From Engineer to Executive: An Interview with Eric Muntz of MailChimp

If you’ve ever wondered about what it could look like to go from being an engineer to the senior executive level of your company, you won’t want to miss this episode. This week on the Programming Leadership podcast, Marcus interviews Eric Muntz, the Senior Vice President of Engineering at MailChimp. They discuss Eric’s career shifts as well as the challenges and lessons he’s learned along the way.

Show Notes

• One of the first lessons Eric learned in management was how to listen well. It’s about waiting to jump in before you speak and being intentional about when you do.
• When Eric began moving up in leadership, he asked himself, “What types of things do I need to do to go in and actually be perceived that way from people who don't know me at all?” One step he made was going through the employees’ training and asking them how he could help them do their jobs better.
• If you’re looking for a promotion, know that managers are looking for who is helping and who understands the big picture.
• Address burnout. Talk about it. Especially with those who are prone to care ‘too much.’
• Eric shares that MailChimp’s company motto is, "Listen hard, change fast,” which gives you permission to be wrong — and fosters growth among all involved.

Links:

• Book reference: Radical Candor
• Thanks to this episode’s sponsor, GitPrime!
• Book a group workshop with Marcus!
• Email your questions to marcus@marcusblankenship.com