
Description
Freedom to learn, teams that achieve beyond expectations, and the human component of crafting software.
In this interview series, we at the Developer Success Lab strive to amplify how developer thriving practically manifests in the lived experiences of software practitioners. The Developer Thriving framework – built on robust empirical research in human wellbeing, learning, and achievement – explores the dynamics within software teams that foster growth, satisfaction, and productivity.
In this first interview of the series, senior software engineers Kathy Lavoie and Kristen Foster-Marks explore the four components of Developer Thriving: learning culture, agency, motivation & self-efficacy, and support & belonging. They discuss how these components have manifested in Kathy’s career, including how they’ve helped shape thriving environments for herself and her teams.
Kathy's perspective offers invaluable insights into the interplay of technical skill, continuous learning, what motivates developers, the importance of psychological safety, and the role of teamwork and collaboration in creating successful, productive, thriving software teams.