How to Leverage a Non-Technical Background in Engineering Leadership with Melissa DePUYDT (#171)

In this episode, host Conor Bronsdon talks with Melissa DePuydt, Sr. Director of Engineering at Upstatement. Melissa discusses how her background in journalism has uniquely positioned her to excel in engineering leadership roles. She highlights how thinking like a journalist has enhanced her ability to lead engineering teams effectively, particularly in planning, risk management, and decision-making.

The conversation covers the importance of preparing for disruptions, conducting pre-mortems to anticipate challenges, and incorporating broad perspectives for effective problem solving. Melissa also shares insights on continuously learning and adapting by embracing one's unique background and experiences.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Why do engineering leaders need to think like journalists?
03:30 Preparing for disruptions as an engineering leader
07:31 How pre-mortems work in practice: an example from the Atlantic
11:38 How to get buy in from other leaders when changing processes
16:47 Eliciting buy-in from team members on pre-mortems
21:03 How do we train engineers to think in a team sport mentality?
25:34 Why is career switching a superpower?

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