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👋🏼 My name is Isabel Nyo and I am a senior engineering leader based in Sydney, Australia. I've been working on this toolkit for my fellow engineering leaders for almost 8 months, since the start of 2021. And let me tell you why I put so much time and effort into putting together this Toolkit… Almost two decades ago when I was an engineer, I took great pleasure in getting things done, and being on the ground to execute tasks. When I first became an engineer manager, I missed that, in fact, I missed that a lot. I felt that if I wasn’t doing any hands-on work, I wasn’t being productive. It took me a while to understand and accept that planning, strategic thinking and making sure my team can deliver and execute effectively is much more important for an engineering manager. Being a leader is a privilege. With that, I encourage you to enjoy your role as an engineering leader. If you are in a situation that is less than ideal, use your privilege and energy to make things better instead of feeling helpless. Leverage this Toolkit as a guide and use the master checklists consisting of steps & recommendations to help you think through important factors. Explore the resources provided to dig deeper into any particular topic. Use templates, posters and decks provided to fast-track your application of knowledge. However, remember that no tool can replace your critical thinking and empathy. As a CTO, VP of Engineering or a Senior Technology Leader, you have the power and responsibility to make a great impact on your people, your teams, your organisation and your customers. This Toolkit is not just about strategy nor is it just a list of steps; it is about how to think, plan, lead, communicate and execute in a way that encourages accountability, improves creativity, and moves your technology organisation forward in the post-Covid future.