What does it take to reach senior leadership in tech? Whether aiming for the IC path to Distinguished Engineer or leading teams as a CTO, this track is for you. We'll explore the skills and strategies needed to thrive, no matter the direction you choose. We'll cover everything from leaping IC and management — and even back again — to building a career that can withstand the ups and downs. Expect truthful talks and real-world insights from those who've been there.
From this track
The Principal Engineer’s Path: Skills, Strategies, and Lessons Learned
Monday Apr 7 / 10:35AM BST
In many organizations, the role of Principal Engineer is considered the highest level of the ‘individual contributor’ career path. But careers aren’t like ladders—short, straight, and evenly spaced. Instead, they’re long, winding, and often challenging journeys.
Sophie Weston
Principal Engineer @ClearBank, Co-Organizer of DevOpsDays London & FastFlowConf
How to Always Get Invited to Big Strategic Conversations
Monday Apr 7 / 11:45AM BST
Ever heard “you’re a great engineer/manager, but to get to the next level, you need to focus on the big picture and your business impact”? Early on in our careers, we focus on technical depth and excellence.
Mark Allen
Engineering Leader and Technical Co-Founder, Over 10 Years Experience Growing Managers and Senior Engineers
Changing Power Dynamics: What Senior Engineers Can Learn From Junior Engineers
Monday Apr 7 / 01:35PM BST
In many engineering teams, senior engineers make the decisions and are responsible for mentoring and teaching junior team members. This rigid hierarchical dynamic can stifle innovation, discourage fresh perspectives, and create barriers to collaboration. How can we change this?
Beth Anderson
Principal Software Engineer @BBC Digital Distribution
Unconference: The Path to Senior Engineering Leadership
Monday Apr 7 / 02:45PM BST
Scaling to 100+ as a Director: Lessons From Growing Engineering Organizations
Monday Apr 7 / 03:55PM BST
When I took on the Director of Engineering role at Nubank, I had no idea just how many times I’d need to reinvent my leadership style.
Thiago Ghisi
Director of Engineering @Nubank & Co-Host of @EngAdvicePod, Previously @Apple & @ThoughtWorks
Shine Bright as an IC: Growing Yourself As Your Company Grows
Monday Apr 7 / 05:05PM BST
Being part of a growing company is a fantastic opportunity to level yourself as an individual very rapidly, if you choose to grasp it. You've already immersed yourself with context and you might be the go to person for a key area of the organization.
Suhail Patel
Senior Staff Engineer @Monzo Leading the Platform and Data Functions, Previously @Citymapper
