Welcome back to I’m a Software Engineer: What Next?

This week we are joined by Kate Catlin, Senior Product Manager at GitHub, where she works on Copilot and the future of AI-powered developer experience.

In this episode, we cover:
• How Kate reinvented her career multiple times on the path to GitHub
• What “good product intuition” really means for PMs and engineers
• How AI is reshaping product work, and why evals matter for building trustworthy AI features

🗒️ Show Notes
• Venture For America
• Le Wagon Bootcamp
• CircleCI
• GitHub Copilot
• Find My Flock (Kate’s former startup)
• Joseph Campbell – The Hero’s Journey
• Philosophy of Technology (from Kate’s studies)

🎙 Guest
Kate Catlin, Senior PM, GitHub Copilot
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-catlin/

🎙 Hosts
Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair
James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656

🌐 More from us
https://whatnext.dev/
https://quantumfaxmachine.com/

Welcome back to I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next? — the podcast for devs figuring out their next move. Hosted by James Wilson and Matt Sinclair, we talk honestly about what it takes to build a meaningful career in tech.In this week's episode, we cover:Why most engineers struggle with presenting and how to fix itStew's simple 5-step storytelling framework (hero, dragon, weapon, treasure, future)How to avoid jargon and make people actually listenPractical tips for presenting on Zoom without looking stiff or disconnectedWhy communication is becoming more valuable as AI gets betterA few great stories from Stew's coaching work with engineers and founders

S01E15 The One Where You Get Let GoLaid off?

You’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you're broken.

In this week’s episode of I’m a Software Engineer ~ What Next?, we talk to Steve Jaffe, ad industry veteran and author of The Layoff Journey, about how to bounce back after losing your job — and how to find real clarity in the chaos.Steve's been through four layoffs — from the dot-com crash to 2023’s tech contraction. The difference? Now he knows how to handle it.

Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and software engineer Matt Sinclair, this episode is all about:

-Why most people handle layoffs wrong

-The 7 emotional stages of being let go (and why you shouldn't skip them)

-How layoffs can spark growth, renewal, and even joy-What hiring managers really think about CV gaps

-How to turn a layoff into your career pivot moment-Advice for engineers, hiring managers, and anyone who’s felt lost after being let go.

Show Notes

Steve’s book The Layoff Journey - https://thestevejaffe.com/

The Kubler-Ross Model – Stages of Grief - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_stages_of_grief

The "Bullsh*t Jobs" theory by David Graeber - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs

Guest:

Steve

Hosts

Matt

James

More from us

https://whatnext.dev/

https://quantumfaxmachine.com/