Who am I?

Hi, I'm Damian 👋. A proud dad, Engineering Leader, and coffee addict. Join me as I share real-life stories, thoughts, and tips on being a tech leader and manager, based on my 10+ years of experience leading and scaling engineering teams.

Engineering problems have solutions. People problems have stories. Every team, every crisis, and every organisation is different. The popular management playbooks are just a starting point. The only one that truly matters is the one you write yourself.

That's what this blog is about: the real stories behind my wins and my failures. The lessons I've learned from the mistakes I've made and the triumphs I've celebrated. Years of experience distilled into (hopefully!) an enjoyable read.

Grab a cup of good coffee ☕️, and let's get started.

Who is This Blog For?

You are a manager, but you feel like an impostor, making it up as you go along? Welcome to the club. I've been there. Whether you've been managing for a few months or a few years, that imposter syndrome never fully goes away. You're dealing with performance reviews that feel awkward, team dynamics that shift weekly, and stakeholders who want everything yesterday. You're hungry to level up but tired of generic leadership advice that doesn't account for the unique chaos of managing engineers.

Or maybe you are an engineer considering that management track, wondering if trading coding for one-on-ones is worth it. You need to know that the transition isn't just about learning new skills. It's about rewiring how you measure success, influence without authority, and find fulfilment in other people's achievements instead of your own commits.

Real Stories and Practical Solutions

Forget the 400+ page management books and generic frameworks that fail the moment your star developer wants to leave or your roadmap gets wrecked by stakeholders every second week. Here you'll get the real stories from the trenches, practical moves that actually work, and battle-tested playbooks built from surviving the beautiful chaos of leading engineering teams.

If you're nodding along, thinking "finally, someone who gets it", then you're in the right place. Enjoy!