A Month in as EM & Back in SF 🌉

It’s been about a month since I officially stepped into my new role as an Engineering Manager at Slack on the Lists team, and it feels like I’m learning and growing every day. 🌱

I moved to San Francisco on January 3 after living in Virginia with my mom since July. Long story short—I've basically been hoping around different places since leaving SF in May 2021.

The city has welcomed me back with open arms though—it’s brimming with life, growth, and opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited to be here! 💃🏽

I’m currently subleasing a friend’s place in West Portal until March and have been diligently house hunting for a place in the East Bay. I can’t wait to find my own little casita, settle in, and bring my two dogs, Luna and Sueño, to join me in this next chapter. 🐾

Being a manager has been an eye-opening experience. As some other managers jokingly call it, I’m learning how the “dark side” works. It’s definitely a shift from IC life, especially given the sheer number of meetings I attend now (so. many. meetings. 44 hours so far this month to be exact 😱).

I used to optimize for long, undisturbed focus time to code, so this adjustment has been challenging. But on the plus side I am gaining a lot of insight into the behind the scenes of how leadership at the team and pillar level get shit done. I also have enjoyed the shift of supporting the projects and career milestones of my direct reports.

What I deliver as a manager isn’t as binary or straightforward, but I feel like I’ve found my place. Now, it’s just about continuing to settle in both in my new role and just physically somewhere. PLEASE LET MY NEXT OFFER ON A HOUSE NOT GET OUTBID. ☠️

Outside of work, I’ve been going to events in the city almost every weekday after hours which has been delightful. Unsurprisingly, most of them have been about AI so it's been fun learning all the unique jargon (MCP, one protocol to rule them all, amiright). 🤖

I can't share an update without addressing the current political and social climate. The ongoing challenges from the Trump administration’s actions and other systemic issues are heavy. I feel the weight of it all the time. But I also believe this is where leadership counts—staying hopeful, finding solutions, and doing our part to build the future we want to see. It’s why I’m hyper focused on showing up for my team, my community, my family and just trying to lead by example.

If you’re in the area and want to grab coffee, please reach out—I’d love to connect. Thanks for reading and here's to making this year one to remember!

Cheers, Frances 💛

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Highlights of this month ✨

• Partnering with Techqueria & Fuego ERG at Slack to host a career fireside chat at Salesforce Tower
• Management Fundamentals course I took on Maven
• the chicken & rice at this one Toolhouse AI event 😋

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Resources I've found useful recently 🔖

• How Organizations Are Like Slime Mold
• The Modern Leader
• Being Glue
• Introduction to AI Agents
• Create.xyz

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Developer joke cause why not 😂

Why do developers love dark mode? Because light attracts bugs! 🐛