Keynote Speaker / Moderator

Thinking metrics will turbo-boost your software teams? Sometimes, it’s like blaming a flat tire when you’ve actually run out of gas. Let’s cut through the excuses and get to the heart of what’s really slowing us down.

In this talk, we’ll uncover specific stories companies face in real:

• Discovery over Delivery: Prepare your ammunition: Why the discovery phase is more impactful than delivery? Tips on how to make it work.
• Synergies over Numbers: Indicators can help boost team performance by 10-30%. In my experience, true synergy between an Engineering Manager and a Product Manager can increase effectiveness by up to 300%.
• Focus over High Priority: Why maintain an expensive, high-performing team if they’re not focused on roadmap-related tasks? Are you tracking their contribution to the roadmap? Do you realize how much off-roadmap tasks are consuming your team’s talent?
• Epic over Task Cycle Time: Incremental releases are saviors. Teach your teams to slice their work vertically. Don’t focus on JIRA tasks; the value lies elsewhere.
• Adoption over the Next release: Start finishing, stop starting. The team’s work isn’t done once it’s released into production. Make sure to allocate sufficient time for activation, adoption, and feedback collection. This final 5% will make your product outstanding and leave your teams satisfied.
• The entire engineering community is discussing performance and productivity indicators nowadays. That’s why I’d like to introduce a somewhat controversial topic on this matter 🙂

In this keynote, Marian Kamenistak, ex-VPE @ Mews, shares his personal journey transitioning from a corporate business to running his own solopreneur venture. Throughout the talk, the speaker highlights the challenges, key strategic decisions and lessons learned along the way, while providing valuable insights for those considering a similar transition.

I`ll guide you to make your performance review process work, specifically: – how to make sure your engineers get the right feedback, in a motivational form – how to instruct your team leads to make the performance review process beneficial – how to design the review 2-week timeline – how to gather the inputs and use them at the review meeting – what exact indicators to look after – what tools I use About the circle leader, Marian: SW Products Builder. Programming since age 11. Math and Computer Science background. Experienced career shift from Developer to Team Lead to SW Architect to Senior-level Engineering Manager. Leading SW development dept. High Focus on Features Delivery, People care, Mentoring and Leadership, Hiring and Firing, Teams balance. Motivation and Satisfaction seeker. Listener. Ideas executor. Clear priorities. Communicating direction.

When you implement team productivity metrics, such as DORA, SPACE, or any other framework, you’ll soon discover that the numbers tell only a third of the story. The other two-thirds lie in how well metrics are adopted.

In this talk, we’ll explore the narrative of adopting metrics like a pro. Specifically, we’ll discuss:

• How to address concerns and calm fears about being measured.
• The importance of relying on principles of Transparency and Prevention.
• Selecting the appropriate set of indicators.
• Engaging teams early in the process.
• Tips and tricks for successful metric integration: conducting workshops, enabling teams, handling pushbacks, and more.
• What are the biggest mistakes and how to avoid them

I’ll share real-life situations and scenarios from my experience helping companies adopt metrics.

Performance Reviews are a bit of a controversial topic.

In this talk, we’ll dive into the art and science of conducting effective performance reviews within engineering teams. Leaders in tech are often faced with the unique challenge of balancing technical prowess with soft skills during evaluations.

With the tech industry’s rapid growth and the constant evolution of skills, how can managers provide feedback that not only assesses past performance but also fosters future development?

We’ll discuss strategies to create a constructive review atmosphere, the importance of continuous feedback, and how to set actionable goals that align with both project deliverables and professional growth.

Ultimately, I’ll share the top 10 most impactful tricks on how to lead performance review talked like a pro.

I did a meetup on this topic few months back in Prague, see more here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JjVQ9yTKz_FF3VUYIxNxmskf190hL5G-95-b9hA7Q9Q/edit#slide=id.g2a059b98faf_1_167

Thank you for considering this.

This topic is particularly relevant today as more companies are undergoing reorganizations or transitions.

Whether you’re forming a new team, restructuring an existing one, or stepping into an inherited team situation, this talk offers valuable insights and strategies.

In today’s dynamic business landscape, companies continuously adapt to change, optimize costs, and often undergo restructuring, including layoffs and team reorganizations. Consequently, the role of engineering leaders has become increasingly challenging.

Here’s what you’ll gain:

• Foundation: Learn how to establish a strong base for your team by setting clear expectations with your teammates and your manager, positioning yourself effectively as the middleman.
• New Team Victory: We will provide specific steps, tips, and tricks as guidelines for adopting a new team. Discover what aspects are critical to address, how to set expectations correctly, and how to set your new team up for success.
• Building Trust with a New Team: Explore the key factors in gaining the trust of your new team members and learn effective strategies for doing so.
• Smooth Transitions in Challenging Times: Understand the intricacies of leading through team mergers, takeovers, or layoffs, and learn how to handle these situations with tact and empathy.

I covered this topic at my Engineering Leaders meetup in Prague in Jan 2024. More info here: https://engineeringleaders.cz/#28587700b7004f5284db2a48dd3e524d:~:text=%2310 MEETUP%3A-,Complete Guide to,-Earning Your New

You’re a talented software developer, pouring your heart into your work, looking for a promotion. You’ve been at the same level for years, questioning your skills and wondering what it really takes to get ahead.

1. We’ll dive deep into the manager’s mind, uncovering the often unspoken criteria that determine who moves up and who stays put.
2. We’ll go beyond buzzwords and vague advice. You’ll learn concrete skills and strategies to level up at every stage of your career, from junior to principal engineer.
3. Discover how to showcase your impact, communicate effectively, and position yourself as an invaluable asset.

This keynote gives you the tools to take control of your destiny. Asking for a promotion is not enough.

It’s time to unlock your full potential.