What happens when we stop chasing the myth of the lone “10x coder” and start building engineering cultures rooted in empathy, predictability, and inclusion?

In this candid conversation, we go deep with Autumn Patterson—VP of Technology, veteran engineering leader, and trans woman whose journey has redefined what leadership in tech can look like. Autumn shares how she learned to “climb the mountain,” moving fluidly from the details of code to the big-picture vision of business impact.

Along the way, we explore:

• Why true agility is about context and predictability, not just speed.
• The three pillars of engineering stability: due consideration, understanding, and predictability.
• How transitioning unlocked Autumn’s empathy and made authentic leadership possible.
• The dangers of “10x coders” and cultures that exclude, versus teams that thrive on mentorship and balance.
• How AI tools like Claude, Cursor, and Lovable are reshaping engineering work—for better and worse.
• Why inclusion isn’t charity—it’s strategy.

This episode is for anyone who wants to rethink leadership, connect code to culture, and build systems where both people and products can thrive.

Find Autumn:
LinkedIn: Autumn Patterson
Quora: (if you can find her 👀)

Brought to you by:

• Humma — Empathetic AI™ made by and for the community.
• Bast.ai — Building the trust layer for our AI infrastructure.

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