Tag

Career Development

Career notes on the path to principal engineer: leading without authority as an IC, mentoring interns, starting a hackathon, and yearly look-backs.

4 posts tagged with “Career Development”

January 7, 2026

8 min

Xinjiang Shao

My 2025 Reflection: A Year of AI, Exploration, and Growth

Personal reflections on 2025: navigating the AI revolution, rediscovering photography, traveling across continents, and finding balance in a year of rapid change.

Personal Growth Reflection AI Photography Travel Career Development

August 16, 2025

8 min

Xinjiang Shao

Leading Without Authority as an Individual Contributor

How individual contributors can lead effectively without formal authority—through influence, expertise, and collaborative strategies.

Leadership Career Development Influence Software Engineering

January 15, 2022

1 min

Xinjiang Shao

Bye 2021, Hello 2022

Moving to the suburbs, running half the days of the year, baking sourdough and getting a driver's license — what I started in 2021 and want to try next.

Personal Growth Year in Review Reflection Career Development

January 1, 2018

6 min

Xinjiang Shao

2017 Year At A Glance

A year of meal kits, food waste and a grocery co-op, alongside shipping Order Status at Peapod, starting a hackathon and mentoring our first interns.

Personal Growth Year in Review Career Development Reflection

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