Fireside Chat with Meena - The Engineer Who Became a Manager

Most engineering managers step into leadership roles with little preparation for what truly awaits them. Beyond learning new skills or processes, the transition often triggers a deeper internal struggle - an identity shift that reshapes how they see their value, their work, and themselves.

In this fireside chat, Meena draws from her newly published book, The Engineer Who Became a Manager, to explore the rarely discussed psychological journey of moving from individual contributor to engineering leader. Together, we’ll unpack why the transition feels so disorienting, why common management training often falls short, and why many new managers quietly question whether they’ve made the right choice.

Rather than focusing on frameworks or tactics, this conversation goes beneath the surface to examine the loss of technical identity, the emotional weight of leadership, and the search for meaning that accompanies this career shift.

Expect an honest, thoughtful discussion that validates the experience many engineering managers have but rarely articulate.

🗓 Date: 28th Jan 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM BST

Who should attend

• First-time engineering managers
• Senior engineers considering a management path
• Leaders and mentors supporting engineers through career transitions

What you’ll gain

• A clearer understanding of the identity shift behind the manager transition
• Make sense of the emotional challenges
• Language to make sense of common struggles new managers face
• A more grounded perspective on leadership beyond technical expertise

Speaker: Meena Venkataraman | LinkedIn — Founder of Code to Leadership, inspired by watching too many brilliant engineers struggle not with competence, but with identity, during the transition into management.

With over 20 years of experience working with technology teams and leaders, she brings a rare blend of technical context, leadership insight, and deep empathy for first-time managers.

An ICF-credentialed coach, Meena works closely with new engineering managers to help them develop leadership approaches that are sustainable, human, and true to who they are, rather than forcing them into one-size-fits-all management models.

The Engineer Who Became a Manager is her first book, exploring the often unspoken psychological journey engineers face when stepping into leadership roles.

Host: Madhura Chaganty | LinkedIn

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