In our first short episode Matt and James dive into something every hiring manager and recruiter has faced:

• Candidates who seem like a great fit — strong CV, good early interviews — but don’t make it through.
• Or, just as often, the ones that slip through the cracks but might have been the right hire.
• Drawing on Matt’s years of experience leading engineering teams, we talk through:
• Why hiring starts with understanding the real problem you’re solving
• How the cost of a “wrong hire” compares to the risk of missing the right person
• What makes hiring for deep tech roles fundamentally different from product-focused startups
• Why values alignment can matter more than technical brilliance
• What engineers should look for when evaluating whether a startup is worth joiningIf you're scaling a team or navigating your next move as an engineer, this episode offers a grounded look at where things go right — and wrong — in the hiring process.

🔎 Full episodes & show notes at whatnext.dev

I'm a Software Engineer ~ what next?

S01E05 A short mid-season review of where we are going next"I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond. Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.In this episode, we reflect on what we've learned from making the first four episodes of the podcast—what worked, what didn't, and where we want to take things next. We talk about refining the format, improving audio quality, and getting better at planning and post-production. We also share our goals for the rest of Season 1 and how we hope to keep improving the experience for listeners.Whether you're an engineer, a manager, or someone looking for inspiration to navigate your career path, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.Shoutouts:

• A special shoutout to Kenneth Ekow from Scale Story, who gave us a ton of great feedback on the first four episodes, some of which we will (hopefully) put into practice in the next episodes!
• Keneth Ekow: / helloekow

Hosts:

• Scale Story: https://www.scale-story.com/

• Matt: / matthewsinclair
• James: / james-wilson-92170656

Related:

• https://whatnext.dev
• https://matthewsinclair.com/
• https://quantumfaxmachine.com

I'm a Software Engineer — what next? S01E04 Swapnali Bhansali - Navigating Career Growth, Leadership, and Challenges

I'm a Software Engineer, What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond. Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.

In this episode, we sit down with Swapnali Bhansali, a seasoned engineering leader and software quality expert, to discuss her journey navigating career transitions, international moves, and the challenges of stepping into leadership roles as a woman in tech. From starting her career as a campus recruit at Yahoo to becoming a senior leader in the UK, Swapnali shares candid insights on overcoming professional setbacks, breaking through biases, and redefining leadership on her own terms. She opens up about the barriers women face in corporate spaces—whether it’s returning to work after maternity leave, being overlooked for senior roles, or simply making their voices heard in male-dominated rooms.

We explore:

- The hidden cost of poor software quality and how to build a culture of excellence

- The reality of international career moves and adapting to new work environments

- How to transition from an individual contributor to a leadership role—twice

- The challenges women face when re-entering the workforce after career breaks

- Practical advice for allies, hiring managers, and leaders on supporting diverse teams

Whether you’re an engineer, a manager, or someone looking for inspiration to navigate your career path, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Guest:

- Swapnali Bhansali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnalibhansali/

Hosts:

- Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair/

- James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656/

Related:

- https://whatnext.dev

- https://matthewsinclair.com/

- https://quantumfaxmachine.com

00:00 Swapnali’s Episode Intro

05:28 How Experience Has Shaped Swapnali’s View on Hiring

13:36 Challenges Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

21:46 Advice for Female Engineers Moving into Leadership

30:03 How Allies Can Support Women in the Workplace