💡 Former Instagram VP on how to actually grow as an engineer

James Everingham, former VP of Engineering at Instagram, shared a few simple but practical principles for early-career engineers.

It’s less about stacking skills, more about how you operate and who you’re around:

➡️ Stay curious. Ask questions and take interest in other people’s work. That’s how relationships are built
➡️ Don’t chase mentors directly. Offer help first, the connection follows
➡️ Go where the smart people are. Environment compounds your growth
➡️ Don’t burn bridges. People move on, but bad relationships stay
➡️ Speak up, even if you’re not fully sure. The ones who talk get noticed

His point is straightforward:

Being around strong people and actually engaging with them matters more than having the “perfect” tech stack.

📱 Follow @insta