TL;DR

Google Principal Engineer David Grizzanti breaks down how senior individual contributors can level up from coding do-ers to strategic influencers. He covers five pillars—from climbing “the IC ladder” by expanding scope and tying work to clear business metrics, to navigating new, ambiguous roles with smart questions and quick wins. You’ll pick up tips on delegation, succession planning, and a simple 30/60/90-day plan for new gigs.

Beyond personal growth, David dives into building influence at scale: the “influence flywheel” of writing and trust, using DACI for faster decisions, and even the anthropologist’s lens for shaping engineering culture. Finally, he encourages you to own your roadmap, reflect on motivators, and set new norms that multiply your impact across teams.

Watch on YouTube