Ep. 28 | From Engineer to Entrepreneur with Brad Heller

Summary

In this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, hosts Brittany Ellich and Erika engage with Brad Heller, co-founder and CTO of Tower, discussing his journey from software engineer to startup founder. They explore the evolution of software engineering careers, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the skills necessary for success in the tech industry. Brad shares insights on the importance of aligning passions with work, the realities of startup life, and advice for aspiring engineers. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on coding and the importance of understanding the fundamentals of software development.

Takeaways

• Brad's journey from corporate life to startups was driven by a desire for impactful work.

• Working at startups can provide invaluable learning experiences compared to big tech.
• Entrepreneurship requires aligning your passions with your work for true success.
• Delegating tasks is a crucial skill for founders, but often difficult to master.
• Understanding the entire business process is essential for engineers in startups.
• The tech landscape has changed, with many entering the field for financial reasons rather than passion.
• AI is transforming the coding landscape, but understanding the fundamentals remains critical.
• Networking skills developed in big tech can be beneficial in startup environments.
• It's important to recognize when to hire and delegate responsibilities as a founder.

• The romanticized view of entrepreneurship often overlooks the hard work involved.

Links

• Brad Heller on LinkedIn
• Tower.Dev
• Paul Graham
• Will Larson - A forty-year career
• PIE PDX
• Rick Turoczy

Hosts

• Overcommitted.dev
• Brittany Ellich
• Eggyhead