Managing Up
Take ownership of your performance and grow in your career by managing your manager
View PresentationWhat You'll Learn
Want to grow in your career but feel unsure how to make it happen? Many people assume career growth is about working harder or waiting to be noticed. In reality, the people who advance fastest learn how to work with their manager, not around them.
In this talk, we'll explore managing up from a manager's perspective. You'll learn why well-intentioned managers still miss signals, how growth decisions actually get made, and how to turn your manager into an ally in your career—without being awkward, political, or performative.
About the Speaker
Pendleton Jones
Engineering leader with over 10 years of experience spanning IC, tech lead, and people management roles at fast-growing companies. I've hired engineers, led promotions, delivered difficult feedback, and partnered with leadership on performance and career progression.
I've also been on the other side—navigating unclear expectations, stalled growth, and overloaded managers. That combination gives me a clear view into the gap between how career growth feels as an IC and how it actually works from a manager's seat.