James Charlesworth from Pendo | Product vs Engineering: Building Bridges, Not Walls

Welcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra interviews James Charlesworth, Director of Engineering, Sheffield Site Lead at Pendo, to discuss the common conflict between product and engineering teams.

James brings over 15 years of experience in engineering and leadership to share strategies for fostering empathy, collaboration, and effective communication. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each team's priorities, the impact of misalignment, and how impactful one-on-one interactions can build trust within teams.

💡 Highlights

a) Getting Candid

👨‍💻 James’ background and early passion for tech

🎸 Exploring creative non-tech hobbies

b) Professional Journey

🎓 A pivotal moment: Choosing the wrong degree

🧭 Navigating life and discovering your niche

c) Key Takeaways

💟 Bridging the ‘Product vs Engineering’ gap with empathy

👔 The role and influence of Engineering Managers

🤝 How frequent 1-on-1s build trust within teams

🌱 Practical tips for introverts in tech

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🎧 Full Episode

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