Career
Career paths in data and AI: breaking in, leveling up from junior to senior, portfolio careers, and what hiring managers actually look for — from someone who has hired and mentored hundreds of engineers.
5 articles
How I'd Break Into Data Engineering in 2025 If I Were Starting Over
A realistic roadmap for breaking into data engineering in 2025 - from someone who has hired, mentored hundreds of engineers, and built data systems at enterprise scale.
The Honest Difference Between a Junior and Senior Data Engineer
The difference between a junior and senior data engineer has almost nothing to do with years of experience and everything to do with how they think, communicate, and take ownership.
What Microsoft Taught Me About Enterprise Tech That Startups Always Get Wrong
After years moving between enterprise and startup environments, here is what I've learned that each consistently gets wrong about the other - and what the smartest teams steal from both.
Why I Started Advising Startups While Working a Full-Time Job
On holding multiple identities, building a portfolio career in tech, and why the traditional single-employer career path stopped making sense to me.
From India to Microsoft: What Nobody Tells You About Building a Career in the US
The parts of the immigrant tech journey that nobody puts on LinkedIn - the visa stress, the identity questions, the moments of doubt - and what actually got me through them.