Own Your Engineering Career (No One Else Will)

Are you waiting for a promotion that never comes? In this episode, we break down why relying on your manager to define your growth is a career-limiting mistake and how you can take full ownership of your professional path. In this episode, we cover: - Why hard skills get you hired but won't get you ahead - How to create growth opportunities when your company has no clear path - Using RACI to own decisions and increase your visibility Connect with Zanina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaninakatira/ References: RACI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrix Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:51 - Why hard skills get you hired but soft skills make you thrive 00:04:17 - How to connect your code to actual business results 00:06:44 - The art of storytelling for technical professionals 00:09:16 - Balancing execution speed with team collaboration 00:11:57 - The problem with forcing engineers into management roles 00:15:13 - Surviving when technology outgrows your current skillset 00:17:59 - Using the RACI method to clarify ownership and decisions 00:21:23 - What to do when your manager has no answers for your growth 00:24:40 - Why you should value scope of work over job titles 00:28:39 - How to pitch and negotiate impactful projects to leadership 00:33:00 - Expanding your perspective by networking outside your team 00:35:35 - Visualizing your ambition and defining what success looks like 00:39:16 - Overcoming the fear of asking for constructive feedback #careergrowth #softwareengineering #softskills Connect with Patrick Akil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-akil https://twitter.com/PatrickAkil_