Managing 80 Developers as VP of Engineering

In this engaging discussion, Greg, VP of Engineering at Flo Health, shares his unique career trajectory from financial services and e-commerce to health tech. Greg talks about his responsibilities managing a team of 70-80 people, the importance of OKRs, and the challenges of maintaining a balance between growth and technical debt. He also delves into the intricacies of team dynamics, career coaching, and the continuous improvement of engineering practices. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in engineering management and leadership.

00:00 Introduction to Technical Debt
00:00 Sneek Pick
00:21 Intro
00:23 Meet Greg, VP of Engineering at Flow Health
01:14 Overview of Flo Health
02:35 Responsiblities of VP of Engineering
02:36 Greg's Role and Responsibilities
06:35 Understanding OKRs and Company Goals
07:57 Working with Objectives and Key Results(OKRs)
14:15 Balancing Growth and Technical Debt
17:05 Conversation between VP and EMs
17:24 Operational Conversations and Team Metrics
24:28 Identifying and Addressing Bottlenecks
26:45 The Power of Shipping in Small Increments
27:02 The Importance of WIP Limits
27:21 Continuous Improvement and Kaizen
28:11 Industry Insights and Common Challenges
28:44 Understanding the Value Stream
29:05 Addressing Bottlenecks and Root Cause Analysis
29:26 Challenges in Product Management
29:56 The Role of Team Collaboration
31:19 People: The Biggest Challenge
31:37 Balancing Business Growth and Commitments
32:56 Career Growth and Coaching
35:03 Preparing for One-on-Ones
45:17 Encouraging Ownership and Autonomy
49:09 Firing an Engineer: Expectations and Processes
52:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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