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Beyond The Build is a podcast about the real, unfiltered experiences of being a software engineer. Hosted by two seasoned engineers, Uma and Ope, we dive into the highs, the lows, and everything in between—from career growth and technical challenges to work-life balance and industry insights. Whether you're an aspiring developer or a seasoned pro, join us as we explore the parts of tech that don’t get talked about enough.
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22 Episodes
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Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 Think your manager is just there to assign you tasks? Think again. In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dig into one of the most overlooked parts of being a software engineer: what you should actually expect from your manager. A lot of engineers think management is just about task updates, but your manager plays a huge role in your growth, visibility, and long-term success. We break down the expecta...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 Everyone says you should “find joy” or “do what you love” but is that realistic advice, or just another modern work myth? In this episode of Beyond the Build, We unpack the tension between fulfillment and functionality at work. Should you expect your job to make you happy, or is that setting yourself up for burnout and disappointment? If you’ve ever wondered whether you should love your job, tolerate i...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode, we unpack the realities of working from home versus working in the office. We share what’s lost when you’re remote, like casual hallway conversations and easy collaboration and how that affects connection and visibility at work. We also explore the upsides of remote life: fewer distractions, no commute, and more control over your time. At the same time, we dive into challenges like blu...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 When your teammate is struggling, it's easy to assume they're not trying hard enough. But what if the problem is something else entirely? In this episode of Beyond The Build, we dive deep into one of the most uncomfortable topics in software engineering: how to recognize when a colleague is struggling and what you can actually do to help. We break down what "struggling" really looks like—missing deadli...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with Felix Ekwueme, Technical Advisor to the VP of International Sellers at Amazon, to talk about the real drivers of career growth that go way beyond just “doing good work.” We unpack why comfort and growth don’t coexist, the dangers of being the silent high performer, and what it really takes to rise through the ranks—especially as an immigrant or unde...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this raw and honest episode, we dive deep into the uncomfortable reality of tech layoffs that every software engineer needs to understand. Drawing from our own experiences of surviving cuts while watching teammates get let go, we break down the harsh truths about what really determines who stays and who goes. We explore the critical difference between working in cost centers versus revenue-generat...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with Fola, a Senior Security Engineer whose career has taken him from Nigeria to South Africa and now the United States. We unpack what it means to build a career across countries and cultures. Fola opens up about his journey out of Nigeria, the culture shocks he faced moving to Cape Town, and how he learned to navigate both corporate and social environm...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 What if the secret to making an impact at work isn’t solving every problem—but knowing which ones to ignore? In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into one of the most overlooked but critical parts of being a software engineer: identifying the right problems to solve, at the right time, in the right way. It’s not about doing more work—it’s about doing the work that actually moves the needle. We ...
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 Asking for help might seem like a basic skill, but in software engineering, how you ask can impact everything from your productivity to your team’s trust. In this episode of Beyond the Build, we break down the underrated art of asking for help at work. We talk about: The mental shift engineers need to make when reaching outWho to ask, and whenHow to show you've done your due diligenceCreating team cult...
Send us a text Product managers wear a lot of hats—but what do they actually do? In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with our first-ever guest: Thien-Y Le, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, to get the unfiltered truth about one of tech's most misunderstood roles. Thien-Y walks us through the real work of a PM—from balancing customer demands with business goals to managing relationships with engineers. We dig into what it takes to build a roadmap, why product managers are som...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the often-overlooked world of tech networking and collaboration. We share our personal experiences from dozens of conferences and meetups, revealing which events actually moved the needle for our careers and which ones were just free pizza and swag. You'll discover why general networking events are often a waste of time, how to identify the specific meetups that align with your goals, and the art of finding collaborators wh...
Send us a text Every developer faces the same exhausting question: Should I learn this hot new technology everyone’s talking about—or is it just another flash in the pan? In this episode of Beyond the Build, we tackle the tech trend dilemma head-on. Some believe staying on top of the latest frameworks, tools, and AI models is essential to stay relevant in the job market. Others argue it’s all hype—what really matters will stick, and you’ll learn it when you actually need it. We dive into both...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we’re talking about one of the most overlooked parts of software engineering—being a great teammate. Software engineering isn't a solo sport—it's the ultimate team game. But while we spend countless hours perfecting our technical skills, we often overlook the collaboration skills that actually determine our career success. In this episode, we dive deep into what it really means to be someone people want to work with. We explore the character...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we’re diving deep into what it really takes to get promoted as a software engineer. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about writing good code. We break down how to think about promotions through the lens of impact, influence, and ownership, the pillars that often separate engineers who stay stuck from those who move up. You’ll learn what’s typically expected at each level, how to work with your manager (instead of just hoping they notice you), an...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the critical skill every engineer needs, but few are taught: how to collaborate with leadership. From one-on-ones with your manager to hallway chats with directors and VPs, we cover what you should be saying, asking, and sharing to make your work more visible, effective, and aligned. We break down the types of conversations to have, how to tailor your updates to different levels of leadership, how to ask for feedback, and how to...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the art of running effective engineering meetings. We break down different types of meetings, when you should prep with documents (and how to write good pre-reads), how to align with key people before a big meeting, and why every meeting should have clear outcomes before it even starts. We also discuss how to structure meetings based on who's attending, the power of AI tools to automate note-taking, and how to turn me...
Send us a text If you’ve ever questioned whether your job title comes at the cost of your freedom, this one’s for you. In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the messy reality of work-life balance in tech—especially as your role and responsibilities grow. We ask the tough question: Is balance even possible once you start owning important projects or teams? From seasonal workloads to title-based expectations, we explore how your career trajectory affects your ability to unplug...
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we open up about something nearly every software engineer faces but rarely talks about — imposter syndrome. From feeling like we’re not “technical enough” to questioning whether we belong in the rooms we’ve worked hard to get into, we share our personal stories, struggles, and how imposter syndrome has shown up throughout our careers. We also dive into the clever strategies and mindset shifts that have helped us push through those mome...
Send us a text In this episode, Ope and I break down what it really takes to build strong technical skills as a software engineer. We go beyond just writing code and dive into how to deliberately sharpen your expertise by: Building a portfolio of projects that showcase your abilitiesDeveloping taste in engineering and writing about what you learnSurrounding yourself with an environment that pushes you to grow (or creating one if it doesn’t exist)Seeking scale—working on problems that challeng...
Send us a text In this episode, Ope and I discuss how we incorporate AI into our work as software engineers—the benefits, the challenges, and the misconceptions. We break down the pitfalls of relying too much on AI, share strategies for using it effectively without compromising core engineering skills, and offer practical advice on leveraging AI to boost productivity rather than replace developers. Whether you're excited about AI or skeptical of its role in tech, this conversation sheds light...
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