Abstract
As engineers, we like to think of ourselves as deliberate problem-solvers. But many of the most impactful choices we make aren’t captured in design docs, sprint plans, or architecture reviews. They happen quietly, through habit, omission, or just going with the flow.
In this talk, we’ll examine the subtle, often invisible decisions that shape our systems, our teams, and our careers. These choices are easy to miss in the moment, but accumulate into culture and code, risk and resilience, success and struggle.
Through real-world stories and hard-learned lessons, we’ll explore how to notice these decisions before they make themselves, and how we can steer more intentionally, even in the messy middle of modern software work.
Speaker
Shawna Martell
Senior Staff Engineer @Carta, Previously @Yahoo, @Verizon, and @Wolfram
Shawna Martell is a Senior Staff Engineer at Carta, Inc. Her previous experience includes Director of Software Engineering for Yahoo's Big Data Platform, and she was one of the original engineers on Wolfram|Alpha. She holds an MS in Computer Science from Syracuse University and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Beyond her professional pursuits, she channels her passion into volunteering in local politics and finds solace in the world of podcasts.
Find Shawna Martell at:
Speaker
Dan Fike
Principal Engineer and Deputy to the CTO @Carta, Previously @Google and @YaHoo, 5+ Years Implementing Strategies and Solutions in the Tech Industry
Dan Fike is a Principal Engineer and Deputy to the CTO at Carta, Inc. His experience ranges from game development to web app infrastructure, from Google to a 5-person tech startup, from programmer to architect, and from writing patents to conducting M&A diligence. He holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Illinois
