Vivek Yadav

Attended GitTogether Bengaluru (https://lnkd.in/g2KRVzE7) yesterday. Great talks, fantastic participation by young, energetic and vibrant audience, awesome arrangements and organization by Ritvi Mishra and Yashraj Nayak Topics: 1. Balancing Community Health and Open Source Growth: The Contributor's Role by Aditya Oberai Developer Advocate at Appwrite 2. Fine-Grained Authorization for Modern Applications by Ashish Jha Solutions Engineer at Auth0 by Okta 3. From Notebook in Codespaces to Kubernetes: Scaling GenAI Pipelines with ZenML by Jayesh Sharma Platform Engineer at ZenML 4. Community Spotlight - Utility Hook for GitHub Rest API by Yash Sehgal Software Engineer at Rocketium Besides the talk, there were a bunch of energizing activities. I also had the opportunity to meet: 1. Yaman Goyal: He graduated this year, has founded a startup and looking for an entry into the industry. He also pitched in his idea, as the captain of our group, to the entire audience. If you're looking to hire for a highly energetic engineer with a can-do-attitude, I highly recommend you to connect with him. 2. Avikalp Gupta: He is building Vibinex https://vibinex.com/ to improve developer productivity and reduce the time for code reviews. 3. Prashant Shankar: An old buddy. We spent some quality time together. And several others. If you've an Open Source idea, you'd like to pitch, use Github Community Spotlight https://gh.io/spotlight and you may have an opportunity to be featured in the next GitTogether. If you're exploring Zero Trust Architecture, here are some good reads: 1. Authentication: - SPIFFE https://spiffe.io/ - SPIRE https://lnkd.in/gTR5cffY 2. Authorization: Open Policy Agent (OPA) https://lnkd.in/gNS7Zu99 3. Authorization: OpenFGA https://openfga.dev/ which provides ReBAC (Relationship Based Access Control). Thanks Ashish Jha for introducing it. Kudos to the organizers, Microsoft / GitHub for providing the space and the food, and all the participants for making this a fun and a learning event 👏 👏 👏

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A powerful team is never just a collection of individuals. There is extraordinary value in connections and relationships that are built over time. But how do you quantify these nuanced and dynamic traits? Here are some ideas: ✨ DORA Metrics: While primarily leveraged for assessing software delivery performance, DORA Metrics can offer insights into team efficiency and collaboration. Metrics like deployment frequency and lead time for changes are indirect indicators of how well a team operates together. 🌟 Net Promoter Score (NPS): Going beyond customer satisfaction, internally, NPS can be adapted to gauge team members' satisfaction and willingness to recommend their team to others. It captures engagement, morale, and overall sentiment within the team. ♻️ Feedback loops: How often is the team giving feedback to others? Tracking data points like these over time, and especially showing how changing the team impacts the data can tell a compelling story. It might give a clear voice to a nuanced understanding of the impact of changing the team when there are concerns for doing so. As a leader what metrics do you track to help you understand how change impacts a team?

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At Google Cloud India, we don't just build teams; we cultivate communities of collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity. Our teams are not simply engineers or product managers; we're problem solvers, dreamers, and innovators. From startups to large enterprises, our cloud solutions are more than just tools; they're catalysts for real, tangible change in the lives of our clients, empowering them to reach new heights and achieve their goals. In the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing, Google Cloud isn't content with just keeping up. We're setting the pace, leading the charge with cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and data analytics. We're not just meeting industry standards; we're surpassing them, rewriting the rulebook and establishing new benchmarks for excellence. Join us as we continue to push boundaries, break barriers, and unlock new avenues for growth and innovation, shaping a future where the impossible becomes possible. Be a part of Google Cloud India, where together, we can change the world. Click here to know more:  https://lnkd.in/gCiYtDwj #GoogleCloud #Buildforeveryone

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Just finished recording a great podcast with Ankit Jain on his #HangerDX podcast. We chatted a lot about engineering metrics, their value, and how you should/shouldn't use them to drive change across your organization. It should be released soon, so make sure to check it out! #softwareengineeringinsights #engineeringmetrics #developerexperience

