In this episode, Si and Neil talk about the communities that helped shape their careers and perspectives as engineers and leaders.
From grassroots meetups and agile communities to internal workplace groups and side project collectives, they explore how the right people in the right space can accelerate learning, create opportunities, and build lasting friendships.
They also discuss what makes communities thrive or fade away. Sometimes scale changes the dynamic, sometimes life simply moves on, but the impact often stays with you long after.
Along the way they share personal stories about meetups, online communities, internal workplace groups, and why feeling like you belong somewhere matters more than people often realise.
If you have ever wondered whether it is worth joining a meetup, starting a community at work, or creating a small group around a shared interest, this episode might give you the nudge you need.
Because sometimes the community that changes your career is just one conversation away.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Friday preamble and why we record at the end of the week
02:00 - What do we mean by “communities that made us?”
06:30 - Early communities and how they opened doors in our careers
12:30 - When communities scale and start to lose their grassroots feel
17:00 - Building a side project community during lockdown
22:30 - Small communities and why intimacy matters
27:00 - Internal communities at work and communities of practice
31:45 - Leadership support and funding for communities
34:00 - Neurodiversity networks and safe spaces in organisations
39:00 - Private vs public communities and finding the right balance
48:30 - Advice for anyone thinking about starting a community
52:00 - Why joining a community can change everything
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USEFUL LINKS
The Multipack - https://multipack.co.uk
Cambridge Agile Exchange - https://www.meetup.com/cambridge-agile-exchange/
Building Successful Communities of Practice - https://emilywebber.co.uk/books/building-successful-communities-of-practice/
UK Government Community of Practice Guide - https://communityofpractice.gov.uk/
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Connect with the hosts
Si Jobling - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sijobling/
Neil Younger - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilyounger/
Podcast archive
https://podcast.managingengineers.net
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