Jelena Jelušić - Engineering Management Meetup Success Story Discover How to Host Events Engineers Love

A company couldn't convince senior engineers to become managers. Their solution was a meetup that attracted over 200 applicants and transformed their employer brand.

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The challenge of hiring engineering managers in Croatia

The local market lacked modern engineering management practices and senior engineers were reluctant to move into people management roles.

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Developing managers with a dual-track career path

A dual-track career path and an internal management academy were created to grow leaders from within without making it the only path for advancement.

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Creating a community to solve a market-wide problem

Hiring an experienced director of engineering and identifying a market gap for manager support led to the idea of a community meetup.

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The surprising success of the first engineering management meetup

The first event was an overwhelming success, receiving over 200 applications in 24 hours and attracting attendees from hours away.

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Key ingredients for hosting a successful developer event

Success was driven by top-notch speakers, relevant topics, an exclusive audience, and a focus on creating a safe space for Q&A without live streaming.

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A multi-channel strategy for event promotion and content

Promotion involved a mix of social media, speaker ambassadorship, and media partnerships, while content like recordings and blogs extended the event's reach.

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Understanding the audience and measuring long-term impact

The meetup attracted both current and aspiring managers, ultimately positioning the company as a desirable employer and demystifying the management role.

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Evolving into a community-driven, brand-agnostic initiative

After a company acquisition, the meetup continued as an independent, volunteer-run initiative supported by community demand and strategic sponsorships.

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Actionable tips for creating events that engineers love

Key advice includes finding a market gap, offering high-quality content without sales pitches, empowering speakers, and using audience feedback to guide topics.

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Q&A on internal promotions and event logistics

The Q&A addresses challenges of managing former peers, criteria for selecting attendees for exclusive events, and the significant time investment required to launch.