What does it take to be a leader in tech? The 'born genius', bold visionary? Can you lead if that's not you? I'm Lena Reinhard, long-term technology leader, and I believe that leadership can be learned. Many of us face similar challenges in this work, but we don't talk about them enough in the open: The difficult choices, hidden doubts, lessons learned the hard way, and growing the skills not all of us were born with. My guests and I are here to change that: You'll get real talk on hard things in technology, finding community, and becoming the engineering leader you can be. Join us!
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19 recent
December 15, 2025Episode 1648 min
Conducting as Leadership with Cornelius Meister
In our work as engineering leaders, there aren't a lot of places where the way that we lead becomes super widely visible to a lot of people. Maybe you give a presentation at some point to your entire company or at a conference.A while ago, though, I was able to watch someone lead who made me really curious about how he does it. He leads in a very public way. I watched a conductor leading an orchestra in a concert, and, in this episode, I'm sharing with you my conversation with him.Our guest is Cornelius Meister, a German conductor, pianist, and previously the Generalmusikdirektor or General Musical Director at Stuttgart State Opera.His leadership excellence has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including conductor of the year. He consistently introduces new works and pushes boundaries in his field. He's known for strategic programming that combines established works with rarely performed pieces and world premieres and demonstrates how leaders can drive innovation while respecting foundational principles.This conversation was recorded in October 2023. This full episode transcript is available here.
December 1, 2025Episode 1543 min
Difficult Conversations: How to Initiate and Talk About Tough Topics with Nikita Rathi
We've all been there - That moment when you know it's time to have that conversation you've been dreading. The one that makes your stomach clench. The one you would rather run away from.So, how do you handle these conversations? How do you keep it from becoming such a big thing in the first place? This episode is a deep dive into what makes some conversations feel difficult: being torn between compassion and performance that some managers experience and practical strategies for saying no without burning bridges. We explore dynamics that can make these conversations even trickier for women and other minorities in tech and why it makes the biggest difference to focus your leadership approach on consistent, caring leadership instead of perfect moments.Our guest is Nikita Rathi. Nikita has been in the tech industry for several years, transitioning from linguistics to software development, and now leading engineering teams and organizations. She has navigated the complexities of managing performance while maintaining empathy, dealt with the challenge of saying no in a people pleasing culture, and hard lessons about setting boundaries. In this episode, she shares wisdom and practical advice on having difficult conversations.This conversation was recorded in January 2024. Find the full episode transcript here.
November 17, 2025Episode 1459 min
Peer & Leadership Alignment
Small gaps in alignment at the leadership level become canyons by the time they reach your teams. Alignment, as in people really agreeing on what to do, why, and how to get it done. It's also one of those leadership things that sounds so simple and straightforward in theory. But we all know that it's not always that easy in practice.My guest for this episode, Neil, brings his experiences on the topic of alignment. Neil has 25 years of experience in the industry. He's primarily worked in startup contexts, focusing on communications and data aggregation. For the last 10 years, he's been in senior engineering leadership positions with organizations of 50-100 people.Neil and I talk about how to spot misalignment before it becomes a canyon and a crisis. We speak about the hard work of building genuine consensus at the leadership level and how to translate high level strategy into something that your engineering teams can actually use to make decisions.Together, we bring you practical mechanics of creating alignment that is not just nodding along in meetings, but the kind that permeates every aspect of decision making within your organization. This conversation was recorded in June 2024.The full episode transcript is available here.
November 3, 2025Episode 1354 min
Disability & Leadership in Tech
When you're ill or disabled and working in the tech field, the long hours can be not just counterproductive, but discriminatory. And it is also because of these stated ideas of productivity and leadership that disabled leaders often remain invisible, but they do exist, and we are here to talk to one today.Our guest is Sally Lait, an experienced senior leader with two decades experience in roles, including engineering director and VP of Engineering. Sally's insights about energy management, boundary setting, and intentional leadership are wonderful for all of us.This conversation was recorded in August 2024.ResourcesMECFS foundations (SolveCFS | ME Association)Inclusive Design Guidebook (PDF)Creating Inclusive Career Leaders (Talk | Slides)Manager Service Levels (Article)Statistics on disabled people in tech (Article)Find the full episode transcript here.
