In Depth The human side of world-class engineering leadership | Michael Lopp (Apple, Palantir, Slack)
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Jan 25, 2024 
Michael Lopp, experienced engineering leader at Apple, Palantir, and Slack, talks about his 'utopia' where engineers have time to create, what makes an excellent engineering leader, navigating internal dynamics between design, engineering, and product, and key lessons from over 30 years in the industry.
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Formalizing "Wolf Time"
- Lopp's attempt to formalize "wolf time" at Palantir failed because it became a gameable metric.
- Now, he encourages it through informal recognition and optional Friday brainstorming sessions.
Importance of "Why"
- Engineers must understand the "why" behind their work, not just the "how".
- Challenge product managers if engineers cannot explain a feature's purpose.
Excellent Product Management
- In consumer software, excellent product management requires equal partnership between engineering, design, and product.
- Each discipline should understand the "why" and influence product decisions.