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There are three different types of manager of managers. Single threaded, multi threaded and portfolio. To be successful it is really important to know which type the situation demands.   A single threaded manager of managers is wholly dedicated to one business problem which requires the collaboration of multiple teams who are exclusively dedicated to that exact problem. The manager is directly accountable for the results in the one business area and therefore the success of the teams. Despite being responsible for multiple managers and teams there is very little context switching as there is high cohesion between them. A multi threaded leader has the same responsibilities as a single threaded leader except the teams do not have a single business problem in common. This results in a degree of context switching as each team's domain and challenges will be very different. A portfolio leader is completely different. They are not responsible for the success of any individual team or teams. They are accountable for the portfolio of business problems and its overall performance. They are responsible for making decisions around priorities, risks, investments and resource and talent allocation. They are also responsible for the operating infrastructure which supports the overall portfolio. This is a real systems thinking role. One place I personally have struggled and seen other managers of managers struggle is knowing which situation you are in and adapting style. One way I explain this is "are you managing Manchester United or are you managing The Football Association?". This also works for Goldman Sachs vs The Federal Reserve or making the next Star Wars movie vs Disney. The leadership approaches are completely different. Managing a football team is about choosing players, formation, tactics etc. Managing the FA is about widths of goal posts, video assistant referee, season lengths, scoring etc. One cares about winning the game the other cares about the overall success of the game itself. In fact the FA doesn't care which team wins or loses as it is totally irrelevant to their responsibilities. The same is true for leaders of Disney. They care about the overall success of Disney and ensuring that the right support and infrastructure is available to entertainment makers to bring in audiences and make money. They aren't personally invested in the success of individual movies or shows as long as the portfolio as a whole performs well. And nothing is ever neat and tidy. Managers of managers might find themselves having to take on a combination of these all at once. Start by understanding which one you are in. Because taking the wrong approach in the wrong situation will lead to problems and even burnout for the leader and their teams. #leadership #management #situationalawareness

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As a child, I was fascinated by the delicate webs spun by spiders. I would spend long time watching them weave, admiring the intricate patterns they created. And then, like any mischievous kid, I would destroy them, only to return the next day to find the spider had quietly, without fuss, built another one. I am sure most of you can relate to this experience. At the time, I didn't think much of it—just a bit of fun, watching nature at work. But the older me looking back, there’s a important lesson in the spider’s relentless dedication, resilience and focus. A spider doesn't weave its web knowing it will catch a prey. It doesn't calculate every strand, wondering if it will be worth the effort. It just builds. That’s its purpose. And whether the web catches something or gets destroyed (by curious little hands), the spider starts over, patiently weaving again. But here we are, humans, often obsessed with outcomes—calculating every move, weighing every possibility, stressing over whether our efforts will "pay off." We become so fixated on results that we sometimes don’t even begin, paralyzed by the fear of failure or the uncertainty of success. While it’s true that in life, some situations require careful planning and calculated risks, it's important to focus on the doing itself—the joy of creating, learning, and growing—without sweating over the final outcome. The spider reminds us that the journey matters just as much, if not more, than the result. What are your thoughts ? Let me know in the comments 👇 🔁 Repost to spread the word. ➕ Follow me for more like this. 🔔 To get instant updates on my posts #Mindset #Resilience #ProcessOverOutcome #TheWebOfLife #Dedication #LifeLessons #FocusOnTheJourney #Motivation

