The Ultimate Skip Level Meeting Guide for Leaders

Panel discussion interview with Sarah Milstein, Sr. Director of Engineering at Mailchimp, and Tanisha Barnett, Director of Engineering at Mailchimp. They get into the details of holding skip level meetings, let them be one-on-ones or group meetings.Here's everything you'll ever need to know about why you want to have your own skip level meetings, what they look like, what questions to ask, how to break the ice, keep track of them all, and much more. Master skip level meetings to become a great engineering leader yourself!In this interview we're covering:Skip level meeting definitionThe reason they started doing skip level meetingsSkip level one-on-one meeting and regular one-on-one comparisonChoosing the people to schedule skip level meetings withNotifying the in-between manager about skip level meetingsSkip level meetings' role at Mailchimp's engineering cultureKeeping track of the content of skip level meetingsSkip level meeting questionsIcebreakers for skip level meetingsSensitive topics at skip level meetingsAdvice for new leaders on skip level meetingsSkip level meeting storiesExcerpt from the interview:"Even though a key reason for the meeting is to talk about the manager, I don't want to support gossiping. It's a structured meeting that we use for giving feedback, not to talk trash behind people’s backs.When I get feedback about what employees wish their manager would do, I listen, but I try not to reinforce it in any inappropriate way. I say things like, "That sounds difficult," or "I understand why you want that," while I avoid saying, "Your manager really screwed up." I have to be..."Click here to read the full interview!

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Level-Up Engineering brings you actionable management insights straight from top tech leaders. Each episode tackles real challenges faced by engineering managers—like hiring, motivating teams, and scaling organizations—and shares how they have navigated them. Discover best practices in management and leadership to master the art of understanding people and organizations, just as well as you understand code. Brought to you by **Apex Lab**, a software development agency creating stress-free, expert-led digital products. Tune in to level up your skills and take your team to new heights! Learn more at [apexlab.io](https://www.apexlab.io/). Got feedback or want to be featured on **Level-Up Engineering**? Reach out to us at [podcast@apexlab.io](mailto:podcast@apexlab.io).