Episode
Technology leadership and building better teams I Zach Stein
- Published
- Sep 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2312
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Summary
In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Zach Stein, Director of Information Technology at RuffleButts®, to explore his leadership journey, the transition from individual contributor to technology leader, and the lessons he has learned along the way. Zach shares how he grew from being the first developer at a company into a leadership role, building teams and taking on greater responsibility over a decade-long career. He discusses why communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and empathy can matter more than technical skills when hiring and leading software engineers. The conversation also dives into building a blame-free engineering culture, creating psychological safety, practicing reflective listening, leading with gratitude, and developing the self-awareness needed to become a better leader. Zach explains how therapy, reading, and personal growth helped shape his leadership approach and why accountability is essential to building high-performing teams. Bill and Zach also discuss communicating with executives and non-technical stakeholders, connecting technology decisions to business objectives, managing cloud infrastructure, and the challenges of balancing technical leadership with business priorities. For individual contributors considering a move into technology leadership, Zach offers practical advice on demonstrating leadership before receiving the title, taking on increased responsibility, and understanding that leadership means stepping away from the keyboard and empowering others to succeed. Topics covered in this episode: * Zach Stein's leadership journey * Transitioning from developer to engineering manager * Leadership in technology and software engineering * Hiring for communication and team fit * Problem-solving and the XY p…