Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Society & Culture
Business
Sports
Health & Fitness
Technology
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
Loading...
0:00 / 0:00
Podjoint Logo
US
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts221/v4/2f/fb/5f/2ffb5f8b-59b4-5aa9-08f5-fabc489bcd08/mza_7945376973940972970.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
Beyond The Build
Uma Abu and Ope Osunkoya
20 episodes
1 week ago
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode, we unpack the realities of working from home versus working in the office. We share what’s lost when you’re remote, like casual hallway conversations and easy collaboration and how that affects connection and visibility at work. We also explore the upsides of remote life: fewer distractions, no commute, and more control over your time. At the same time, we dive into challenges like blu...
Show more...
Technology
Education,
Science
RSS
All content for Beyond The Build is the property of Uma Abu and Ope Osunkoya and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode, we unpack the realities of working from home versus working in the office. We share what’s lost when you’re remote, like casual hallway conversations and easy collaboration and how that affects connection and visibility at work. We also explore the upsides of remote life: fewer distractions, no commute, and more control over your time. At the same time, we dive into challenges like blu...
Show more...
Technology
Education,
Science
Episodes (20/20)
Beyond The Build
EP20: WFH vs WFO The Productivity Myth Everyone’s Falling For
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode, we unpack the realities of working from home versus working in the office. We share what’s lost when you’re remote, like casual hallway conversations and easy collaboration and how that affects connection and visibility at work. We also explore the upsides of remote life: fewer distractions, no commute, and more control over your time. At the same time, we dive into challenges like blu...
Show more...
1 week ago
36 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP19: The Fundamental Reasons Software Engineers Struggle and What to Do About It
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 When your teammate is struggling, it's easy to assume they're not trying hard enough. But what if the problem is something else entirely? In this episode of Beyond The Build, we dive deep into one of the most uncomfortable topics in software engineering: how to recognize when a colleague is struggling and what you can actually do to help. We break down what "struggling" really looks like—missing deadli...
Show more...
3 weeks ago
36 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP18: Amazon Leader Reveals What Separates High Performers from Leaders
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with Felix Ekwueme, Technical Advisor to the VP of International Sellers at Amazon, to talk about the real drivers of career growth that go way beyond just “doing good work.” We unpack why comfort and growth don’t coexist, the dangers of being the silent high performer, and what it really takes to rise through the ranks—especially as an immigrant or unde...
Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 26 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP17: The Layoff Signals Everyone Ignores (Until It's Too Late)
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this raw and honest episode, we dive deep into the uncomfortable reality of tech layoffs that every software engineer needs to understand. Drawing from our own experiences of surviving cuts while watching teammates get let go, we break down the harsh truths about what really determines who stays and who goes. We explore the critical difference between working in cost centers versus revenue-generat...
Show more...
1 month ago
29 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP16: From Lagos to South Africa to a US Tech Giant - Career Lessons From A Digital Nomad
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with Fola, a Senior Security Engineer whose career has taken him from Nigeria to South Africa and now the United States. We unpack what it means to build a career across countries and cultures. Fola opens up about his journey out of Nigeria, the culture shocks he faced moving to Cape Town, and how he learned to navigate both corporate and social environm...
Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 9 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP 15: Focusing On Solving the Right Problems (and Ignoring the Wrong Ones)
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 What if the secret to making an impact at work isn’t solving every problem—but knowing which ones to ignore? In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into one of the most overlooked but critical parts of being a software engineer: identifying the right problems to solve, at the right time, in the right way. It’s not about doing more work—it’s about doing the work that actually moves the needle. We ...
Show more...
2 months ago
25 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP14: How to Ask for Help Without Feeling Dumb (Engineer's Guide)
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 Asking for help might seem like a basic skill, but in software engineering, how you ask can impact everything from your productivity to your team’s trust. In this episode of Beyond the Build, we break down the underrated art of asking for help at work. We talk about: The mental shift engineers need to make when reaching outWho to ask, and whenHow to show you've done your due diligenceCreating team cult...
Show more...
3 months ago
33 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP13: Inside the Mind of a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft
Send us a text Product managers wear a lot of hats—but what do they actually do? In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with our first-ever guest: Thien-Y Le, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, to get the unfiltered truth about one of tech's most misunderstood roles. Thien-Y walks us through the real work of a PM—from balancing customer demands with business goals to managing relationships with engineers. We dig into what it takes to build a roadmap, why product managers are som...
Show more...
3 months ago
1 hour 33 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP12: We’ve been to 20+ Tech Conferences - Here's What Actually Matters
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the often-overlooked world of tech networking and collaboration. We share our personal experiences from dozens of conferences and meetups, revealing which events actually moved the needle for our careers and which ones were just free pizza and swag. You'll discover why general networking events are often a waste of time, how to identify the specific meetups that align with your goals, and the art of finding collaborators wh...
Show more...
