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I’d be lying if I said I was always comfortable when my team members work from home. As an engineering manager, my instinctive reaction—even now—is discomfort. Why?Because I feel like I have less control when someone isn’t onsite. It’s an everyday impulse I train myself to resist. Gary Vaynerchuk wrote about remote work, highlighting commute, collaboration, […]

Are engineers really worse managers — or are we just measuring them with the wrong ruler. 📏 Because I’m in the industry — and because of what I’ve seen in my own teams, projects, and leadership circles — this question occasionally pops into my head. Not out of judgment, but out of curiosity.Out of pattern-recognition.

🌟 I recommended a Korean Drama Series to my team for their break this holiday season (Dec . 2025). Run On, while released around five years ago, checked all the boxes for me—engaging story, relatable themes, my current favorite actor, superb acting from the entire cast, and a soundtrack that lingers long after the credits

What can a board game teach us about surviving the corporate boardroom? More than I expected. ♟️ During intentional rest, I sometimes turn to movies or series. Recently, I came across Misaeng (Incomplete Life)—a K-drama that uses the ancient game of Baduk (Go) to mirror corporate life. Released more than a decade ago, the same

The everyday, real‑life competition every people manager is in by default: EMPLOYEE RETENTION. 🏁 If ICs and system outputs could be exactly defined by their inputs, there’d be no need to test or characterize them. ⚙️But in reality, outputs vary. And sometimes, there are failing units. The same applies to people management.Some employees stay. Some

“Kawawa naman ako.”Or in English: “Poor me.” Believe it or not, I spent half of my career stuck in this victim mindset.I kept thinking:💭“I’m doing so much work, yet I’m not being recognized enough.”💭 “People decide for me—how much work, when to finish, what’s next.”💭 “Someone gets a bigger bonus even though I’m better than them.”💭 “The corporate game is rigged… and

I don’t usually recommend or approve half-day vacation leaves. The truth is, even with flexible work arrangements, there are days when we stretch ourselves more than usual. Sometimes it’s because we’re riding a wave of momentum; other times, we’re determined to hit a milestone before the day ends. And in the process, we forget to

“When did you realize you were meant to pursue management (over being an individual contributor or technical expert)?” 🤔 This is a question I used to ask managers, directors, and GMs I admire—those whose leadership styles I appreciate and aspire to emulate. Almost all of them said, “Very early on.”Some shared that it was simply

If I were younger, I would have reacted in anger. It’s easier.⁠⁠But putting myself in the employee’s shoes—I already feel terrible about the mistake and its implications.⁠⁠If my boss reacts with anger, I’ll just “be a big girl” and move on.⁠⁠Next time? I’d probably keep quiet, try to fix it myself, and hope for the

🗣️ This is the kind of conversation we need more of in the workplace. Supportive. Honest. Human. Let’s normalize empathy, active listening, and real talk at work—not just in 1:1s, but in everyday interactions. Because culture isn’t built in meetings; it’s built in moments.