Meena Venkataraman
@codetoleadership.bsky.social
Helping Engineering Managers in Tech get comfortable with leading | https://tidycal.com/meena/30-minute-coffee-chat
Your impact as a leader isn't about being the go-to person or what you personally deliver.
Your impact is indirect - it shows up in your team's work. When they solve problems without you, handle conflicts constructively, take on stretch projects.
That's your impact multiplying.
#NewManager
Your impact is indirect - it shows up in your team's work. When they solve problems without you, handle conflicts constructively, take on stretch projects.
That's your impact multiplying.
#NewManager
January 7, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Your impact as a leader isn't about being the go-to person or what you personally deliver.
Your impact is indirect - it shows up in your team's work. When they solve problems without you, handle conflicts constructively, take on stretch projects.
That's your impact multiplying.
#NewManager
Your impact is indirect - it shows up in your team's work. When they solve problems without you, handle conflicts constructively, take on stretch projects.
That's your impact multiplying.
#NewManager
Are you exhausted from trying to keep up with everything in your new leadership role?
January 6, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Are you exhausted from trying to keep up with everything in your new leadership role?
Trying to fake confidence by copying someone else's leadership style makes things worse. The most effective EMs aren't the ones who execute someone else's playbook - they've figured out what works for them, given who they are.
#EngineeringLeadership
#EngineeringLeadership
January 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Trying to fake confidence by copying someone else's leadership style makes things worse. The most effective EMs aren't the ones who execute someone else's playbook - they've figured out what works for them, given who they are.
#EngineeringLeadership
#EngineeringLeadership
Fresh learning budgets for 2026 are here. Many teams leave them too late or let them expire unused.
High-performing teams learn & grow through deliberate choices. My workshops are bespoke and highly engaging. If you would like to work with me get in touch - tidycal.com/meena/30-min...
High-performing teams learn & grow through deliberate choices. My workshops are bespoke and highly engaging. If you would like to work with me get in touch - tidycal.com/meena/30-min...
January 3, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Fresh learning budgets for 2026 are here. Many teams leave them too late or let them expire unused.
High-performing teams learn & grow through deliberate choices. My workshops are bespoke and highly engaging. If you would like to work with me get in touch - tidycal.com/meena/30-min...
High-performing teams learn & grow through deliberate choices. My workshops are bespoke and highly engaging. If you would like to work with me get in touch - tidycal.com/meena/30-min...
Happy New Year, everyone! A new year brings new possibilities. It's a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead with fresh eyes. Here's to new beginnings, fresh perspectives, and the courage to keep growing. Whatever 2026 brings, remember you're not navigating it alone.
January 1, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Happy New Year, everyone! A new year brings new possibilities. It's a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead with fresh eyes. Here's to new beginnings, fresh perspectives, and the courage to keep growing. Whatever 2026 brings, remember you're not navigating it alone.
As a new engineering manager, do you wonder "Why does everyone else seem to have figured this out?" People curate what they share on social media - messy bits left out. You're comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else's highlight reel. You're not behind. #TechLeadership
December 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
As a new engineering manager, do you wonder "Why does everyone else seem to have figured this out?" People curate what they share on social media - messy bits left out. You're comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else's highlight reel. You're not behind. #TechLeadership
You've discovered that being a good engineer doesn't automatically make you a good manager of engineers.The gap between technical excellence and leadership capability is real, and the data can shed some light on why that is.
Read the entire thread - 🧵👇
Read the entire thread - 🧵👇
December 29, 2025 at 8:33 PM
You've discovered that being a good engineer doesn't automatically make you a good manager of engineers.The gap between technical excellence and leadership capability is real, and the data can shed some light on why that is.
Read the entire thread - 🧵👇
Read the entire thread - 🧵👇
Working as a new engineering manager is a complex transition. It plays out differently for everyone.
📩 Recognise yourself here? Or perhaps you're seeing this play out with someone you manage? Send me a message and let's talk about how personalised support can make the difference.
📩 Recognise yourself here? Or perhaps you're seeing this play out with someone you manage? Send me a message and let's talk about how personalised support can make the difference.
December 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Working as a new engineering manager is a complex transition. It plays out differently for everyone.
📩 Recognise yourself here? Or perhaps you're seeing this play out with someone you manage? Send me a message and let's talk about how personalised support can make the difference.
📩 Recognise yourself here? Or perhaps you're seeing this play out with someone you manage? Send me a message and let's talk about how personalised support can make the difference.
🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
December 27, 2025 at 2:07 PM
🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
What will you do differently as a leader in 2026?
