From Self-Taught Dev to VP of Engineering at SugarCRM

How does a self-taught developer become VP of Engineering at a $100M+ tech company?

In this episode of Tech Teams Today, Robert Gonzalez shares the pivotal mindset that shaped his journey—from learning HTML and Perl in the ‘90s to leading a global engineering org at SugarCRM. He breaks down how saying yes to risky projects, staying technical, and leading with curiosity helped him rise to the executive level.

Hosted by Lucas Mendes (CEO, Revelo), this conversation is packed with real talk and actionable insights for engineering leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:35 Guest Introduction: Robert Gonzalez
01:03 Robert's Career Journey
05:02 Scaling Leadership Across Global Teams
08:01 Challenges and Lessons in Leadership
12:07 Balancing Technical and Executive Roles
14:04 Fostering Innovation and Curiosity
15:41 Mentoring and Developing Talent
19:39 Personal Growth and Staying Grounded
22:31 Impact of AI on Engineering
27:00 Future Trends and Personal Insights
33:43 Closing Remarks and Community Invitation

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