One of the biggest issues I saw running remote teams for the past decade+ was the lack of good engineering manager training. With a global team it’s harder (and more expensive) to get everyone in the same place at one time. With a small team, the cost of doing anything custom is infeasible.
To help new managers I was responsible for be successful, I had a set of options. We’d attend LeadDev as a group – but that happens once or twice a year and not everyone could make it. Many people would take Co-Active Fundamentals training, which is great – but general. I had a roster of coaches I recommended for 1:1, but that budget wasn’t always available.
In the post-ZIRP era, being an engineering manager is harder than ever. When headcount was a vanity metric, managers had value simply as an abstraction layer over a number of people. When things were growing fast, there were opportunities to move up just because someone needed to fill the position.
That era is over.
Now it feels more important than ever to have a clear point of view on how an engineering manager actually creates impact – and how to support yourself while doing it.
What is the EM Survival Guide?
Jean Hsu and I designed The Engineering Manager Survival Guide for managers navigating this new reality. Whether you’re a new manager trying to ramp up, or a more experienced one who knows you’d benefit from devoting some time to consider your approach, this course gives you the frameworks and tools to be effective without burning out.
The course runs over 8 weeks with 4 modules. Each module includes:
- Written content and frameworks
- Audio conversations between Jean and me, with personal stories and reflections
- Exercises to apply what you’ve learned to your specific situation
- Personal feedback from us on your submissions
It’s designed to fit into a busy schedule while still creating space for real reflection and change. Around 60-90 minutes a week, in pieces, as you can fit them in.
Why now?
The expectations for engineering managers have fundamentally shifted. The role used to be about coordination and headcount. Now it’s about tangible impact, strategy, and doing more with less.
If you’re feeling squashed between what your team wants from you and what your boss expects, if you’re wondering how to be effective without burning out, if you want to feel intentional instead of reactive – this course is for you.
It can be hard to make time to step back and learn. We get it, and we’ve designed this course to fit your schedule. Plan to spend a minimum of 60-90 minutes a week, and it’s completely asynchronous, so you can listen to our audio conversations on a walk or in the car, read the module content in between meetings, and do each module’s targeted exercises whenever is best for you.
Enrollment is open now.
Early bird pricing: $799 USD (available until February 28th)
Regular pricing: $899 USD
The course starts March 13th, 2026. Enrollment closes March 10th or when we are at capacity.
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