Set better boundaries
Prioritise people over tasks
Build my team's capability
Say no more often
Set better boundaries
Prioritise people over tasks
Build my team's capability
Say no more often
December 26, 2025 at 8:58 PM
What will you do differently as a leader in 2026?
Set better boundaries
Prioritise people over tasks
Build my team's capability
Say no more often
Set better boundaries
Prioritise people over tasks
Build my team's capability
Say no more often
Our annual family tradition of seeing Central London's Christmas lights ✅
Never gets old, always feels magical!
Never gets old, always feels magical!
December 21, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Our annual family tradition of seeing Central London's Christmas lights ✅
Never gets old, always feels magical!
Never gets old, always feels magical!
✨ Imagine starting 2026 knowing your leadership DNA. ✨ Imagine stopping the second-guessing. ✨ Imagine leading as yourself, not performing a role.
End this year with the right support to become the leader you're meant to be. Get in touch #EngineeringLeadership #LeadershipDNA
End this year with the right support to become the leader you're meant to be. Get in touch #EngineeringLeadership #LeadershipDNA
December 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM
✨ Imagine starting 2026 knowing your leadership DNA. ✨ Imagine stopping the second-guessing. ✨ Imagine leading as yourself, not performing a role.
End this year with the right support to become the leader you're meant to be. Get in touch #EngineeringLeadership #LeadershipDNA
End this year with the right support to become the leader you're meant to be. Get in touch #EngineeringLeadership #LeadershipDNA
Final newsletter of 2024: Can you actually facilitate team decisions, or are you just performing consensus theatre?
If every 'team decision' matches what you wanted despite all your Miro boards and post-its... your team has noticed.
Thanks for joining me this year.
#EngineeringManagers #NewManager
If every 'team decision' matches what you wanted despite all your Miro boards and post-its... your team has noticed.
Thanks for joining me this year.
#EngineeringManagers #NewManager
Can You Facilitate Team Decisions?
You are in the middle of a team discussion and the room falls silent.
open.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Final newsletter of 2024: Can you actually facilitate team decisions, or are you just performing consensus theatre?
If every 'team decision' matches what you wanted despite all your Miro boards and post-its... your team has noticed.
Thanks for joining me this year.
#EngineeringManagers #NewManager
If every 'team decision' matches what you wanted despite all your Miro boards and post-its... your team has noticed.
Thanks for joining me this year.
#EngineeringManagers #NewManager
As we get closer to the end of the year, I've been thinking about the conversations I've had with engineering managers over the past few months.
We spend so much time looking ahead that we rarely pause to look back and acknowledge just how much we've navigated.
#EngineeringManagerCoach
We spend so much time looking ahead that we rarely pause to look back and acknowledge just how much we've navigated.
#EngineeringManagerCoach
December 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
As we get closer to the end of the year, I've been thinking about the conversations I've had with engineering managers over the past few months.
We spend so much time looking ahead that we rarely pause to look back and acknowledge just how much we've navigated.
#EngineeringManagerCoach
We spend so much time looking ahead that we rarely pause to look back and acknowledge just how much we've navigated.
#EngineeringManagerCoach
Happy Friday! This week's newsletter asks a simple question. What happened to last January's promises? And why do you think this January will be different?
Are You Waiting for January?
We are nearly in the middle of December.
meenavenkataraman.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Happy Friday! This week's newsletter asks a simple question. What happened to last January's promises? And why do you think this January will be different?
My book reached readers in UK, US, India, Germany, Italy, Belgium & Australia! 🌍
For every engineering manager navigating late-night doubts, grief over lost coding flow & the messy transition nobody prepared you for. Get your copy - amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FY3H8J63
#EngineeringManagement #Leadership
For every engineering manager navigating late-night doubts, grief over lost coding flow & the messy transition nobody prepared you for. Get your copy - amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FY3H8J63
#EngineeringManagement #Leadership
December 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
My book reached readers in UK, US, India, Germany, Italy, Belgium & Australia! 🌍
For every engineering manager navigating late-night doubts, grief over lost coding flow & the messy transition nobody prepared you for. Get your copy - amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FY3H8J63
#EngineeringManagement #Leadership
For every engineering manager navigating late-night doubts, grief over lost coding flow & the messy transition nobody prepared you for. Get your copy - amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FY3H8J63
#EngineeringManagement #Leadership
🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
December 5, 2025 at 2:09 PM
🕒 New Engineering Managers, Are you drowning in meetings and tasks? Download my free guide and learn how to take back control of your calendar and focus on what truly matters in your new role.
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
You can find the link in the comments.
#EngineeringManagement #TimeManagement #LeadershipTips
Happy Friday! In this week's edition of my newsletter, I explore what might be happening when you encounter resistance from someone on your team.