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CTOtalk - That was one great day worth of interesting sessions on all things AI. Standouts from today's session were the ones from: 1. Freshworks on how AI has been built into their platform on top of which all of their products have been built thereby allowing for seamless AI flow. Another callout from this session was the future of UIs going the conversational way. Key takeaway was the importance of Responsible AI while designing an AI based platform/product. 2. The session from AWS threw light on the capability of their Amazon Q suite of products. Interesting one was the Amazon Q Insight which can generate insights from graphs and charts that has been generated plus the ability to create reports in a jiffy by giving data verbally. Talk about actionable insights!!! Not to mention about Amazon bedrock service which gives the user the flexibility to choose LLMs to suit their need to come up with their GenAI capabilities. 3. Kissflow building their LCNC platform with a multi agent framework catering for different business needs. 4. Google Gemini's amazing capabilities shown as a demo was an eye opener. With the scale of things that can be achieved by Gemini, makes one wonder how many jobs are going to get redundant across industries. Scary but as an end user, the power that you get with what can be achieved is truly astounding and this is only the beginning!!!. 5. Little known company "Appen" but powering the likes of Google, Meta, Amazon with high quality content/data to power their LLM models was another great stuff. 6. The final one by Swiggy with their interesting Tech simplification approaches was a good learning. Please note that the above content I have posted is not through any AI assist tools but pure human effort 😃 😄 . Not willing to fully surrender to the power of AI yet 😁 😆.

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Some of you have messaged me to know how I managed to get so many followers. Firstly, getting large followers only is not my goal. My goal is to get large followers who share same interest as me. On this platform, my goal is to interact with like minded folks who are passionate about testing, automation and software engineering. I write impromptu posts whenever I feel like. I only post practical advices and my experiences. It may or may not make sense for your use case. I interact with others with similar interest. I like their post, if I find their content interesting. I add a comment to their post if there is something I can add which can provide a different perspective or clarify things better. I follow people who post / comment sensible thoughtful content. Also, I ask my followers every few months to unfollow me if they don't share same interest as mine. This helps to keep my feed relevant. Anything else you want to know. Let me know. There is no planning or strategy that I follow. Hope this helps. You too can follow above plan and get large followers. Just replace the above with the things that you are passionate about. #testing #automation #softwareengineering

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Improving productivity seems deceptively simple, yet it remains an elusive goal for many organizations. To unravel this mystery, let's delve into the fundamental facets of productivity. Productivity manifests in two distinct dimensions: 1. Quantified Productivity: This dimension quantifies the amount of work completed. In the realm of software development, metrics like story points and ticket counts are common. Quantified productivity paints a clear picture of output. 2. Perceived Productivity: Unlike its quantified counterpart, perceived productivity hinges on subjective perceptions of progress. It encompasses questions like: How close are we to our goals? What is the user's perception of our speed? Are we outpacing our competitors? Perceived productivity embodies the essence of progress beyond mere output metrics. Both dimensions merit attention for a comprehensive understanding of productivity.  In the end, only perceived productivity matters, but quantified productivity does play a role in that perception. To improve on quantified productivity, there’s no magic.  You can: 1. Augment the workforce: requires financial investments. 2. Improve your architecture: make development easier and reduce the number of issues. 3. Upskill: continuously train existing personnel. 4. Optimize your processes: alleviates burdens and enhances efficiency. 5. Let go of underperformers. While this yields tangible benefits, there exists a threshold beyond which returns diminish. Good enough architecture and organizational efficiency reaches a plateau where further improvements yield minimal gains. Similarly, expanding the workforce introduces complexities that dampen productivity growth per new hire. Contrary to popular belief, the true magic of productivity lies in its perceived dimension. Small teams often outperform larger organizations not due to sheer output, but because of focused efforts and streamlined initiatives. Picture this: one person running in circles expending energy, while another moves steadily forward towards a goal. Perceived productivity embodies this directional focus, where every effort propels the team closer to its objectives. To achieve super productivity, organizations must prioritize focus and cohesion: 1. Eliminate Distractions: Clear the clutter and hone in on core initiatives. 2. Align Goals: Ensure every individual's efforts contribute synergistically towards overarching objectives. 3. Streamline Collaboration: Minimize redundant tasks and foster a culture of collaboration. In essence, both objective and perceived productivity are pivotal and work together. However, it's often the latter that distinguishes truly productive organizations from the rest. In the pursuit of productivity, it's not merely about doing more, but about doing better. By fostering focus, alignment, and collaboration, organizations can transcend conventional boundaries and achieve remarkable productivity beyond measure.

