Links
- Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
- React Brussels: https://react.brussels
- React Africa: https://react-africa.com
- Kelly on X: https://x.com/kvlly
- Spot AI: https://spot.ai
- Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar
Summary
Kelly Vaughn, Director of Engineering at Spot AI, shares her unique career journey from self-taught coder to entrepreneur and now corporate leader. She discusses running a Shopify agency, co-founding a venture-backed startup, and transitioning to her current role. Key points include:
- The challenges of running an agency and managing employee livelihoods
- Insights on bootstrapping vs. venture funding for startups
- The importance of genuine relationships and networking in career growth
- Adapting to different company stages and cultures
- Navigating the transition from entrepreneur to corporate employee
- The value of diverse backgrounds in tech leadership roles
Kelly emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, embracing change, and learning from failures throughout one's career journey.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:08 Spot AI: Video Intelligence
00:12:46 Dealing with Rapid Growth
00:17:05 Getting into Tech
00:22:25 TapRoom Consultancy/Shopify
00:32:35 Running a Consultancy
00:39:09 Venture Capital or no?
00:40:08 Shutting Down Consultancy
00:41:11 Attention, Effort, Mistakes as a Path to Growth
00:47:26 The Pressure of Running a Business
00:52:05 How to find a job: networking
01:01:02 Being taken advantage of
01:04:59 How Kelly got her audience
01:08:31 Big audience problems
01:12:01 Therapist and Engineering Leadership
01:18:18 Boundaries
01:26:06 Advice for Founders
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