Path to Becoming a Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft: A Conversation with David Fowler​

In this episode of Breaking Changes, Postman Head of Product-Observability Jean Yang interviews David Fowler, a distinguished engineer ‪@Microsoft‬ about his incredible journey from Barbados to Microsoft. Get insights into the life of a distinguished engineer, balancing tech and management, and the significance of influence. David shares invaluable lessons on navigating breaking changes and the evolving tech landscape. Don't miss his take on dev tools, industry shifts, and the rise of AI! For more on David Fowler, check out the following: LinkedIn:   / davidfowl   Twitter:   / davidfowl   Microsoft Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ Follow Jean on Twitter/X @jeanqasaur. And remember, never miss an episode by subscribing to the Breaking Changes Podcast on your favorite streaming platform or Postman's YouTube Channel—just hit that bell for notifications. #BreakingChanges3 #apis #postman #microsoft #TechLeadership #EntrepreneurialJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #TechInnovation #StartupSuccess #BusinessInsights #EntrepreneurMindset #careersuccess #PersonalGrowthJourney #engineering Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Sizzle Clip 00:20 - Introduction and Background 02:52 - Becoming a Distinguished Engineer 04:32 - Role and Responsibilities 05:29 - Transition from Games to Developer Tools 07:36 - Influence and Impact 09:58 - Impact through Influence 12:06 - Balancing Technical and Managerial Roles 15:25 - Introducing Breaking Changes 18:33 - Lessons from Breaking Changes 20:39 - Personal Breaking Changes 25:28 - Longevity at Microsoft 28:28 - The Value of Long Tenure 31:39 - The Craftsmanship of Dev Tools 32:27 - Identifying Changes Worth Paying Attention To 33:56 - Deep Diving into New Technologies 35:02 - Nurturing Technical Minds in Organizations 36:40 - Fostering Technical Leadership 37:54 - The Need for Technical Role Models 39:05 - Technical Strategy and Decision Making 42:42 - Underrated Breaking Changes in the Industry 45:53 - The Impact of AI on Breaking Changes 46:52 - Exciting Personal and Professional Changes 48:17 - Where to Find David Fowler