Track host
About the track
What does it take to reach senior leadership in tech? Whether aiming for the IC path to Distinguished Engineer or leading teams as a CTO, this track is for you. We'll explore the skills and strategies needed to thrive, no matter the direction you choose. We'll cover everything from leaping IC and management — and even back again — to building a career that can withstand the ups and downs. Expect truthful talks and real-world insights from those who've been there.
The day in the host's words
Sessions in this track
Monday 7 April. 6 sessions per track, chosen and introduced by the Track Host.
10:35 Whittle (3rd Fl.) Session leadership The Principal Engineer’s Path: Skills, Strategies, and Lessons Learned Sophie Weston Principal Engineer @ClearBank, Co-Organizer of DevOpsDays London & FastFlowConf In many organizations, the role of Principal Engineer is considered the highest level of the ‘individual contributor’ career path. But careers aren’t like ladders—short, straight, and evenly spaced. Instead, they’re long, winding, and often challenging journeys. 11:45 Fleming (3rd Fl.) Session career growth How to Always Get Invited to Big Strategic Conversations Mark Allen Engineering Leader and Technical Co-Founder, Over 10 Years Experience Growing Managers and Senior Engineers Ever heard “you’re a great engineer/manager, but to get to the next level, you need to focus on the big picture and your business impact”? Early on in our careers, we focus on technical depth and excellence. 13:35 Fleming (3rd Fl.) Session software engineering Changing Power Dynamics: What Senior Engineers Can Learn From Junior Engineers Beth Anderson Principal Software Engineer @BBC Digital Distribution In many engineering teams, senior engineers make the decisions and are responsible for mentoring and teaching junior team members. This rigid hierarchical dynamic can stifle innovation, discourage fresh perspectives, and create barriers to collaboration. How can we change this? 14:45 Rutherford (4th Fl.) Unconference Unconference: The Path to Senior Engineering Leadership 15:55 Fleming (3rd Fl.) Session Engineering Management Scaling to 100+ as a Director: Lessons From Growing Engineering Organizations Thiago Ghisi Director of Engineering @Nubank & Co-Host of @EngAdvicePod, Previously @Apple & @ThoughtWorks When I took on the Director of Engineering role at Nubank, I had no idea just how many times I’d need to reinvent my leadership style. 17:05 Whittle (3rd Fl.) Session engineering leadership Shine Bright as an IC: Growing Yourself As Your Company Grows Suhail Patel Senior Staff Engineer @Monzo Leading the Platform and Data Functions, Previously @Citymapper Being part of a growing company is a fantastic opportunity to level yourself as an individual very rapidly, if you choose to grasp it. You've already immersed yourself with context and you might be the go to person for a key area of the organization.QCon London 2025 is a three day conference for senior software engineers, architects and team leads. An international program committee of working engineers selects every session. Patterns and practices, not products and pitches.