Hello World 👋🏾
I'm Kareem Francis, a software engineer recently turned engineering manager who is trying to get into the habit of thinking, writing, and talking about software engineering, amongst other things. To quote author Wendy Wood from her book Good Habits, Bad Habits,
Just being around people is enough to turn the spotlight inward, and to start to monitor what you would normally do without much scrutiny at all... Go public - you'll have a better sense of self in no time.
In effect, my goals in writing and sharing - as intimidating as that feels - are to better align with myself and, if possible, to help folks out who are on similar journeys.
You can find some of my side/toy projects on GitHub or connect with me via LinkedIn.
On bridging communication styles: lessons from working across differences
On bridging communication styles: lessons from working across differences
On effectiveness: notes on principles and practices for shipping projects from a technical leader
On effectiveness: notes on principles and practices for shipping projects from a technical leader
Integrating AI Tools with Notion: A Practical Experiment with Claude and Model Context Protocol
Integrating AI Tools with Notion: A Practical Experiment with Claude and Model Context Protocol
On scaling engineering teams; a theory of how effective teams leverage autonomy, strategy and change management to grow
On scaling engineering teams; a theory of how effective teams leverage autonomy, strategy and change management to grow
On personal knowledge management; using tools to help prioritize, plan, and get work done
On personal knowledge management; using tools to help prioritize, plan, and get work done
On thinking in polarities; finding solutions by finding balance 
On thinking in polarities; finding solutions by finding balance
You will fail; Congratulations! Thoughts on Motivation and Mastery
You will fail; Congratulations! Thoughts on Motivation and Mastery
On Chesterton’s fences; managing change without breaking what works
On Chesterton’s fences; managing change without breaking what works
On preparing for parental leave as an Engineering Manager
On preparing for parental leave as an Engineering Manager
On defining hiring strategy; Thoughts on getting the right people into the right roles
On defining hiring strategy; Thoughts on getting the right people into the right roles
Ship it on Friday! On Friday deployments as a litmus test for operational excellence
Ship it on Friday! On Friday deployments as a litmus test for operational excellence
On tech leading: deeper reflections on influence without power
On tech leading: deeper reflections on influence without power
On defining team growth strategy: An approach to building business cases for capacity
On defining team growth strategy: An approach to building business cases for capacity
On capability and capacity; week 5 as an Engineering Manager
On capability and capacity; week 5 as an Engineering Manager
On kindness and ruthlessness; week 4 as an Engineering Manager
On kindness and ruthlessness; week 4 as an Engineering Manager
On influencing team decisions (without power): reflections on tech leading
On influencing team decisions (without power): reflections on tech leading
On the individual contributor to manager journey: reflecting on my internal dialog
On the individual contributor to manager journey: reflecting on my internal dialog
On clustering contexts and raising visibility; week 3 as an engineering manager
On clustering contexts and raising visibility; week 3 as an engineering manager
On preventing feeling overwhelmed: week 2 as an engineering manager
On preventing feeling overwhelmed: week 2 as an engineering manager
