San Francisco Engineering Leadership Community (SFELC)

As AI becomes deeply embedded in the engineering workflow, it's reshaping how we design, build, and scale software. From code generation and automated testing to intelligent infrastructure and tooling, engineering leaders are navigating new challenges—and opportunities—at a rapid pace. In this roundtable, we’ll explore how engineering leaders are adapting their practices, teams, and roadmaps to stay ahead in the era of intelligent tools.

Join us to exchange practical insights, explore real-world AI use cases, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of engineering in an AI-driven world.
In this interactive roundtable, we’ll dive into:

• Where AI is already delivering value in engineering orgs
• Emerging tools and platforms shaping the future of engineering
• How teams are adapting workflows, skill sets, and tool stacks
• Organizational and cultural shifts that support effective AI adoption
• Balancing innovation with governance, quality, and trust

Let’s talk about what’s working, what’s hype, and how we lead through this next wave of change—together.

About the Host:
Santha Nandakumar is a seasoned engineering leader with a track record of building high-performing teams, scaling complex systems, and driving org-wide transformation. With a passion for thoughtful leadership and a deep understanding of developer experience, Santha brings a practical, people-first perspective to every conversation. With a thoughtful, systems-level approach to leadership, Santha brings practical insights and a collaborative spirit to every conversation—making space for honest, meaningful discussion among peers.
Join us to exchange practical insights, explore real-world AI use cases, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of engineering in an AI-driven world.

Ever wonder how Slack uses Slack to build… Slack?
The team building Slack's developer tools uses their own product daily to solve complex collaboration challenges. What do they know that most engineering organizations don't?
In this roundtable, we'll explore firsthand insights into how Slack's DevXP team—responsible for the productivity of hundreds of engineers—structures their own workflows, rituals, and tooling.

We’ll dig into:

• How DevXP engineers use Slack to cut down friction and surface the right info, fast
• What’s working — and what isn’t — when collaborating across time zones and teams
• Tactics for avoiding notification overload and channel sprawl
• How internal practices have evolved as the team scaled

This isn’t a product pitch. It’s a real-world look at how a high-performing engineering org tackles developer productivity — using the same tools many of us rely on every day.

Meet Your Host
Sridhar Ramakrishnan is Senior Director of Developer Experience & Productivity at Slack. He leads an org of 90+ engineers and has spent the last 7+ years focused on DevXP. Sridhar is also a dedicated coach and mentor to engineering leaders scaling their own teams.
Outside work, he is busy taking care of his fruits and vegetables, and arguing metrics with his kids on life.

**Join a candid conversation with your peers.**See what tools and practices a team inside Slack uses to stay fast, focused, and aligned — and leave with ideas you can actually test with your own team.

Building together beats building alone. Connect 1:1 with other engineering leaders to exchange strategies for driving stronger outcomes through better cross-functional collaboration.

Cross-Functional Collaboration for Engineering-Driven Outcomes
Building great products isn’t just about strong engineering — it’s about working seamlessly across product, design, business, and operations. In this Match & Learn session, you’ll dive into real-world strategies with peers on how to:

• Foster Shared Understanding: Create common language and goals across technical and non-technical teams.
• Build Collaborative Processes: Establish workflows that promote transparency and joint ownership.
• Navigate Competing Priorities: Balance technical considerations with business needs and customer demands.
• Measure Collaborative Success: Develop metrics that reflect true cross-functional achievement.

How it works:

• You'll be matched with other engineering leaders for a 10-minute 1:1 video conversation.
• After each 10-minute match, you can choose to extend the conversation or start a new match.

If you:

• Have questions and ideas about improving cross-functional collaboration
• Want to get perspectives from other engineering leaders
• Want to build connections with other engineering leaders outside of your network
• Appreciate serendipity and good conversation

This event is for you.

Is your engineering culture AI-proof? Connect with peers who are navigating this critical leadership challenge.
This virtual 1:1 Match event is bringing together engineering leaders to exchange practical insights on preserving what matters most as AI transforms our teams and workflows.

Culture That Endures in the Age of AI: What Still Matters When Things Change
As AI reshapes engineering organizations at unprecedented speed, maintaining a strong, adaptable culture has never been more crucial. Join us for focused 1:1 exchanges where you'll learn to:

• Identify Core Values: Distinguish which cultural elements must be preserved regardless of technological shifts.
• Navigate Transformation: Lead teams through AI integration while maintaining trust and cohesion.
• Balance Human & AI Collaboration: Create environments where human creativity and AI capabilities enhance each other.
• Build Resilient Teams: Foster cultures that thrive on adaptation and continuous learning.

How it works:

• In the course of the session, you'll be matched with other engineering leaders for a 10-minute video call
• At the end of 10 minutes, you'll have the option to extend it or start another match

If you:

• Have questions and ideas about maintaining strong culture during AI transformation
• Want to get perspectives from other engineering leaders
• Want to build connections with other engineering leaders outside of your network
• Appreciate serendipity and good conversation

This is the event for you!