How to Manage: In the Tech Industry

Olmo MaldonadoGMG Agency, LLC

March 2nd, 2015

Who?Born in MexicoRaised in McAllenI.B. Lamar Academy Alpha ClassUTSA B.S. Electrical EngineerUCLA M.S. Electrical Engineer

Who?Ex-Googler, Frontend Software Engineer Picasa Web Albums (now Google Photos)MooTools Developer

C.T.O. / V.P. of GMG Agency, LLC

www.gmgagency.com

Who?Tech Tuesdays & Code#RGV FounderRGV Tech Startup Community Activist(Social) EntrepreneurHomebrewer

www.codergv.com

Ground Rules

➔These are general observations. YMMV

➔Take concepts, and find your solution.

➔Experience from working with engineers, software developers, and similar personalities

➔These folks typically have traits: green/orange → analytical/doer

Overview

1.Priorities2.Teamwork3.Challenges4.Resoures

5.Final Thoughts

➔Seeks like-minded/community➔Constant education/training➔Fun/creative environment➔Career growth/opportunities

Most Treasure Opportunity Over Money

Seeks Acknowledgement/Approval➔Needs to produce, or feels unaccomplished◆Small tasks > huge objectives

➔May blame others◆Look out for peer reviews

➔Recognize their failures as well as their successes◆Fail fast is better than succeed slow

Tend to Put Others Before Themselves

➔Natural tendency to help others◆Teaching◆Support

➔Can work beyond the normal 8a - 5p◆Unable to discern start and end of work

◆You need match their hours➔Health is least concern

◆Promote healthy life-styles

Overview

1.Priorities2.Teamwork3.Challenges4.Resources

5.Final Thoughts

Your Role

➔You’re not a manager, you’re a team member

➔Your role is to facilitate◆Sorry, life/work goes on without managers

➔Your goal is to ◆drive efficiency and ◆mitigate problems

Your Team Needs to Be Included

➔Negotiate with team◆The steps necessary to finish solution

◆Priorities of the steps➔Show progress or delays➔Involve them with business status◆In the green, black, or red?◆New hires, previous fires◆SWOT

Don’t Micromanage

➔ We resist pressure➔Instead communicate the effect of delays

➔Become part of the solution◆This is your value

➔Ask more than you say➔Compliment our technical with your skillset

Overview

1.Priorities2.Teamwork

3.Challenges4.Resources

5.Final Thoughts

Easily Fixates on One Problem

➔Problem is “interesting”➔Happens very often with lack of experience

➔When this happens◆Unable to give proper estimates◆Loses sight of the bigger picture/priorities

Prefers to Reason With Data

➔Requires reason for feature/change/action◆Provide data for proof

➔Code/$$$/progress speaks louder than words◆Provide quantitative consequences◆Show your value added to team

➔Obeys reasonable rules, and questions everything else

Order Before Chaos

➔Clearly specify requirements and prioritization◆Bring all parties to the table◆Have them create the requirements◆Create contracts with the priorities

➔Provide consistency and efficiency◆Set expectations◆Track progress and note conflicts/issues

Overview

1.Priorities2.Teamwork3.Challenges4.Resources

5.Final Thoughts

Resources

1.Project ManagementTrello, trello.com

2.CommunicationSlack, slack.com

3.Agile DevelopmentScrum,

scrumreferencecard.com

Overview

1.Priorities2.Teamwork3.Challenges4.Resources

5.Final Thoughts

Conclusion

➔Communication is everything➔Focus on the craft➔Create trust

◆Start with culture◆Community is everything

Community?

How do I start?Build your resumé and experience

1.Be a co-founder2.Manage/Help startups3.Compliment your business skills/knowledge

Besides, if you’re an employer do you care about GPA or the candidate’s experience?

olmo@codergv.com/ibolmo /ibolmo

www.gmgagency.com

Every last TuesdaySCNE 2.102

Starts 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM

www.codergv.comEvery 1st and 3rd Thursday

McAllen Incubator7:00 PM until bust