30 Years in Tech: Why Your Career Ladder is Actually a Squiggle

Sophie Weston draws on 30 years of software engineering experience to explain why the traditional career ladder is outdated, introducing the "broken comb" model for broad, non-linear career growth. The talk covers the Engineer-Manager Pendulum concept, why leadership skills from outside the IDE are essential, and how to navigate transitions between technical and leadership roles. Ideal for senior engineers, tech leads, and engineering managers looking to advance to principal roles or department leadership.