3 months ago
29 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP11: The Tech Hype Trap: Why 90% of Developers Are Wasting Their Time (And How to Be in the 10%)
Send us a text Every developer faces the same exhausting question: Should I learn this hot new technology everyone’s talking about—or is it just another flash in the pan? In this episode of Beyond the Build, we tackle the tech trend dilemma head-on. Some believe staying on top of the latest frameworks, tools, and AI models is essential to stay relevant in the job market. Others argue it’s all hype—what really matters will stick, and you’ll learn it when you actually need it. We dive into both...
Show more...
4 months ago
27 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP10: How to Be the Engineer Everyone Remembers (For the Right Reasons)
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we’re talking about one of the most overlooked parts of software engineering—being a great teammate. Software engineering isn't a solo sport—it's the ultimate team game. But while we spend countless hours perfecting our technical skills, we often overlook the collaboration skills that actually determine our career success. In this episode, we dive deep into what it really means to be someone people want to work with. We explore the character...
Show more...
4 months ago
35 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP9: Your Code Isn’t Enough - How Software Engineers Actually Get Promoted
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we’re diving deep into what it really takes to get promoted as a software engineer. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about writing good code. We break down how to think about promotions through the lens of impact, influence, and ownership, the pillars that often separate engineers who stay stuck from those who move up. You’ll learn what’s typically expected at each level, how to work with your manager (instead of just hoping they notice you), an...
Show more...
5 months ago
25 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP8: Winning Over Your Manager, Director & VP - The One-on-One Playbook
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the critical skill every engineer needs, but few are taught: how to collaborate with leadership. From one-on-ones with your manager to hallway chats with directors and VPs, we cover what you should be saying, asking, and sharing to make your work more visible, effective, and aligned. We break down the types of conversations to have, how to tailor your updates to different levels of leadership, how to ask for feedback, and how to...
Show more...
5 months ago
23 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP7: Structuring Meetings for Success: Write, Align, and Act
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the art of running effective engineering meetings. We break down different types of meetings, when you should prep with documents (and how to write good pre-reads), how to align with key people before a big meeting, and why every meeting should have clear outcomes before it even starts. We also discuss how to structure meetings based on who's attending, the power of AI tools to automate note-taking, and how to turn me...
Show more...
6 months ago
25 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP6: Work-Life Balance In Tech - The Hidden Cost of Climbing the Ladder
Send us a text If you’ve ever questioned whether your job title comes at the cost of your freedom, this one’s for you. In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the messy reality of work-life balance in tech—especially as your role and responsibilities grow. We ask the tough question: Is balance even possible once you start owning important projects or teams? From seasonal workloads to title-based expectations, we explore how your career trajectory affects your ability to unplug...
Show more...
6 months ago
20 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP5: Are You Smart Enough To Be A Software Engineer?
Send us a text In this episode of Beyond the Build, we open up about something nearly every software engineer faces but rarely talks about — imposter syndrome. From feeling like we’re not “technical enough” to questioning whether we belong in the rooms we’ve worked hard to get into, we share our personal stories, struggles, and how imposter syndrome has shown up throughout our careers. We also dive into the clever strategies and mindset shifts that have helped us push through those mome...
Show more...
7 months ago
24 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP4: Developing "Taste" As A Software Engineer
Send us a text In this episode, Ope and I break down what it really takes to build strong technical skills as a software engineer. We go beyond just writing code and dive into how to deliberately sharpen your expertise by: Building a portfolio of projects that showcase your abilitiesDeveloping taste in engineering and writing about what you learnSurrounding yourself with an environment that pushes you to grow (or creating one if it doesn’t exist)Seeking scale—working on problems that challeng...
Show more...
7 months ago
24 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP1: How We Coded Our Way Here
Send us a text In this episode, Ope and I discuss our backgrounds and how we got to where we are. We also go into what the podcast will be about moving forward
Show more...
8 months ago
12 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP3: AI : Friend or Foe? Using AI Without Losing Your Edge
Send us a text In this episode, Ope and I discuss how we incorporate AI into our work as software engineers—the benefits, the challenges, and the misconceptions. We break down the pitfalls of relying too much on AI, share strategies for using it effectively without compromising core engineering skills, and offer practical advice on leveraging AI to boost productivity rather than replace developers. Whether you're excited about AI or skeptical of its role in tech, this conversation sheds light...
Show more...
8 months ago
19 minutes

Beyond The Build
EP2: Rethinking Technical Interviews
Send us a text In this episode, Ope and I dive into our experiences with technical interviews—from their evolution into the current LeetCode-heavy format to the challenges they present for both candidates and hiring teams. We explore alternative approaches to assessing software engineers and share practical tips on how developers today can better prepare for these rigorous evaluations. Whether you're gearing up for your next interview or just curious about the hiring landscape, this conversat...
Show more...
8 months ago
26 minutes

Beyond The Build
Send us a text Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9 In this episode, we unpack the realities of working from home versus working in the office. We share what’s lost when you’re remote, like casual hallway conversations and easy collaboration and how that affects connection and visibility at work. We also explore the upsides of remote life: fewer distractions, no commute, and more control over your time. At the same time, we dive into challenges like blu...