In this area, my 2024 goal is:
Objective: I’ll create a safe space for knowledge sharing among Engineering Leaders, especially those who may not have the resources for individual mentoring. The community is at the heart of this endeavor.
Key Result: Grow the community from 350 members in 2023 to 500 in 2024. Successfully organize 9 high-value meetups throughout the year.
Tactic: To achieve these goals, I plan to enhance collaboration with community managers and secure at least one soft company sponsor or partner. Additionally, I aim to engage our community base more actively by allowing them to vote on topics for upcoming meetups, introducing a suggestion form for this purpose.
Aligned with my Mission: Yes.
Objective 2: Mentoring
Mentoring and coaching of engineering leaders are not just my profession; they are my passion, my love.
In 2023, it was a joy to assist 27 unique individuals through a total of 417 mentoring sessions. The fulfillment I gain from helping others grow and develop is immensely rewarding.
Abandoning mentoring would not only diminish my personal satisfaction but also weaken my professional network and impact on individual leadership.
Therefore, my 2024 mentoring goals are:
Objective: I’ll transform additional engineering managers into leaders worth following, supporting my mission.
Key Result: Continue mentoring 16 individual mentees concurrently, aiming for a 90% or higher positive reference rate.
Tactic: Dedicate two days each week exclusively to mentoring, which will allow for up to 32 sessions per month. Actively work to refill the mentoring pipeline with new clients and expand my professional reach.
Aligned with my Mission: Yes.
Objective 3: Fractional VP Engineering advisory
In 2023, I played a pivotal role in aiding three software companies as a fractional advisor. My efforts were focused on guiding them through layoffs and organizational restructuring while maintaining high efficiency levels.
My ultimate goal is to foster an environment where teams are enriched with valuable discoveries, consistently delivering at least 80% of their quarterly roadmap, thereby earning trust and pride.
Stepping away from advisory roles would mean forgoing the opportunity to encounter diverse situations and client models. Such experiences are vital for learning from real-world scenarios and evolving my professional practice.
With this in mind, my 2024 goal is:
Objective: To augment the performance of more software companies within the Central European region.
Key Result: Secure and successfully complete three additional fractional advisory missions as a VP of Engineering in 2024, concluding each with positive feedback.
Tactic: Continue dedicating two days a week to fractional advisory work. Actively promote my services to a broader range of companies, particularly those seeking to enhance the efficiency of their Engineering teams.
Aligned with my Mission: Yes.
Objective 4: Going Digital
In light of the increased financial caution among companies in 2024, the shift towards online formats is not just appropriate but necessary.
Currently, I offer a 4-day Leadership Academy workshop designed specifically for Engineering Managers. This has set the foundation for my digital offerings.
To build on this success, here is my objective for 2024:
Objective: Expand my reach by creating a new digital pillar in my service offerings.
Key Result: Develop and launch two additional billable services in a video format wirth a strong partner.
Tactic: Identify the most in-demand topics for online learning. Aim to attract more than zero clients with positive feedback in the first half of 2024. Collaborate with recognized ambassadors — individuals who truly embody the principles they teach and walking the talk — to create these programs.
Aligned with my Mission: Yes.
Objective 5: Awareness
I hope my brand is gaining more traction in 2023. Thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations, I have amassed over 8k LinkedIn followers, and I remain active in meetups, podcasts, and conferences. In 2023, I was invited to speak at 6 podcasts, participated as a speaker or facilitator in 3 meetups, presented at 2 major conferences, and recorded 5 videos. A notable highlight was speaking at the Plato Elevate conference in San Francisco.
With that in mind, my 2024 goals is:
Objective: Establish my name, ‘Marian,’ as a brand synonymous with company reorganization and growth among software companies in Central Europe.
Key Result: Aim to submit proposals for 8 conference CFPs (Calls for Papers), collaborate on 4 more partnering podcasts, and publish 9 substantial, valuable blog posts.
Tactic: To achieve these goals, I plan to expand my collaboration with my copywriter and engage more virtual assistants. This will help mitigate the operational overhead and free up more time for activities that boost awareness.
Aligned with my Mission: Yes.