S04E28 Coaching Engineers vs Athletes

 Michael Zucker, VP of Engineering at UNiDAYS, joined us today to discuss some of the parallels in coaching athletes vs software engineers.

The Guest:

Michael Zucker is a software executive with over 20 years of experience in the field. Today, he is the VP of Engineering at UNiDAYS, a platform offering exclusive discounts and deals from top brands to students, as well as providing student verification services to the likes of Apple, Meta and other large companies. In addition to this, he has also successfully coached ice hockey teams for the same amount of time throughout his career. 

In this episode, Michael joins us to explore the parallels between coaching athletes and managing software engineering teams. Michael shares insights from his unconventional career path, highlighting the importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and a growth mindset in leadership roles. Listen in as we discuss how effective feedback, clear strategies, and genuine care for individual growth are crucial whether you're on the ice or in the office.

Some highlights of this episode include:

• Parallels Between Coaching Athletes and Managing Engineers
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
•  Why Great Engineers (or Athletes) Don’t Always Make Great Managers
• Feedback Culture: Athletes vs. Engineers
• Future Trends in Software Development (Beyond AI)

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