October 23, 2025Episode 121 hr 15 min
Being Stylish and Belonging in Tech: From Trying to Fit in To Expressing Yourself In a culture of Hoodies And Jeans
“What does a leader look like?”, is a question we come back to here often, and this time, we take it literally: I meet with five exceptional senior leaders to talk about what it’s like being interested in style and fashion in tech, of all places, where it’s long been seen as most fashionable not to care about these topics, where an implicit but strongly-enforced dress code of dark hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans reigned, and where the resulting “uniform” culture has been hard on everyone who doesn’t fit traditional ideas of what an engineer, a “technical person”, a “geek”, a leader looks like. So, how do you convey that you are all of those things, when you don’t look like the stereotype of someone who is? We talk about our journeys in attempts to fit in, exploring ways of expressing and being ourselves, and the stressful mental gymnastics involved in calculating how our appearance may support or undermine how we’re viewed and treated. We dive into being “firsts” in visible positions, and how we found style as a tool for empowerment, connection, and representation, and close with some favorite styles and recommendations to find your own. I loved having this conversation, and I hope you enjoy it too. “I think style and fashion is such an important part of self-actualization, and becoming that greater version of yourself, and it is a big part of how people perceive you, so it gives me great joy to feel self-actualised on a particular day and feel like I am representing the true version of myself.” — ChristinaThis conversation was recorded in October 2024. Find the full episode transcript here.
October 23, 20251 min
Welcome Back! A Note from Lena
The Leadership Confidential podcast is back from a short hiatus. New episodes coming soon!
April 15, 2025Episode 1152 min
Real Talk on Allyship in Engineering: Using Your Position to Support Others
"I don't think about being an ally as a badge or a thing... I start from the point of view of wanting to be a better person and be good to the people around me."While many discussions about allyship in tech focus on company-wide initiatives, what concrete steps can individual contributors and technical leaders take to create more equitable environments? How can you use your influence, expertise, and social capital to support colleagues from underrepresented groups?In this episode, Lena speaks with Leo, an experienced staff engineer who shares practical, behind-the-scenes ally actions that senior technical contributors can implement, regardless of their management status.This conversation explores:Understanding the socio-technical systems that shape workplace dynamicsSimple meeting tactics that create space for more voices to be heardHow documentation can serve as a powerful tool for influence and recognitionBuilding relationships and trust that enable you to advocate effectivelyLearning from missed opportunities and growing as an allyUsing established credibility to challenge unfair practicesWhether you're a senior engineer, tech lead, or individual contributor with influence through tenure, expertise, or connections, this episode offers actionable approaches to supporting colleagues and creating more inclusive environments.Full episode transcript link.ResourcesPeople of Color in Tech: Empowering DiversityWhy this podcast existsLeadership Confidential provides a space for honest conversations about the hard parts of leadership that most people only discuss behind closed doors. From my close work with dozens of leaders every week, I know that many struggle with topics like creating inclusive environments, navigating power dynamics, and supporting team members effectively. This podcast is where we talk about it.About your hostI'm Lena Reinhard (she/they), a fractional VP Engineering, leadership coach, mentor, and facilitator. Having served as an engineering executive with companies like CircleCI and Travis CI, and as a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO, I have dedicated my career to helping fast-paced organizations across the globe succeed in times of high change and challenging markets. You can regularly find me speaking at tech conferences and read my practical guides for leaders in the technology space on my website.
April 1, 2025Episode 101 hr 8 min
Supporting Neurodivergent Employees: A Guide for Engineering Leaders
“People don’t always take it well, unfortunately. But managers, a lot of the time, don’t do it out of malice.”Neurodivergent employees face unique challenges in tech—struggling with information overload, unspoken workplace norms, and the pressure to mask their differences. Yet, many organizations fail to provide the support they need to thrive.In this episode, Lena sits down with Adya, an experienced professional in tech, to explore the lived realities of being neurodivergent at work. From navigating ableism in performance reviews to advocating for accommodations, Adya shares deeply personal stories and actionable insights for leaders who want to build truly inclusive teams.They discuss:How neurodivergency impacts communication, collaboration, and career progressionThe subtle but pervasive ways ableism shows up in techWhy many neurodivergent employees hesitate to ask for accommodations—and how leaders can change thatPractical strategies for making workplaces genuinely supportiveWhat managers and peers need to unlearn about “normal” work behaviorsThis conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to better understand neurodivergency, create more inclusive teams, and move beyond performative allyship to real change.Full episode transcript link.Resources:LinkedIn post about communication feedback for autistic peopleManual of Me: Personal user guides for better working relationshipsBook recommendation on AmazonGoblin Tools: Productivity tools for neurodivergent peopleFlown: Focused work environmentsNeurodiversity Employment Survey: Adjustments Interim ReportLaw Society: Reasonable Adjustments in Organizations - Best Practice for Disability InclusionHR Magazine: Neurodiversity and PIPs - Dropping the MaskHarvard Business Review: Stop Asking Neurodivergent People to Change the Way They CommunicateWhy this podcast existsI make this podcast as a space for honest conversations about the hard parts of leadership that most leaders only dare to talk about behind closed doors—after all, we're supposed to be “in charge” and “on top of things" at all times. But from my close work with dozens of leaders every week, I know that more leaders than you may think are struggling with topics like self-confidence, imposter syndrome, unclear expectations, or difficult bosses. This podcast is where we talk about it.About your hostI’m Lena Reinhard (she/they), a fractional VP Engineering, leadership coach, mentor, and facilitator. Having served as an engineering executive with companies like CircleCI and Travis CI, and as a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO, I have dedicated my career to helping fast-paced organizations across the globe succeed in times of high change and challenging markets. You can regularly find me speaking at tech conferences and read my practical guides for leaders in the technology space on my website.
