How do you make yourself stand out?

Proactive ownership of my work beyond my own responsibilities. When I see an area of opportunity I take the initiative to address it whether it means suggesting changes, collaborating with other teams or driving a new project. I aim to be a reliable resource who proactively finds ways to generate impact. An example of this is when one time I found that simplifying the flutter engine build system was the best way to unblock the security program. I proposed changes and collaborated with other teams to implement the changes to the build system.

Strategic problem solving, breaking down complex issues, finding root causes and delivering solutions that are scalable and sustainable. An example of this was my work in the Fuchsia operating system infield migration infrastructure where I had to break down the problem in smaller projects to create the test beds, stub out the in-device update engine and implement the testing update services.

Focusing on empowering and supporting others. I’m always ready to mentor, listen and support colleagues to bring their best. Encouraging collaborative environments where people can share ideas, take risks and build trust. When I became the manager and uber TL for Flutter Engineering productivity I had less time to code and I had to focus on empowering my teams to bring their best through design reviews, coaching and problem solving deep dives.

By consistently applying these principles, I aim to set myself apart as someone who drives results, fosters collaboration, and is dedicated to both personal and team growth.

To be honest, that is something I try not to do. That is not because I am afraid of the limelight, but because I prefer doing things in the background. I am a go getter and I work best outside the limelight. I would work hard to make sure everything is going well and am ok not to get the credit. For example, being consultants, the first and foremost hurdle we have to encounter at the client side is to get the required access in their system. I make sure I understand what the process is and proactively build rapport with the IT and provisioning guys at the client. I make sure that they have all the information and more to provision our requests. I reach out to them and acknowledge their workload and once the requests are provisioned make sure to send a thank you. I keep in touch with them to maintain the relationship and that ensures that we never have access or system issues throughout the project. Most of the time my team doesn't know how I do it, but understand that I can get it done. Same is the case for any tribal knowledge that we need to perform our product, I make sure that my team has it. 

"What makes me stand out as a Senior Engineering Manager is my ability to lead with adaptability, foster accountability within my teams, and strategically navigate complex dependencies. I focus on creating a culture where teams feel empowered to take ownership of their work while I ensure alignment with organizational goals and external dependencies."

1. Adaptability in Leadership

"I pride myself on my adaptable leadership style, which allows me to tailor my approach to the needs of the team, the initiative, or the challenge at hand. For example, while leading the API Gateway and Microservices initiatives, I recognized that the modernization effort required balancing autonomy with guidance. I adjusted my leadership style to focus on enabling the teams to prioritize and execute independently while stepping in strategically to address cross-team dependencies. This flexibility allowed us to meet aggressive timelines while fostering team growth and accountability."

2. Scaling Through Empowerment and Accountability

"I focus on empowering teams to take full ownership of their projects, which allows me to scale my leadership effectively. By providing a clear vision and setting expectations, I trust my teams to make decisions and innovate while holding them accountable for outcomes. For instance, during the Sensitive Places initiative, which involved coordination across Search and Ads, I empowered my team leads to define collaboration processes themselves. This autonomy not only improved delivery timelines but also enhanced their confidence and problem-solving skills, making the initiative a resounding success."

3. Strategic Navigation of Complexity

"Another way I stand out is by thriving in complexity. I excel at identifying bottlenecks, streamlining cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring that initiatives involving multiple dependencies move forward efficiently. For example, in the Privacy & Security initiative, I implemented frameworks like RACI and regular stakeholder syncs to manage coordination challenges across teams. This allowed us to successfully navigate dependencies while maintaining focus on delivery goals."

4. Focus on Team Health and Collaboration

"I place a strong emphasis on team health and collaboration. By fostering a culture of trust and psychological safety, I ensure my teams remain motivated and engaged. I stand out by identifying opportunities to strengthen team dynamics, such as encouraging mentoring and pairing for knowledge sharing. For example, in the Analytics team, I introduced processes to improve collaboration, which not only reduced workload stress but also enhanced the team’s ability to work cohesively and deliver results."

Closing Statement

"In summary, I make myself stand out by combining adaptability, strategic problem-solving, and a focus on empowering teams with accountability. These qualities not only drive successful delivery but also build a culture of trust, ownership, and continuous improvement within my teams. I bring a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership that ensures my teams are not just effective today but also positioned to scale and succeed in the future."

I have a strong empathy, good at empathizing with the behind reasons and emotions of people's actions. 

Empathy can help me as a UIUX designer to understand user behavior and preferences, and then find the root of the problem and pain point, so as to propose a better user journey and experience.

2. Furthermore, I have a mature visual sense and a keen eye for color. In my previous roles at Cherrypicks and Green Tomato, I was primarily responsible for the design direction and pitching  of the products. These experiences have helped me understand the visual preferences of different customers, allowing me to design comfortable and unified interfaces that guide users to continue using the apps.

I stand out because I can anticipate the needs of the team and my leaders. I follow bottom up leadership and I am empathy driven.