Ayesha Mahmood, vice president of software engineering at Zscaler, has built her career on adaptability, empathy, and a commitment to growth. From building frameworks at Apple that remain in use more than a decade later to leading global teams through rapid technology shifts, she believes leadership starts by meeting people where they are.

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, Ayesha shares lessons on situational leadership, how to balance developer experience and long-term strategy, and why adaptive user interfaces will transform cybersecurity.

Bala Muthiah, director of engineering at Lyft, believes that leadership is less about having the answers and more about creating space for people to grow.

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, Bala shares how volunteering at a local school inspired his shift into leadership, why clarity of purpose transforms teams, and how empathy and communication build resilient engineering cultures.

Whether you’re navigating the move from individual contributor to leader or looking to strengthen your leadership style, Bala’s lessons on trust, purpose, and people-first thinking will guide you.

Brandon Lonac is vice president of software engineering at Disney Streaming, where he's helping scale Hulu, integrate Disney+, and drive innovation for millions of viewers worldwide.

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, Brandon shares how respect and clear communication shape his engineering leadership. He discusses how to create inclusive team cultures, proactively manage technical debt, and empower teams through curiosity and autonomy. Brandon also explains why simple manners — like saying “please” and “thank you” — make a big difference in team performance and sense of safety.

Whether you're scaling engineering teams or building a stronger team culture, Brandon offers practical guidance that’s grounded in human connection.

Abhishek Kumar is vice president of engineering at Trellix, where he leads globally distributed teams focused on AI-driven threat detection and security innovation.

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, Abhishek shares how mindset influences hiring, why proactive leadership matters more than ever, and how mentorship helps develop the next generation of engineering leaders. He also reflects on lessons learned from two decades in cybersecurity.

This conversation is packed with takeaways for anyone building and scaling engineering teams in complex, fast-moving environments.

Ivey Chiu of TELUS joins Keep Moving Forward to talk about building ethical, inclusive, and human-centered AI systems in her role as senior manager of AI research partnerships, AI for Good, and innovation.

In this episode, Ivey shares her journey from circuit-building with her dad to leading national AI initiatives at one of Canada’s largest telecom and tech companies. She shares how to formalize AI for Good programs, foster community in hybrid teams, and use soft skills like communication and adaptability to drive technical leadership. Ivey also reflects on founding the WIN-TEC Network and why representation, mentorship, and flexibility matter more than ever.

Whether you're building AI products, managing distributed teams, or championing inclusion in tech, Ivey's story is packed with insights and inspiration.

Anand Thaker is managing vice president of engineering at Gartner’s Peer Programs, where he draws on his experience as a founder and product builder to lead with clarity, momentum, and a deep understanding of what makes communities thrive.

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, Anand shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching Pulse, a digital peer network for IT executives. He details how to fundraise without connections, how Y Combinator shaped his leadership, and why doing unscalable work is often the key to growth.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating early-stage leadership, community building, or the fast-moving shift toward AI-enabled development.

Amanda Stapleton leads systems engineering for mission systems at Northrop Grumman, where innovation must meet the highest standards of safety, clarity, and trust.

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, Amanda shares how she navigates complexity at scale—from guiding digital transformation to building alignment across global teams. She discusses what it takes to lead in a high-stakes environment, why writing things down matters more than ever, and how engineering leaders can create space for experimentation even when failure isn’t an option.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone working at the intersection of technology, systems thinking, and leadership.

Subbu Allamaraju, Vice President of Engineering at Bill.com, joins Keep Moving Forward to share how decades of experience at companies like Yahoo, eBay, and Expedia have shaped his leadership philosophy. Subbu discusses his evolution from individual contributor to people-focused leader, why building influence matters more than authority, and how he approaches communication and mentorship in a remote-first world. He also explains his idea of “manufacturing willingness,” and why the most successful engineering leaders focus on trust, clarity, and shared purpose to drive positive change across teams.

Nir Orman, Director of E-commerce Engineering at Wix, joins Keep Moving Forward to share how she built her career by stepping into leadership before it was offered. In this episode, Nir talks about what she learned from the military, how she cultivates engineering culture in distributed teams, and why the best leaders focus on action, not approval. She also discusses hard calls around tech debt, mentoring through global conflict, and her approach to continuous learning at scale.

How do you lead with empathy while building systems designed for the cutting edge of the internet? In this episode, we sit down with Miros Milenkovic, Project Manager at Privado ID, to explore how his journey through front-end development, remote team leadership, and decentralized identity has shaped a uniquely human approach to engineering culture.

Miros shares hard-earned lessons from aligning values-driven teams, navigating cultural differences, and designing collaborative processes during moments of massive change. He reflects on the importance of listening to both what is said and what is left unsaid, and why understanding bias, behavior, and happiness is essential for leaders shaping the future of Web3.