This Month in React

Office Hours – Becoming a leader with Ankita Kulkarni

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Ankita Kulkarni is an engineer manager and educator with more than 10 years of experience as a software engineer, now teaching developers about the transition into management.


When Ankita became a manager, she had to find mentors to help her learn the subtle intricacies of being a successful manager. Now, she’s taking what she learned and teaching developers about what that transition looks like, and how to decide if that’s how you’d like to further your career.


  • - @kulkarniankita9: https://twitter.com/kulkarniankita9
  • - @vcarl_: https://twitter.com/vcarl_
  • - @reactiflux: https://twitter.com/reactiflux


    • Links referenced:


    • 1. Engineering manager's mind map: https://bit.ly/3J7HzVC
    • 2. Developer to Leader Program Waitlist: https://bit.ly/3Lb1Zj5
    • 3. KulkarniAnkita.com: https://bit.ly/3ZyDYak


      • Topics discussed:


      • [00:00:17] Being laid off as a bittersweet opportunity
      • [00:01:32] Building databases at IBM and doing freelance web dev on the side
      • [00:03:31] New appreciation for coworkers after freelancing
      • [00:06:56] Getting her first management opportunity
      • [00:08:15] Leadership vs management
      • [00:11:28] Intrinsic motivation and finding a team that supports your goals
      • [00:14:03] Developer to Leader program
      • [00:15:50] How do you recognize a good leader?
      • [00:17:42] Teams as a group of individuals
      • [00:20:33] Psychological safety in software teams
      • [00:23:01] Having empathy as a leader
      • [00:27:25] Serving those you lead
      • [00:29:06] Spotting burnout as a leader
      • [00:30:27] Setting the tone on a team
      • [00:32:27] Proactively setting team norms
      • [00:34:49] Prioritizing your own growth as a leader
      • [00:36:42] The value of informal chats
      • [00:39:48] Soft skills in your career
      • [00:40:50] How to get a taste of the management track


        • ...more
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