ELC x Airbnb Seattle Meetup

Join us for an exclusive ELC Seattle meetup hosted at Airbnb’s Seattle office, featuring Kevin Goldsmith as our guest speaker. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow engineering leaders, gain insights from an industry veteran, and engage in thought-provoking discussions on leadership, technology, and innovation.

Talk Title: When, Why, and How to Stop Coding as Your Day Job

Description:

Many—if not most—engineering leaders began their careers as developers. We honed our craft, took pride in our code, and defined our professional identities through what we built. But moving into leadership means taking on a whole new set of responsibilities—some technical, many not.

As you progress in your leadership journey, coding often becomes less central to your day-to-day responsibilities. And yet, stepping away from it can feel uncomfortable—even disorienting. Kevin Goldsmith has seen this transition challenge countless leaders, including himself.

In this talk, Kevin explores one of the most common (but rarely discussed) challenges in engineering leadership: knowing when, why, and how to make coding your hobby—not your job. He’ll share practical insights on how to stay technically credible without being in the code every day, how to find fulfillment in new forms of leadership impact, and how to continue being a resource for your team even when you’re not fixing bugs or resolving merge conflicts.

This talk offers a grounded, honest path for navigating this identity shift—empowering you to grow into your leadership role with confidence while still honoring your technical roots.

What is ELC?

The Engineering Leadership Community (ELC) is a network of senior engineering leaders dedicated to fostering professional growth, sharing best practices, and building a strong community. Our events provide a platform for candid conversations, peer learning, and meaningful connections among engineering executives, directors, and managers.

About Airbnb and the Seattle Office

Airbnb is a global platform that helps millions of people find unique accommodations and experiences around the world. With a strong focus on innovation, trust, and community, Airbnb continues to shape the future of travel and hospitality.

Airbnb’s Seattle office is a key engineering hub, home to teams working on core infrastructure, AI/ML, search and personalization, and marketplace dynamics. This location plays a critical role in Airbnb’s technology roadmap, driving advancements that enhance the guest and host experience.

Guest Speaker: Kevin Goldsmith

Kevin Goldsmith is a seasoned technology executive with over three decades of experience leading high-performing engineering organizations. He has held senior leadership roles at industry-defining companies such as Spotify, Adobe, Anaconda, and DistroKid.

A recognized expert in scaling technology teams, cloud-native architecture, and AI-driven product development, Kevin is passionate about innovation, organizational transformation, and developing future leaders.

He’s also a sought-after international speaker on engineering leadership, agile practices, and team dynamics, and is the author of "It Depends: Writing on Technology Leadership 2012–2022." In addition to his executive roles, Kevin serves as a board member and strategic advisor, helping companies grow their engineering organizations with clarity and intention.