Kelly Vaughn is an engineering leader, entrepreneur, and leadership coach, supporting the growth of ICs and early-stage EMs.
AI is accelerating how fast we write code, and it's exposing where the real bottlenecks have been all along
Mar 17, 2026
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9 min read
They can feel weird and unproductive if you don't know what to talk about. Here's what actually makes them useful
Mar 10, 2026
6 min read
The context gap that makes working with peer EMs so hard
Mar 3, 2026
All Access subscribers get free access to my Mastering Tough Conversations course this month
Mar 1, 2026
2 min read
The invisible gun gets dangerous when you refuse to holster it on principle
Feb 24, 2026
5 min read
The hardest limit is stepping back from good ones and seeing the ones you've already said yes to through
Feb 17, 2026
7 min read
The hardest no isn't to a bad idea. It's to a good one, and it's one of the most important choices you make
Feb 10, 2026
We may know how to delegate to our team, but choosing when and how to delegate to AI takes some adjusting
Feb 3, 2026
How to identify and support the 5 types of performers on your team
Feb 1, 2026
We’re using AI to move faster. I’m not yet convinced we’re using it to work better.
Jan 27, 2026
8 min read
Every company has tradeoffs. Six months in is when you start deciding which skeletons matter the most
Jan 20, 2026
Time away is a stress test for your leadership system
Jan 13, 2026
Most leadership advice stops at communication. This is about what actually creates momentum and trust
Jan 6, 2026
How to tell what actually matters when everything is loud
Jan 1, 2026
A quick thank you before signing off for 2025
Dec 23, 2025
4 min read
Growth changes companies and people. Treating fit as static has real leadership costs.
Dec 16, 2025
The debate is exhausting for a reason.
Dec 9, 2025
10 min read
Not having the full context doesn't have to keep you from speaking up
Dec 4, 2025
A simple shift that turns you from problem-solver to leader
Dec 2, 2025
A simple system to help you start each week grounded instead of overwhelmed.
Dec 1, 2025
The hybrid era of engineering leadership is here, and the traditional IC/manager model is no longer suitable.
Nov 25, 2025
Most problems aren’t individual failures, they’re system failures
Nov 18, 2025
The more senior you get, the more your words start to sound like orders
Nov 11, 2025
Yes, you can lead engineers without coming from a technical background.
Nov 4, 2025
The messy, very human challenges behind the job and how to stay steady through conflict, uncertainty, and loneliness
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![[All Access] Managing performance](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=720,fit=scale-down,onerror=redirect/uploads/asset/file/0e1a58e7-4d64-42fc-9c1b-5d07288f05e3/vecteezy_continuous-one-line-drawing-5-phases-of-tree-growth-with_74612346.jpg)
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![[All Access] A weekly reset ritual for clearer, calmer leadership](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=720,fit=scale-down,onerror=redirect/uploads/asset/file/e2cc8f2f-0364-49e5-99ac-e9c0593c9f45/vecteezy_simple-continuous-line-drawing-of-a-clipboard-with-a_73970057.jpg)
