At the AWS Summit in Dubai
Great day at the AWS Summit in Dubai. Nice refresher and networking.
Eid Mubarak
While many are enjoying the Eid break, it's still a hectic time for managers, especially in Engineering, as we work to complete performance reviews before next week’s deadline. Personally, balancing these reviews with other business priorities has been challenging to say the least.
In the meantime, we're busy addressing tasks from the SAMA pre-audit, which is adding to the workload. I'm really pleased with the progress we’re making toward preparing GCP as a potential second site in KSA, and I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication from everyone involved.
Hoping the AI hype to get normal soon
... and we go about our lives
AWS in Saudi in 2026
Too late AWS ....
(I know the backstory that caused this letting even Oracle beat you to a Cloud in KSA)
What is Platform Engineering?
I like to summarise it as follows...
- Treat your development teams as clients
- Abstract environment and tooling complexity
- Enable self-service in a cost-effective, secure manner that is manageable at scale
Another round of layoffs...
Another round of layoffs at my company. A whole team of 4 slashed, Engineering Manager, Vice President not spared. All in all 8 made redundant in a company of around 100.
With the tech layoffs going around the world, I feel this is the new normal. Hiring and firing will continue. We have to accept a level of risk now wherever we are working.
The only advice:
- Give your best, but not at expense of your own time
- Be more visible with your work
- Work to enhance relationship with your peers, not with the Company
- Always focus on your own learning and skills so you are hirable
Happy new year!
2023 comes to a close, we achieved so much in this year and lots more to do in 2024 ...
