Build a predictable path to engineering leadership

The fellowship is interesting to me because it's an opportunity to learn from other bright and talented engineers in different industries. There is so much variance in the technologies different industry practitioners use and how they approach solving their respective problems so learning from others is an exciting and unique opportunity. It's also a great opportunity to collaborate with other leaders about the future of software and technology.

At the beginning of the year I set the intention to pursue leadership development opportunities. ODE came at the right time for collaborating, networking, and knowledge sharing with fellow software engineers across the industry. You don't know what you don't know, so I am excited to find my gaps (in knowledge, awareness, and scope) and level up.

In today's fast and complex world, it's important that we band together to grow and learn from each other. I wanted to be a part of ODE because I know there is power in the wisdom of crowds, surrounding yourself & contributing to an enthusiastic community of technical leaders.

Having worked in tech professionally for nearly a decade I look forward to opportunities that foster further growth of myself and others. Tech is always changing and with it we must evolve in knowledge, leadership and mentoring and I look forward to the pursuit of these through a fellowship.

What got me initially interested in the fellowship was the opportunity to hear from leaders within the tech industry on how they got to where they are and how they view and practice leadership within their own organizations. I'm also excited about the opportunity to be able to network and connect with mid-level and more senior engineers as they take their next steps in their career with the same mindset of developing their leadership skill set. Being able to share ideas with individuals who have the same goals in mind career wise will strengthen one another's ability to think from different perspectives.

I'm excited to build a network of peers where we can help each other and our teams grow. As a newer manager, I'm especially looking forward to learning from the diverse perspectives and experiences within the group.

I’ve spent a lot of time helping early career engineers get up to speed with the industry the best I know how, but not a lot exists for established engineers. On Deck is giving me a platform to answer “what’s next”, and have a group of like minded peers to grow and learn from.

Engineering leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and unfortunately there isn't a "one size fits all" way to learn to be an effective leader. I'm hopeful that we explore more than just technical acumen as it relates to engineering leadership. I am excited that ODE will introduce me to many great individuals who are all striving to learn and grow as engineering leaders, like myself.

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This fellowship track is exciting for me because now more than ever, it’s clear that much of the world is dependent on technology. I’ve had the opportunity to grow as an engineer at rapidly growing and innovative companies. But technical aptitude alone isn’t enough and I’ve hit a point in my career where I’m eager to learn how to more effectively uplift and empower engineers on my team in order to step up and become a leader myself. I want to make a career out of knowledge sharing, mentoring, and helping others recognize and cultivate their strengths.

As someone who only has experience from one company, I have a very limited scope of engineering and am eager to branch out and learn more. I am interested in the opportunity to learn from and connect with different engineers of diverse backgrounds and experiences. I am also looking forward to everything this fellowship has to offer, from the various learning and development resources to the supportive community itself.

I want to take advantage of every learning opportunity to advance my career in this industry. I aspire to do big things in tech and need the tutelage of folks in and out of my current job who have already done some of them.  The ability to connect with other fellows is also appealing as there is a comparable amount of wisdom to gain from peer connections as that of those above me.  I am excited to be challenged by the learning modules.  As someone who identifies with demographics traditionally excluded from tech, I am grateful to programs such as this that are righting the wrongs and carving a path for a better future for all in this industry. I plan to continue being a conduit for change as well, so learning how to mentor by receiving great mentorship is appealing.