What makes a great leader?

Hint: it's not your job title.

Great leaders leave a lasting impact - not through technical skills alone but by shaping their teams' careers and success. This self-paced course equips individual contributors (ICs) and managers with actionable strategies to amplify their influence, foster growth, and improve team performance—on your own schedule.

Over 100 ICs and managers have become better leaders through this course.

The best part? You can learn at your own pace and transform your approach to leadership.

With over 10 years of engineering leadership experience, I’ve coached dozens of ICs and managers to become impactful leaders. This course combines proven strategies, real-world examples, and actionable tools that I’ve used to build high-performing teams and help each individual grow.

Whether you're a current or aspiring manager or you just want to learn how to be a better leader as an IC, this course tackles 3 key challenges faced by aspiring leaders:

  • Identifying growth opportunities and bridging skill gaps within your team.Learn to assess your team’s strengths and weaknesses effectively using proven frameworks. Discover how to identify untapped potential and foster career development through actionable plans that align with both individual goals and business needs.

  • Communicating effectively with direct reports, peers, and leadership.Master strategies for running productive 1:1s and team meetings while building trust and influence through clear, empathetic communication. Learn how to advocate for your team and balance cross-functional priorities.

  • Delivering and receiving actionable, constructive feedback.Reframe feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism. Learn how to apply the STAR framework to giving feedback and practice receiving feedback gracefully to turn it into meaningful improvements.

Who is this course for?

  • New and ambitious managers

    You're either new to your management role or constantly looking to improve your craft. You hope to build the interpersonal skills required to succeed as a leader.

  • Aspiring leaders

    You're interested in moving into management and want to lay the groundwork to become an effective leader.

  • Individual contributors

    Not interested in becoming a manager? No problem! You want to learn what good management looks like so you can manage up more effectively.

What you'll learn

Master the foundational skills every leader needs to succeed.

This course includes 12 engaging video lessons packed with actionable strategies, real-world case studies, and practical tools to help you lead with confidence.

By pre-ordering for $249 now, you will:

  • ➡ Save $150 off the regular price of $399
  • ➡ Gain lifetime access to the course materials
  • ➡ Join an exclusive Discord community of fellow leaders

Note: The course is scheduled to launch in late January 2025. Curriculum and pricing subject to change.

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  • Module 1: Identifying Growth Opportunities

    • Rock Stars vs. Superstars – Who's on your team?
    • Identifying growth potential in medium and low performers
    • Activity: Create a talent map for your team

  • Module 2: Breaking Down the 1:1

    • The real purpose of 1:1s
    • Structuring effective 1:1s
    • Worksheet: Build your reusable 1:1 agenda

  • Module 3: Quarterly Development Planning

    • Understanding the 3 Ps of quarterly planning
    • Preparing for and conducting development check-ins
    • Activity: Fill out the 3 Ps for yourself or a team member

  • Module 4: Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts

    • Resolving conflict between team members
    • Navigating challenges with a direct report
    • Negotiating with your peers
    • Managing up: Resolving conflicts with your boss
    • Role Play: Resolving interpersonal conflicts

  • Module 5: Giving and Receiving Constructive Feedback

    • Reframing feedback
    • The STAR framework for delivering feedback
    • Case study: A real-world example of reframing feedback

Don't just take my word for it.

Hear from past students on why Management Fundamentals for the Modern Leader is worth the investment.

  • Fernando, Sr. Product Director

    "I’d recommend this course to engineers thinking about transitioning into management, new managers, and experienced managers alike. It’s a great opportunity to validate your approach, learn new techniques, and explore different ways of thinking about leadership."

  • Neha, ML Software Engineer

    "As an aspiring manager, Kelly's course gave me actionable items I can take in my career even now. From making 1:1s with my manager more valuable and productive to giving constructive and effective feedback, I have the skills to be an impactful engineer on my team and beyond!"

  • Jhoni, Sr. Software Engineer

    "As an IC, I think it's super valuable to learn how effective management works. Kelly has really awesome catches with all her experience that can step up your game whether you're an IC, Tech Lead or Manager."

Meet your instructor

Kelly Vaughn
Director of Engineering, Spot AI

I've spent my career bringing the human factor of engineering management to the forefront for leaders globally. As an experienced engineer and engineering leader, I have built and scaled engineering orgs of varying sizes and mentored dozens of engineering leaders in their careers.

I combine 20+ years of software engineering with my learnings from my clinical social work studies to turn technical engineers and engineering managers into impactful, influential leaders in their organization.
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Kelly Vaughn

One payment.
Lifetime access.

Invest in your future growth today.

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FAQs

  • Is this course right for me?

    Students come from a variety of backgrounds in tech and tech-adjacent roles. From individual contributors to VPs, the content of this course is accessible to every level.

  • How long is the pre-order sale available?

    Save $150 when you pre-order access to the course before January 20, 2025. Upon launch, the cost of this course will increase to $399.

  • How long will I have access to the course content?

    Forever! In fact, I recommend you continuously come back to review the sections you find most challenging in your career. It's an excellent reset for a new role, company, or even just a new year.

  • How does this self-pace course differ from your live course?

    The content is exactly the same, but there are some added benefits to the live course that aren't possible in a self-paced environment.

    Because the live course sessions take place over Zoom, students have an opportunity to learn live from their peers and ask clarifying questions along the way. The live course also receives two additional 1-hour Q&A sessions at the end of each day of content. Upon completion of the course, live students are granted lifetime access to this self-paced course to continue their studies.

  • I have a question that wasn't answered here.

    Reach out and I'm happy to answer your question.