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Building great teams is one of the most hard, but most rewarding jobs. There are many demanding steps for building good teams. Hiring Right, Believing in Team, Building Trust, Providing opportunity to perform and to be Proud, Learning n Growth. All of above ingredients have equal role. However, 'Trust' is like core DNA for wonderful teams, and productivity. Here is a good article on team building. #Leadership #TeamBuilding

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In continuation to last post, how to Improve Communication Active Listening: Pay attention to the speaker, show empathy, and respond thoughtfully. Avoid interrupting and ensure you understand their message before replying. Clarity and Conciseness: Be clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and complicated language that can confuse the listener. Non-Verbal Cues: Body language, eye contact, and facial expressions play a crucial role in conveying your message. Be mindful of these cues. Feedback: Provide constructive feedback and be open to receiving it. This helps in improving and refining communication skills. Ask Questions: Encourage questions to ensure understanding and engage in a two-way conversation. It shows that you value the other person's input. Practice Empathy: Try to understand the perspective of others. Empathy helps in addressing concerns and building stronger relationships. Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate your communication style and seek opportunities for improvement, such as attending workshops or reading books on effective communication. By prioritizing effective communication, we can enhance our interactions, build stronger relationships, and achieve greater success in both personal and professional endeavors.

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Thought I would share a personal milestone today. I reached 25 blogs on medium https://lnkd.in/dJc3YsKE This is a short blurb on my journey and process. I had started blogging in 2020 and actively from 2021 partly inspired by people I met along the way and also as a way to express my thoughts better. I changed my focus and approach multiple times, from org design, promotion processes and tech frameworks to in depth content on specific areas like cryptography. Sometimes all it took for me to go past a writers block was to just pen down my thoughts even if it doesn't form a cohesive whole and refine it as I continued writing. I decided I would always put in links to the articles or blogs of the articles I had been inspired by. Most of them have better content than mine. I realised that if I had to explain something complex I had to build concepts around it brick by brick so when I started writing about OPAQUE PAKE, I made sure I had covered cryptography in ample depth even if it meant repeating commonly known concepts. I also wanted to focus on the why rather than the what so that my detailed blog doesn't end up like an abstract white paper with references. I wanted the blog to focus on my own interests instead of clickbait. So I kept it free of prophetic albeit popular articles like AI doomerism. So what's your excuse for not blogging?

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#Layoffs and Misguided Corporate Spending ( A note to Leadership) I've spent over 16 years working across both MNCs (50%) and startups (50%). During my time at one of the world’s top 10 dream companies, I used to see an annual trend: layoffs. The pressure this puts on employees is immense. Here’s the ironic part: the same company ( Should I say some Big Heads) cutting jobs spends crores on unnecessary luxuries—like installing 90-inch LED TVs in lift lobbies, excessive property beautification, and lavish gifting. The amount spent on these could easily cover the salaries of hundreds of employees. When layoffs happen, it's often percentage cut—x% must go. But why aren’t senior leaders cutting these extravagant expenses in first place? I’m not suggesting cutting essential marketing costs and basic comfort costs for employees that drive business, but who’s choosing companies based on lift lobby TVs or expensive sofas in the pantry? We’ve all heard of a company that hired a famous footballer for an ad, only to later struggle to pay employees. It’s baffling that leaders allow these misguided financial priorities to persist. Why isn’t there a system in place to curb over-spending and protect employees—the true backbone of the company? Those four LED TVs won’t save the company. But four dedicated employees just might.

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In this article, we jump right into availability and consistency, terms you would no doubt come across in interviews as well as solving real-world problems, two concepts often at odds with one and other in the world of scaling micro-services, Availability and Consistency.

