Suhail Patel, a notable software engineer, emphasized the importance of sharing work within the tech community during his presentation, “Shine Bright as an IC: Growing Yourself as Your Company Grows,” at QCon London. He argued that showcasing one’s work not only inspires others but also invites constructive feedback and fosters personal growth. By normalizing and owning incidents, engineers can build trust and navigate the complexities inherent in software development. Patel highlighted that while AI enables automation, it requires proper guidance, context, and security measures to be effective.
Patel urged engineers to present their work to inspire peers and gather diverse perspectives. He acknowledged that sharing one’s projects can expose them to criticism, but this challenge often leads to valuable learning opportunities, particularly in recognizing flawed assumptions. Through various platforms, such as writing, blogging, and delivering technical presentations, engineers can share their insights. “Often I hear people saying their work is not novel or groundbreaking. I argue most of our work in the industry is derivative,” he stated, underscoring the importance of combining ideas from multiple sources while attributing credit.
Addressing the inevitability of project incidents, Patel stressed that reactions to these events are crucial for building trust. “I’d argue it’s make or break in terms of trust building,” he remarked. Being transparent about what went wrong and outlining a plan for resolution can transform even minor issues into opportunities for positive communication. He encouraged leaders to instill this mentality in their teams, reinforcing the idea that effective problem resolution can serve as a testament to the overall quality of work.
In his talk, Patel also discussed the challenges posed by AI in the software development landscape. Many organizations are reporting significant portions of their code being generated by AI. While these tools empower individuals outside the software engineering discipline to create their own automations, Patel noted that the use of AI should not be hastily dismissed due to initial shortcomings. “Many people are dismissing the use of AI because it doesn’t write perfect code or do the right thing on round one, with very little context,” he explained.
During his session, Patel highlighted the need for structured guidance in the use of AI tools. Just as new engineers are mentored, existing teams should also invest in teaching effective prompt strategies and context for AI to ensure productive outcomes. He reiterated the critical importance of maintaining security and operational guardrails, allowing engineers to leverage the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) without compromising sensitive information. “Having the right security and operational guardrails means engineers can harness the power of LLMs without being slowed down,” he concluded.
In an interview with InfoQ, Patel shared practical advice for software engineers looking to showcase their work. He recommended starting with internal sharing, where documents could indicate if they are drafts and whether feedback is welcome. Presentations do not need to be highly polished unless the audience is unfamiliar, and he praised informal formats that encourage open discussion.
On addressing AI-related challenges in software development, Patel stated, “My priority is making sure that our capabilities and platform are enablers for others in the company to realize their vision.” He emphasized the importance of building interfaces and APIs that provide controlled access for AI tools while maintaining rigorous code review processes. Patel noted that Monzo has invested significantly in static analysis tooling over the years, a strategy that continues to yield benefits by catching common bugs and vulnerabilities as part of mandatory checks.
As the software industry increasingly integrates AI into its workflows, Patel’s insights serve as a reminder of the dual importance of communication and security in fostering a trustworthy and innovative engineering culture. His focus on personal growth, transparency in problem-solving, and the responsible use of AI reflects broader trends shaping the future of software development.
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