs. EM
• 09:05 Shifting to delegation
• 15:04 Conflict resolution
• 26:31 Team development vs. individual performance
• 37:31 Communication

Find out more at https://ladybug-podcast.pinecast.co

Episode Notes

• 02:52 What is engineering management?
• 05:27 Why are we qualified to discuss this?
• 12:20 What are EMs responsible for?
• 14:38 The difference between an EM and Tech Lead
• 24:15 Key skills of an EM
• 32:37 Challenges with engineering management

Resources

• Crucial Conversations
• The Making of a Manager

What is a typical day in the life like for a software engineer? To close out Season 6, we thought it’d be a great idea to give you some insight into our workdays, as we all have very different roles and are in different stages of our careers.

Show Notes

• [02:54] Morning routines
• [16:09] Beginning of the workday
• [28:15] The rest of the workday
• [49:03] Evenings and weekends
• [53:57] Top 3 tools for productivity

Resources

• Any.do
• Fantastical
• Canva
• Things
• Superhuman
• Trello
• Apple Watch
• Markdown Notes
• Asana
• Resilient Management
• Animedoro
• Can Do writing
• The Little Memory
• Ali’s Trello Setup

Transcript

Here is this week's transcript