Change Consulting
Struggling with change? I help companies retain talent by refocusing their engineers.
I’ve been through a lot of acquisitions (one employment only lasted for three weeks!). I’ve mentored countless engineers to help them resolve the tension between the way things were and the way things are now. I’m passionate about helping people find a way to be content and excited about their work, even if it’s not what they imagined they would be doing.
In the past, I’ve helped individuals and teams understand what made their old organization function smoothly as well as the challenges and opportunities of the new organization. Many engineers dismiss this sort of thinking as “politics”, but it’s fundamental to how we design software and the trade-offs we make.
How I Can Help
- Work with management to fine-tune their messaging of organizational change
- Work with teams to adjust their expectations and improve morale
- Help employees understand when it’s time to move on
Example: An Acquisition
I helped a team re-envision the purpose of their work after an acquisition.
| Old | Resource-constrained startup |
| New | Mid-sized company with poor technology |
| Old Challenge | Cost reduction |
| New Challenge | Project success rate |
| Valued | Laser focus on cost reduction & efficiency |
| Valued Now | Simple code optimized for rapid delivery. Enabling less experienced engineers to be successful. |
Example: A Job Change
An engineer was discontent with his new job because they didn’t seem as serious as his last job. I helped him understand the new organization’s values and suggested some ways he could stand out.
| Old | Major cloud provider |
| New | Online retailer |
| Old Challenge | Availability & latency are paramount |
| New Challenge | Acquiring revenue by expanding into new markets |
| Valued | Operational discipline |
| Valued Now | Configurable code to enable team mates to enable product managers to adapt the product for new markets |
Example: End of the Road
I helped a computer scientist understand that the new acquiring company didn’t have a use for their work. Management tried to move them into a new job role. I helped them understand their discontent and connected them with future employer that valued their skills.
| Old | Database engine startup |
| New | Healthcare scale-up |
| Old Challenge | Programming language research |
| New Challenge | Scaling data & configuration to onboard customers more quickly |
| Valued | Computer science rigor |
| Valued Now | Software engineering rigor |
About Me
I’ve been an engineering manager, tech lead, senior engineer, and principal engineer at a variety of companies of various sizes, shapes and purposes. Across my 15+ years of experience, I’ve always been passionate about helping others understand why they’re no longer happy at work. I’ve helped countless peers and subordinates see and resolve their cognitive dissonance. I’d be delighted to help you too!