You’re a strong engineer. You write clean, scalable code, hit your goals, and your team is crushing it. But so is everyone else. In a squad full of A-players, how do you rise above the noise? How do you go from being a reliable contributor to someone who changes the game? In this talk, we’ll cut through the generic advice and dive into what it really takes to stand out on a high-performing engineering team. We’ll cover how to
- Earn trust and visibility with engineering leaders
- Drive impact beyond your individual contributions
- Level up your influence across teams and functions
- Make strategic moves that accelerate your growth
Whether you’re aiming for senior roles, leadership opportunities, or just more recognition for your impact, you’ll leave with actionable steps to raise the bar—not just for yourself, but for your entire team.
Key Takeaways
- Smart risks create standout impact: Playing it safe keeps you average. Calculated risks set you apart.
- Clear decisions earn leadership trust: Decisiveness signals ownership and builds confidence from above.
- Driving change beats adapting to it: Leaders don’t wait for direction—they shape what’s next.
- Strategic effort outperforms brute force: Hard work matters, but smart, focused execution wins.
- Simplifying complexity is a superpower: Anyone can build. Few can distill and clarify.
- Your influence starts with your voice: Speaking up is the first step to leading up.
Speaker
Robert Gonzalez - Vice President of Engineering at SugarCRM
About the Speaker
With nearly 30 years in technology—including 20 in senior engineering roles and over a decade leading high-performing teams—Robert offers a deep, insider’s perspective on what sets top engineers apart. He has hired and managed hundreds of software developers and has personally mentored dozens into senior IC and leadership roles.
As a Vice President of Engineering, Robert is passionate about unlocking potential. Having rapidly advanced in his own career, he’s developed a practical, battle-tested blueprint for growth—one that has helped many engineers accelerate their professional development, expand their impact, and reach the next level in their careers.
Location
WorkVine209
2311 North Tracy Blvd, Suite A, Tracy, CA 95376
Parking and Basic Information
The venue has plenty of no-cost parking. The doors to the venue automatically lock at a certain time. If locked and you are outside, knock and someone will let you in. You can also send a message on the LinkedIn group.