Hey everyone! This is an experimental edition of Refactoring, that combines a full article with the video interview of an awesome guest 🙌
A few weeks ago, Thiago Ghisi joined us in the community for a 1-hour chat, where we talked about the lessons he has learned throughout his career.
Thiago is Director of Engineering at Nubank, and has been a manager at companies like Apple, American Express, and Thoughtworks. He also publishes a constant flow of great ideas on his Twitter account, and hosts a weekly podcast with engineering advice.
After the interview, I watched it all back, noted down the best ideas, and combined them with my own experience plus that of people in the community. The result is this experimental edition, that combines video + a regular essay!
About half of the video interview is available to everyone, while the rest is exclusive to paid subscribers.
This article’s theme is about designing a great career in tech. I believe this is extremely relevant today, because:
This is a time of uncertainty — many people are experiencing anxiety about their jobs because of layoffs, return to office, AI, and more. I have many readers who regularly reach out for guidance.
Thiago has built a fantastic career — while still young, he is a Director at a high-growth, exciting company, and has already had successful stints at some of the best companies in the world. So he has thoughts.
So, here is what we will cover:
🔄 Impact and influence — your primary engine for career growth.
🎨 Getting broad first — why and how to seek variety during your early years.
🔍 Choosing jobs — startups, big tech, and more.
🔀 Changing jobs — when, why, and how often.
🚪 Being in the right room — an extended version of a famous saying.
🍀 The Four Ps — a framework by Thiago for powering your career.
⚖️ Learning more about yourself — how your strengths and weaknesses should influence your journey.
🗺️ Making plans — how planning is useful even when plans might not be.
📚 Resources — a short-list of past articles for more reflection about your career.
Let’s dive in!
