Being a Leader and Coder – A Survival Guide

December, 2021

The December 2021 tech talk was presented by Dylan Greiner

Abstract:

Being both a technical leader and an active software engineer at the same time raises many challenges. I present the various techniques and approaches I have both learned and gathered from various sources to achieve a balance between technical leadership and software development. I also present the realities of having to carry both responsibilities, how I maintained my sanity, empowered my team, and improved my communication to my team and management.

About the Presenter 

Dylan Greiner is a highly-qualified software developer and architect with more than three decades of experience. He’s worked for startups and world-class software companies and has emerged as a dynamic team leader in the field.

As the lead software engineer at Catchpoint Systems, Dylan leads a team of engineers. He is a hands-on leader who is passionate about mentoring. He has been involved in developing several different applications and was the lead engineer on mass-market After Dark consumer software products, and the lead engineer on high-visibility Kodak/Ofoto software clients. Dylan is a versatile engineer with experience across the spectrum of software engineering techniques and practices; he is also proficient in numerous software systems languages.

Dylan attended the University of Texas, Dallas and Richland College, and has continued his education. A graduate of the Exceptional Engineering Program, Dylan is sharpening his leadership skills. He believes that good design is critical to quality. His favorite professional quote is by Dr. Marvin Minsky, “An expert is someone who doesn’t only know the right way to do a thing, but several wrong ways as well.” He is hyper-focused on benefit to the customer, making sure that their needs remain in focus through project development.

Beyond engineering, Dylan is an outdoorsman who prides himself on being a good father and devoted husband. He is a thoughtful and open-minded man who lives life with a sense of humor and a passion for his family and his work.

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