Preparing for Your First VP of Engineering Role | Honeycomb VPE, Emily Nakashima
Plus, why velocity is an overrated engineering KPI, explicit vs. implicit mentorship, and how devs are reacting to the first AI software engineer
On this week’s episode, host
sits down with Emily Nakashima, VP of Engineering at Honeycomb.io, to discuss how you can prepare to be a VP of Engineering, and how the role differs among companies. Being a VPE varies based on company size, culture, and the existing team's makeup, and Emily provides valuable advice for engineers aspiring to leadership positions.Emily also discusses using personality tests for better team dynamics and the need for regular self-evaluation as an integral part of career advancement. The conversation closes by talking about the impact of AI on the workforce, the importance of aligning engineering and business goals, and the potential of AI to enhance rather than replace human skills.
“ This was actually a mistake I made when I first took on an executive role where I really expected to show up representing my function, and fairly quickly I went, oh, this is the wrong way to think about this.
Once I switched and said, ‘this is a team that's trying to solve a problem together,’ that ended up being a much healthier approach.”
Episode Highlights:
01:27 Why does Emily think there isn't a standard VP of Engineering role?
06:29 The archetypes of the VPE role
10:15 How does the VPE role change as an organization grows?
14:46 Preparing to become a VP of Engineering before you get the role
20:11 How you can use personality tests in organizational design
26:00 How is the VP of Engineering role changing in 2024?
30:53 Teams are having to accept realities about production software with regards to AI
The Download
The Download is engineering leadership content we’re reading, watching, and attending that we think you might find valuable.
1. The First AI Software Engineer and How Devs Are Responding
AI’s rapid acceleration has led to countless speculations on whether AI will replace developers. Now with Cognition premiering the first AI software engineer, Devin, devs are feeling the pressure and taking to Twitter to let Cognition know how they feel. Meanwhile, others are asking: how good is Devin really?
Read more from 80LV’s recent article detailing the launch and the community’s reaction: Researchers Unveil Devin, the First AI Software Engineer
What do you think Devin’s impact will be on developers? Let us know in the comments
2. Why Velocity is an Overrated Engineering KPI
has been working on an engineering productivity survey, and in last week’s newsletter, he previews that two metrics at the forefront are Cycle Time and Velocity. Luca goes on to explain how Velocity isn’t actually a productivity measure due to the arbitrary nature of story points. We’ve heard this sentiment from leaders like Stack Overflow’s Ben Matthews and our host Dan Lines — outside of sprint planning, velocity is a dangerous metric.
Modern Practices for Goal Setting in Software Engineering (Sponsor)
How do the best engineering organizations leverage goal-setting to drive predictable software delivery?
LinearB has worked with 3,000+ orgs to effectively track their KPIs and set goals, and will share the best practices they’ve discovered in their next workshop on March 26th & 28th.
You'll learn:
The data that drives effective goal-setting in software development
The strategies elite engineering organizations use when setting their OKRs and KPI goals
Real-life examples of successful companies that use goal setting to drive predictable software delivery
And you'll take home a how-to guide and a reporting slide deck for you to leverage. Register below, and take the next step toward driving better business results with effective goal-setting.
3. Explicit vs. Implicit Mentorship
Mentorship can fast-track career growth for ICs and engineering leaders alike. People typically think of explicit mentorship, learning one-on-one with a mentor, but learning through implicit mentorship and collaborating with someone exceptionally skilled can be just as valuable.
4. The Promise of Platform Engineering with Honeycomb’s Charity Majors
Honeycomb CTO and Co-founder
’s DI episodes are a fan favorite and a favorite from our host Dan Lines. Coinciding with Emily’s episode release, we figured it would be a great time to re-share Charity’s last episode on the Promise of Platform Engineering.Upcoming Events
Modern Practices for Goal Setting in Software Engineering
March 26, 28 | Online
Highlights: Effective goal setting is crucial for driving predictable software delivery. LinearB’s workshop, tailored for engineering leaders, will dive into the data and strategies elite engineering organizations use when setting their OKRs and KPI goals.