Engineer's guide to startup advising | Kelsey Hightower

Engineer's guide to startup advising | Kelsey Hightower

Author: Ronak Nathani, Guang Yang April 2, 2024 Duration: 49:50

We're super excited to have Kelsey back on the show! Our last conversation was around his incredible career journey - from working at McDonald's after school to starting his own computer store, to hacking on python infrastructure with the core developers, to meeting Satya Nadella for an interview.

In part one of this conversation, we dive deep into Kelsey's experiences and expertise as a startup advisor:

  • How to break into advising when you don't have a lot of connections

  • How to influence without authority

  • Passive vs. active advising

  • How to add value as an advisor

  • Setting boundaries and expectations

  • Much more

 

Segments:

[0:01:53] Being a "junior retiree"

[0:11:00] How Kelsey got started with startup advising.

[0:17:43] How to avoid mismatches in advisory engagements?

[0:27:23] How to influence without authority as an advisor?

[0:32:58] How to establish boundaries as an advisor.

[0:38:29] Actions engineers can take today to prepare themselves for future startup advising roles.

[0:42:55] How to manage the balance between advising and your primary job.

[0:44:32] How to cultivate perspectives beyond engineering.

 

Show Notes:

 

Stay in touch:

👋 Make Ronak's day by leaving us a review and let us know who we should talk to next! hello@softwaremisadventures.com


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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