This document introduces Tessa Taylor and provides insights into her background, beliefs, and approach to managing others. It summarizes that Tessa grew up in Seattle and now lives in New York, has a computer science degree and years of experience writing code, believes engineering is multidisciplinary and that not all problems require technical solutions, and aims to set her reports up for success by ensuring they have the skills and unblocked time to do their best work and achieve their goals.

1. Tessa Ann Taylor
A Readme

2. A little about me -
I’m from Seattle, went to college in Massachusetts,
and now live in New York City (by way of San
Francisco and a little more Seattle).
I’ve been writing software professionally for many
years, and have a B.A. in Computer Science. After
many years of in-the-weeds code-writing, I’ve
switched my focus from wrangling code to
managing humans.
When I’m not working, I’m probably traveling
somewhere via plane, train, car, paddleboard, ski,
bike, or foot.
Hi! I’m Tessa

3. I believe
❖ Engineering is multidisciplinary
❖ Our time is best spent doing differentiating work
❖ Not all problems are technology problems
❖ You belong here

4. Engineering is multidisciplinary
Writing code, while important, is only part of what we do. As engineers, we are
also responsible for learning about what we’re building so we can make the
best decisions as we write software. We’re responsible for collaborating - with
other engineers, product, design, and even users. Finally, we’re responsible for
sharing our solutions, tips, tricks, and best practices with engineers within the
team and beyond.

5. Our time is best spent doing differentiating work
We give the company a competitive advantage through software. This means
that our time is best spent writing software that uniquely solves the needs of
this business. I believe in leveraging existing and managed solutions where
possible, and writing extensible code and building platforms where custom
code is necessary.

6. Not all problems are technology problems
Technology is an incredibly powerful tool, but it is just one of many. Just as I
believe in leveraging existing technology tools where they exist, I believe in
leveraging whatever methods will solve a problem in the most efficient way.
Sometimes the best solution involves leveraging an existing technology
product, sometimes the best solution involves humans or changes to process,
and every once and a while the best solution involves writing custom code.

7. You belong here
How you got into engineering, the languages you’ve worked with, your
previous jobs, and your experiences outside of work are all valid and valuable.
Your unique perspective is why you’re here, and all of your past experiences
are assets in your job as an engineer.

8. Working Together

9. My job is to
❖ Set you up for success
❖ Enable you to do your best work
❖ Help you articulate and achieve your goals

10. To set you up for success, I will
↳ Ensure that your tasks and goals are attainable
↳ Ensure that you have the necessary information and skills to
succeed at your job
↳ Set clear expectations

11. To enable you to do your best work, I will
↳ Empower you to make decisions
↳ Unblock you when necessary
↳ Improve team, department, and company processes

12. To help you articulate and achieve your goals, I will
↳ Keep you informed about the priorities of the company,
department, and team
↳ Give you tools to refine and structure your goals
↳ Surface opportunities that help you achieve your goals

13. I expect you to
❖ Ask questions
❖ Own your work
❖ Help the people around you

14. I expect you to
❖ Ask questions
❖ Own your work
❖ Help the people around you
Always be learning
Create a culture of curiosity
by asking questions
Create a safe space by
answering questions
respectfully

15. I expect you to
❖ Ask questions
❖ Own your work
❖ Help the people around you
Take responsibility and
ownership
Understand the context (if
you don’t, ask)
Leave things better than
you found them

16. I expect you to
❖ Ask questions
❖ Own your work
❖ Help the people around you
Collaborate with your
teammates and colleagues
throughout the company
Teach, learn, get curious,
ask, answer, lend a hand

17. A note about time
You are in charge of your own time. I
expect you to keep fairly regular work
hours, but I’m more interested in what
you’re getting done than exactly when
you’re doing it. I will respect your time
by trying not to send you messages
outside of your regular work hours
(unless something is truly on fire) and
by ensuring that you have large blocks
of uninterrupted work time.
The best use of my time is helping you.
Feel free to shoot me a slack message
and/or grab any available time on my
calendar if you want to chat. If you can’t
find time on my calendar, shoot me a
message and I’ll make time. Seriously.
Very, very few meetings are more
important than you. I will move them.
Your time My time
♪

18. I look forward to
working together
Questions? Thoughts? Fun facts?
Reach out any time.
You can find me --->
Twitter
@c0d3rgirl
CodePen
@tessat