Read the full article here, and don't forget to subscribe for weekly leadership insights!
meenavenkataraman.substack.com/p/before-you...
Read the full article here, and don't forget to subscribe for weekly leadership insights!
meenavenkataraman.substack.com/p/before-you...
Before You Label Them Difficult
You’re a few months into your engineering management role and someone on your team pushes back in a meeting, misses a deadline without explanation, or listens to your feedback and then does it their w...
meenavenkataraman.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Happy Friday! In this week's edition of my newsletter, I explore what might be happening when you encounter resistance from someone on your team.
Read the full article here, and don't forget to subscribe for weekly leadership insights!
meenavenkataraman.substack.com/p/before-you...
Read the full article here, and don't forget to subscribe for weekly leadership insights!
meenavenkataraman.substack.com/p/before-you...
I've been working with new engineering managers for a while now. And there's one question that comes up again and again. "I got promoted... so why does it feel like I'm failing?"
(Thread) 🧵👇
#EngineeringManagers #EngineeringManagerCoach #TechLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #NewManager
(Thread) 🧵👇
#EngineeringManagers #EngineeringManagerCoach #TechLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #NewManager
December 3, 2025 at 10:34 AM
I've been working with new engineering managers for a while now. And there's one question that comes up again and again. "I got promoted... so why does it feel like I'm failing?"
(Thread) 🧵👇
#EngineeringManagers #EngineeringManagerCoach #TechLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #NewManager
(Thread) 🧵👇
#EngineeringManagers #EngineeringManagerCoach #TechLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #NewManager
When leaders rely on positional authority, trust erodes quickly. Real leadership means actively investing in capabilities that help you lead. Your formal title is just the first step. What you do next determines whether you're truly leading. #EngineeringLeadership #NewManagers
December 1, 2025 at 8:13 AM
When leaders rely on positional authority, trust erodes quickly. Real leadership means actively investing in capabilities that help you lead. Your formal title is just the first step. What you do next determines whether you're truly leading. #EngineeringLeadership #NewManagers
Leadership is hard - navigating team dynamics, resolving conflicts, balancing different personalities, and juggling competing expectations takes real skill.
Transitions are harder - stepping into a new role, changing companies, moving countries, navigating major life changes.
#EngineeringManagers
Transitions are harder - stepping into a new role, changing companies, moving countries, navigating major life changes.
#EngineeringManagers
November 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Leadership is hard - navigating team dynamics, resolving conflicts, balancing different personalities, and juggling competing expectations takes real skill.
Transitions are harder - stepping into a new role, changing companies, moving countries, navigating major life changes.
#EngineeringManagers
Transitions are harder - stepping into a new role, changing companies, moving countries, navigating major life changes.
#EngineeringManagers
Taking on a new team as an engineering manager can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. Success isn't just about your growth - it's about how your whole team thrives.
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Taking on a new team as an engineering manager can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. Success isn't just about your growth - it's about how your whole team thrives.
In your first months as an engineering manager, an unexpected question emerges: "Who am I when I'm not coding?"
You're not losing your identity. You're expanding it. Your technical foundation becomes the credibility that makes you an effective leader.
#EngineeringLeadership
You're not losing your identity. You're expanding it. Your technical foundation becomes the credibility that makes you an effective leader.
#EngineeringLeadership
November 16, 2025 at 12:08 PM
In your first months as an engineering manager, an unexpected question emerges: "Who am I when I'm not coding?"
You're not losing your identity. You're expanding it. Your technical foundation becomes the credibility that makes you an effective leader.
#EngineeringLeadership
You're not losing your identity. You're expanding it. Your technical foundation becomes the credibility that makes you an effective leader.
#EngineeringLeadership
Transitions are rarely acknowledged. They are points on the journey not always worthy of mention. The before and after seem more significant - expected to happen in seamless succession.
🧵👇
🧵👇
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Transitions are rarely acknowledged. They are points on the journey not always worthy of mention. The before and after seem more significant - expected to happen in seamless succession.
🧵👇
🧵👇
That peculiar nostalgia for coding that haunts many engineering managers isn't discussed in leadership courses, but it's a critical part of the transition from technical expert to leader. In my latest newsletter, I explore this hidden emotional journey (sneak peek into my book)
The Nostalgia for Your Former Technical Identity
There’s a particular kind of loss that haunts many new engineering managers, one that rarely gets discussed in leadership training.
meenavenkataraman.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
That peculiar nostalgia for coding that haunts many engineering managers isn't discussed in leadership courses, but it's a critical part of the transition from technical expert to leader. In my latest newsletter, I explore this hidden emotional journey (sneak peek into my book)