Greetings, Future Tech Titans! 👋

System design leadership... it's a fascinating blend of technical prowess and people management, wouldn't you agree? It's about not just building robust systems, but also building and leading the teams that create them. And let's be real, that's a delicate balancing act.

In this newsletter, I'm sharing some of my own reflections on this challenge. I've been wrestling with this for a while now, trying to figure out how to stay technically relevant while also effectively leading and empowering my teams. Think of this as me sharing my own "war stories" – the triumphs, the face-palms, and everything in between – in the hopes that it resonates with some of you.

P.S. What's your biggest struggle when it comes to balancing technical leadership with people management? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Let's navigate this together!

Erwin Dwight

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FREE CONTENT

Why System Design Is the Secret Weapon Every Engineering Leader Needs in 2025?

In a tech-driven world where a single glitch can cost millions—like Facebook’s infamous 2021 outage—engineering leaders can no longer afford to sideline system design. It’s not just about staying relevant; it’s about wielding the technical edge to steer your team toward success. Whether you’re juggling managerial chaos or diving into distributed systems powering everything from cloud platforms to messaging apps, blending leadership with hands-on system design expertise is your ticket to thriving in 2025. Ready to unlock the strategies that top engineering leaders swear by? Let’s dive into why this fusion matters more than ever—and how you can make it work for you.

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Being an Engineering Manager at Flo

This article shares valuable insights from the Engineering Managers at Flo, a remarkable women's health unicorn app. They’ve organized their engineering structure around six outcome-focused "Streams" instead of the usual silos. It beautifully illustrates how Flo enhanced experimentation efficiency and embraced platformization, which streamlined the creation of new subscription packages from two weeks to just five minutes! Moreover, it touches on Flo's engineering efficiency metrics and the intriguing challenges they face while balancing rapid growth with the goal of building sustainable solutions, all while keeping their hiring standards high.

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20 Business terms every Engineering Manager should know

Have you ever come across terms like EBITDA or COGS and felt a bit puzzled? You’re definitely not alone—many folks in the business world love tossing around those tricky acronyms! CAC, LTV, NRR, GRR, CapEx, NPS… it can be quite a jumble. While engineers might navigate their careers without needing to grasp all of these terms, engineering managers have a different journey. If you want to really make an impact, influence stakeholders, and connect with the business side, it’s essential to learn the language of business. Today, I’m excited to share the 20 most common terms along with straightforward, engineering-friendly explanations!

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That’s it for this episode!

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