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Take a look at a Flight Discovery Chatbot that I built few days back to help fellow travelers plan their trip with the power of LLM and Multi-Agentic RAG Autogen Workflow in Python leveraging Natural Language processing. What-if a chatbot can answer your queries and help you in finding cheapest and fastest flights and aid you in planning an efficient trip?That’s what I aimed to do with my this LLM project which leverages Multi-agentic workflow to aid flight discovery. This side weekend project digs into Natural Language Processing (NLP) which harnesses the power of AI to understand, interpret, and generate human language, transforming how we interact with technology. Autonomous agents, equipped with AI capabilities, independently perform tasks and make decisions, enhancing efficiency and scalability across various applications. Last year, Large Language Models (LLMs) were the buzzword, capturing widespread attention for their revolutionary advancements in natural language processing. Today, however, the focus has shifted to multi-agent workflows, which are now at the forefront of innovation, promising enhanced collaboration, efficiency, and scalability in AI-driven solutions. In this blog I share the details of the workflow that I built with components like Autogen, Amadeus Flight API's Developer Free Tier for Developers and Neon Serverless Postgres Database. #AI #LLM #Autogen #Chatbot #Agentic #RAG #technology #AIML #NLP #MachineLearning

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🌏 Celebrating Gandhi Jayanti: Timeless Leadership Lessons for Professionals 🌏 As we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, let's reflect on his timeless wisdom that can inspire and guide us in our professional journeys. "Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi Embrace Non-Violent Resistance: Stand up for what you believe in without compromising your values. Whether it's advocating for a new idea or addressing a workplace issue, your voice matters. Practice Simple Living: Focus on what truly matters your core values, relationships, and contributions. By prioritizing tasks and focusing on high-impact activities, I've achieved more with less stress. Cultivate Self-Discipline: Set clear goals and stay committed to your vision. When I transitioned into a new role, self-discipline helped me navigate challenges and succeed. Foster Empathy and Compassion: Lead with heart by understanding and caring for others. Showing empathy to a team member during a tough time helped them stay motivated. Take a few minutes today to reflect on your values and how they align with your professional goals. How have you applied Gandhi's principles in your career? Share your insights below! #GandhiJayanti #LeadershipLessons #ProfessionalGrowth #ValuesDriven #EmpathyInLeadership

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I am honored to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from senior director Amol Farkade, director Avinash Gatty, and my manager Rajeev Karnatak for my role in a significant project at GEP. We've successfully redesigned and launched the Spend Self-Serve application on GEP’s low code platform, Quantum. Key highlights of this project: 1. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Rebuilt from scratch on Quantum, enhancing flexibility and speed. 2. 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Successfully migrated 100+ customers to the new system, ensuring continuity and improved service. 3. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥: Redesigned both the user interface and backend architecture, integrating MongoDB to enhance performance and scalability. 4. 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Expanded the application's capabilities to serve as a generic data processing tool, capable of handling various forms of Big Data. 5. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Engineered the new version in under a year, a significant enhancement over the previous version which took two years. This achievement underscores our commitment to efficiency and innovation, leveraging GEP's Quantum platform to expedite the development process without compromising quality. This project was a massive team effort, and it’s gratifying to see our hard work pay off in such tangible ways. I'm excited about continuing to innovate and drive future projects forward. #technology #innovation #teamwork #GEP #Quantum #BigData #AI #Spend

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🔄 The Importance of Goal Recalibration Mid-Career Imagine waking up every morning with a renewed sense of purpose. Here are 5 reasons why goal recalibration is crucial mid-career: 1. Align with Changing Values and Aspirations 2. Address Career Plateaus 3. Respond to Industry Changes 4. Enhance Personal Fulfillment 5. Drive Long-Term Success "Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement." — Brian Tracy What's one way you've recalibrated your goals mid-career? Share your story in the comments! #GoalRecalibration #MidCareer #CareerGrowth #PersonalFulfillment #LongTermSuccess

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Very often, it's people problems, not technical challenges, that actually holds a team back from high performance. In my recent post, a reader wrote in with a challenging situation working with an architect who was having a hard time letting go of details. Because he has to provide input on any changes, it slows the whole team down (and likely he is burning out as well!). I share some suggestions for approaches to build a positive relationship with the architect, as a newcomer to the team, as well as ways to bring the architect into a productive conversation about how he can step away from the details. I've been really enjoying this Reader Mailbag format, so if you have work situations or feel stuck, please share with me (form in post, which is in comments)!

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