Beyond The Build
Beyond The Build is a podcast about the real, unfiltered experiences of being a software engineer. Hosted by two seasoned engineers, Uma and Ope, we dive into the highs, the lows, and everything in between—from career growth and technical challenges to work-life balance and industry insights. Whether you're an aspiring developer or a seasoned pro, join us as we explore the parts of tech that don’t get talked about enough.
Connect with Ope - https://www.linkedin.com/in/osunkoyaope/
Connect with Uma:
Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/umacodes)
Tiktok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@umacodes)
Twitter: (https://twitter.com/umacodes)
LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/umaabu/)
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebuildpodcast)
Episodes
22 episodes
EP22: Your Manager Is Using You (Here's How to Use Them Back)
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9Think your manager is just there to assign you tasks? Think again.In this episode of Beyond the Build, w...
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43:21
EP21: The Truth About Finding “Fulfillment” in Your Career
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9Everyone says you should “find joy” or “do what you love” but is that realistic advice, or just another modern work myth? In this episode of Beyond the Build, We...
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30:42
EP20: WFH vs WFO The Productivity Myth Everyone’s Falling For
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9In this episode, we unpack the realities of working from home versus working in the office. We share what’s los...
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36:18
EP19: The Fundamental Reasons Software Engineers Struggle and What to Do About It
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9When your teammate is struggling, it's easy to assume they're not trying hard enough. But what if the proble...
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36:21
EP18: Amazon Leader Reveals What Separates High Performers from Leaders
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with Felix Ekwueme, Technical Advisor to the V...
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1:26:31
EP17: The Layoff Signals Everyone Ignores (Until It's Too Late)
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9In this raw and honest episode, we dive deep into the uncomfortable reality of tech layoffs that eve...
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Episode 17
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29:42
EP16: From Lagos to South Africa to a US Tech Giant - Career Lessons From A Digital Nomad
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with Fola, a Senior Security Engineer whose career ha...
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Episode 16
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1:09:02
EP 15: Focusing On Solving the Right Problems (and Ignoring the Wrong Ones)
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9What if the secret to making an impact at work isn’t solving every problem—but knowing which ones to i...
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25:45
EP14: How to Ask for Help Without Feeling Dumb (Engineer's Guide)
Ask us a question or suggest an Episode: https://forms.gle/8tEg2CKTNNWteSgt9Asking for help might seem like a basic skill, but in software engineering, how you ask can impact eve...
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33:11
EP13: Inside the Mind of a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft
Product managers wear a lot of hats—but what do they actually do?In this episode of Beyond the Build, we sit down with our first-ever guest: Thien-Y Le, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, to get the unfiltered ...
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Episode 13
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1:33:35
EP12: We’ve been to 20+ Tech Conferences - Here's What Actually Matters
In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the often-overlooked world of tech networking and collaboration.We share our personal experiences from dozens of conferences and meetups, revealing which events actually moved the ne...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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29:58
EP11: The Tech Hype Trap: Why 90% of Developers Are Wasting Their Time (And How to Be in the 10%)
Every developer faces the same exhausting question:Should I learn this hot new technology everyone’s talking about—or is it just another flash in the pan?In this episode of Beyond the Build, we tackle the tech tren...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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27:44
EP10: How to Be the Engineer Everyone Remembers (For the Right Reasons)
In this episode of Beyond the Build, we’re talking about one of the most overlooked parts of software engineering—being a great teammate.Software engineering isn't a solo sport—it's the ultimate team game. But while we sp...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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35:16
EP9: Your Code Isn’t Enough - How Software Engineers Actually Get Promoted
In this episode of Beyond the Build, we’re diving deep into what it really takes to get promoted as a software engineer. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about writing good code.We break down how to think about promotions through th...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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25:37
EP8: Winning Over Your Manager, Director & VP - The One-on-One Playbook
In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the critical skill every engineer needs, but few are taught: how to collaborate with leadership. From one-on-ones with your manager to hallway chats with directors and VPs, we cover wha...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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23:55
EP7: Structuring Meetings for Success: Write, Align, and Act
In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive deep into the art of running effective engineering meetings. We break down different types of meetings, when you should prep with documents (and how to write good pre-reads), how...
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25:39
EP6: Work-Life Balance In Tech - The Hidden Cost of Climbing the Ladder
If you’ve ever questioned whether your job title comes at the cost of your freedom, this one’s for you.In this episode of Beyond the Build, we dive into the messy reality of work-life balance in tech—especially as your ro...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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20:26
EP5: Are You Smart Enough To Be A Software Engineer?
In this episode of Beyond the Build, we open up about something nearly every software engineer faces but rarely talks about — imposter syndrome. From feeling like we’re not “technical enough” to questioning whether w...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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24:24
EP4: Developing "Taste" As A Software Engineer
In this episode, Ope and I break down what it really takes to build strong technical skills as a software engineer. We go beyond just writing code and dive into how to deliberately sharpen your expertise by:Building a portfolio of p...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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24:21
EP3: AI : Friend or Foe? Using AI Without Losing Your Edge
In this episode, Ope and I discuss how we incorporate AI into our work as software engineers—the benefits, the challenges, and the misconceptions. We break down the pitfalls of relying too much on AI, share strategies for using it effectively w...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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19:38
EP2: Rethinking Technical Interviews
In this episode, Ope and I dive into our experiences with technical interviews—from their evolution into the current LeetCode-heavy format to the challenges they present for both candidates and hiring teams. We explore alternative approaches to...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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26:40