Building Diverse Engineering Teams | Erica Lockheimer

Building Diverse Engineering Teams | Erica Lockheimer

Author: Ronak Nathani, Guang Yang February 20, 2024 Duration: 1:20:22

Erica is a former VP of Engineering at LinkedIn. Having almost dropped out of college, Erica's journey in tech is a testament to her perseverance and dedication. In addition to leading engineering teams at LinkedIn, Erica founded WIT (Women In Tech) to empower women within the company as well as the broader tech community. We discuss:

  • How to create incentives for diversity-building work.

  • Building your personal "board of directors".

  • Balancing mentoring work vs sprint tickets.

  • Structuring a community for long-term success.

  • Much more.

 

Segments:

[0:18:04] building women-in-tech and the importance of leading by example

[0:21:17] creating incentives for diversity-building work

[0:23:30] examples of building better products with more diverse stakeholders

[0:29:48] how to spot red flags during the interview process

[0:32:51] do men and women bring different skill sets to the problem or it's all individual based?

[0:35:34] building your personal "board of directors"

[0:40:21] how to ask people for mentorship if I'm shy?

[0:44:21] exploring new projects

[0:53:32] how to hold yourself accountable when there's no structure?

[1:03:17] how to structure a community for long-term success

[1:10:22] how to balance mentoring work vs sprint tickets

[1:14:57] journey to being on the advisory board for SJU

 

Show Notes:

 

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Behind every line of code, there's a person with a story, and that's where Software Misadventures finds its pulse. Hosts Ronak Nathani and Guang Yang pull up a chair with engineers, founders, and investors, but the conversation rarely stays in the technical manual. Instead, it wanders into the human territory of career detours, hard-won insights, and those unpredictable stumbles that often teach the most. This podcast is built on the idea that the journey is just as important as the destination, especially in the fast-moving tech world. You'll hear guests recount the projects that went sideways, the decisions they'd rethink, and the moments of clarity that emerged from the chaos. It’s a refreshingly honest look at the industry, emphasizing that expertise isn't just about what you build, but what you learn when things don't go as planned. Tune in for conversations that are less about perfect solutions and more about the real, sometimes messy, process of creating with technology. Each episode offers a blend of professional wisdom and personal narrative, making it a compelling listen for anyone curious about the lives woven into our digital landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 55

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