Manager as mentor: Learnings from Sysdig's documentation team

Shuba Subramaniam, the Documentation Team Manager at Sysdig, highlights the importance of mentorship, emphasizing that it is not just a responsibility but an opportunity to create a lasting impact. Drawing from experience with companies like Cisco, Riverbed, and Akamai, Subramaniam describes the role of a manager as one focused on fostering growth, building confidence, and aligning team projects with individual strengths. Daily interactions, such as reviewing pull requests and navigating stakeholder conversations, are crucial for building trust and encouraging development. Embracing technology is key, with AI tools aiding in script writing and task automation to allow focus on strategic planning and customer journeys. Subramaniam fosters a culture of continuous learning, creating a safe space for questions and experimentation, while encouraging collaboration and celebrating both successes and failures. This reciprocal mentorship relationship benefits both junior and senior team members, making the team stronger and more adaptable to change.