March 18, 2025Episode 101 hr 14 min
When Your Boss Won't Let Go: Surviving Micromanagement
“The micromanager is rather someone who uses the details for control. You want to assert your own perspective on most things. You take the lead in driving projects, making decisions, taking direction, and not allowing your team any room or space to do that.”While most advice about micromanagement focuses on quick fixes or confrontation, the reality of handling a controlling boss – especially at the executive level – requires a more nuanced approach. How do you maintain your autonomy and leadership presence while working with someone who wants to control every detail?In this episode, Lena and Claire explore practical strategies for handling micromanagement through the lens of Claire's multi-year experience with a C-level micromanager.Claire shares honest insights about: Recognizing the difference between hands-on leadership and controlling behavior Understanding the underlying causes of micromanagement at the executive level Maintaining your team's trust while managing up to a controlling boss Setting boundaries without damaging important relationships Specific tactics that worked (and didn't work) in shifting the dynamic How to avoid becoming a micromanager yourself when under pressureTogether, they examine how to navigate this challenging dynamic while staying true to your leadership values and supporting your team.___Full episode transcript link.___Resources Effective Skip-Level Meetings: A Guide and Templates for Managers of Managers How to Manage Your Boss (With a Free Communication Template!) Managing Up: The Most Important Skill for Anyone Who Has a Manager___Why this podcast exists I make this podcast as a space for honest conversations about the hard parts of leadership that most leaders only dare to talk about behind closed doors—after all, we're supposed to be “in charge”, and “on top of things" at all times. But from my close work with dozens of leaders every week, I know that more leaders than you may think are struggling with topics like self-confidence, imposter syndrome, unclear expectations, or difficult bosses. This podcast is where we talk about it.About your hostI’m Lena Reinhard (she/they), a fractional VP Engineering, leadership coach, mentor, and facilitator. Having served as an engineering executive with companies like CircleCI and Travis CI, and as a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO, I have dedicated my career to helping fast-paced organizations across the globe succeed in times of high change and challenging markets. You can regularly find me speaking at tech conferences and read my practical guides for leaders in the technology space on my website.
December 10, 2024Episode 91 hr 4 min
Debugging Product vs Engineering: Breaking Down Silos and Building Trust
“This collaboration and making it work really well is such a critical factor to delivering great software for your clients.”
In theory, product and engineering teams share the same goal - building great software that solves real problems. Yet in practice, these teams often find themselves working in silos, dealing with misalignment, and sometimes even engaging in blame games. What separates organizations where this partnership thrives from those where it struggles?
In this episode, Lena and product leader Reina unpack the complexities of the product-engineering relationship and share practical strategies to strengthen it.
Drawing from her extensive product management experience across multiple organizations, Reina shares candid insights about:
What makes some product-engineering partnerships succeed while others falter
How to identify and address common friction points between teams
Building trust and psychological safety across organizational boundaries
Setting clear expectations and aligning incentives
Moving from finger-pointing to shared ownership
Creating feedback loops that actually work
Together, they explore actionable approaches for both product and engineering leaders to foster better collaboration, improve communication, and ultimately deliver more value to users.
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Full episode transcript link.
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Resources
Goblin Tools
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Why this podcast exists
I make this podcast as a space for honest conversations about the hard parts of leadership that most leaders only dare to talk about behind closed doors—after all, we're supposed to be “in charge”, and “on top of things" at all times. But from my close work with dozens of leaders every week, I know that more leaders than you may think are struggling with topics like self-confidence, imposter syndrome, unclear expectations, or difficult bosses. This podcast is where we talk about it.
About your host
I’m Lena Reinhard (she/they), a fractional VP Engineering, leadership coach, mentor, and facilitator. Having served as an engineering executive with companies like CircleCI and Travis CI, and as a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO, I have dedicated my career to helping fast-paced organizations across the globe succeed in times of high change and challenging markets. You can regularly find me speaking at tech conferences and read my practical guides for leaders in the technology space on my website.
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