Herding Squirrels Podcast: Harini Rajagopal - Building Resilient Teams Without Burning Out
Guest Bio
Harini Rajagopal is a data engineering leader who specializes in building scalable, robust data pipelines that manage terabytes of information. She expertly combines software development rigor with strategic execution to drive business value. A recognized thought leader and AWS Game Day champion, Harini is a frequent speaker sharing expertise on building resilient data teams and preventing burnout. Beyond her technical leadership, Harini pursues a new hobby every year—from learning to swim as an adult to studying classical dance from South India. She’s an active member of SheTO, an organization supporting women in technical leadership.
Episode Overview
You’re standing on uneven ground. Some days feel solid, other days you’re balancing on smaller steps, wondering if you’re doing the right thing. Your team is burning out. Deadlines are crushing. And somehow, you’re supposed to care about people while shipping product. In this episode, Harini Rajagopal uses LEGO bricks to reveal what made her best team experience happen during COVID—when everything was falling apart. She builds the difference between micromanagement and trust, shows why “you don’t have to be best every single time,” and shares the leadership advice that turns three impossible options into thirty. If you’re trying to balance time pressure with team care, wondering how to lead without all the answers, or navigating the constant tension between shipping and supporting, this conversation will give you permission to be human.
Episode Timestamps
[00:00:00] Introduction to Herding Squirrels and Harini Rajagopal[00:00:32] Building a model of herself—standing on uneven ground with support from family, skills, and learning[00:02:40] Harini’s yearly hobby tradition and this year’s pursuit: classical dance from South India[00:03:28] The best team experience: COVID, remote work, and why it was amazing[00:04:22] Core foundations: You as a person matter more than nine-to-five work[00:05:01] “Nobody’s making you sit at a job here”—the anti-micromanagement philosophy[00:05:25] Collaboration that climbs: morning Wordle, genuine care, and silent Slack co-working[00:06:46] Personal growth alongside team growth—being nerdy, fun, and vulnerable together[00:08:12] The nightmare team model: unclear expectations, abandonment, and drowning in work[00:11:08] What keeps leaders up at night: team burnout and the impossible balance[00:14:47] The reality of layoffs and supporting teams through organizational change[00:17:16] Balancing time pressure with team care—the honest answer[00:18:34] “When you have three options, work on making those options 30”[00:19:17] Leadership advice model: Consistent messaging, being a ladder for growth, and being a green flag[00:20:57] “You’re not there to parent them. You’re there to help them grow.”[00:21:24] Reflections on building with LEGO bricks—nervous but enlightening[00:22:12] Where to find Harini and learn about SheTO
Notable Quotes
On anti-micromanagement:“Nobody’s making you sit at a job here. So I am not going to micromanage you. You know how to do your job.”
On being honest as a leader:“Can I be honest and say, I don’t know anything at all. And sometimes I don’t know how to do it either. I’m going to have to go find out the answer for you, but I will find an answer.”
On expanding your options:“When you have three options, always work on making those options 30. There’s never just three options, there’s always 30.”
On the role of a leader:“You’re not there to parent them. You’re there to help them grow. That’s it.”
Where to Find Harini
LinkedIn: Connect with Harini Rajagopal on LinkedInSheTO: Learn more about SheTO, an organization supporting women in technical leadership
Herding Squirrels is a podcast where we uncover the nuts and bolts of teams, exploring what makes them work, what breaks them, and how to build something better.
