#193 - The Path to Becoming a Great Engineer: Insights from a CTO Perspective - Milan Milanović

“We should always learn intentionally. And the best learning is by doing. Extra time used to practice something is always worth it." Dr. Milan Milanović is a seasoned CTO and the author of the popular “Tech World with Milan” newsletter. In this episode, Milan shares his insights on what it takes to become a great software engineer. Milan emphasizes that technical skills, while crucial, are just one part of the equation. Soft skills, a product-focused mindset, and a commitment to continuous learning are equally vital for long-term success in the ever-evolving tech industry. He delves into the key attributes that distinguish great engineers, revealing the surprising truth about why we should focus on learning the fundamentals, how to learn new skills and become an expert, delivering high-quality engineering, and practical strategies to boost productivity.   Listen out for: Career Journey - [00:02:14] Attributes of a Great Software Engineer - [00:05:50] Common Lacking Attribute - [00:10:28] How to Learn New Skills - [00:12:48] How to Become an Expert - [00:16:02] 10,000 Hours - [00:22:47] Dealing with Imposter Syndrome - [00:24:52] Learn Things That Don’t Change - [00:27:50] High-Quality Engineering - [00:32:52] Becoming a More Productive Engineer - [00:39:28] 3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [00:48:53] _____ Milan Milanović’s BioMilan is a CTO with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. His main areas of interest include software architecture, cloud computing solutions, web and mobile solutions, agile methods, and managing software teams to deliver innovative and high-quality products. He is an avid author who helps more than 300.000 engineers and managers to build great careers and products. He also works as a High-Performance & Career Coach. Follow Milan: LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/milanmilanovic Twitter / X – @milan_milanovic Website – milan.milanovic.org ✍🏼 Newsletter – newsletter.techworld-with-milan.com _____ Our Sponsors Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code. Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats. Like this episode?Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/193.Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.Buy me a coffee or become a patron.