On the latest episode of Tech Teams Today, I had an incredible chat with Julian Ramirez, a Senior Engineering Manager at Dropbox. Julian has one of those career journeys that makes you stop and think, wow, this guy’s seen it all. From scrappy startups to scaling teams at larger companies, and now leading at Dropbox, Julian has amassed a treasure trove of insights. If you missed the episode, no worries—I’ve got you covered.
Here are my top takeaways from our conversation.
1. Trust and Agency Are the Secret Sauce of High-Performing Teams
When we got to talking about what separates world-class engineering teams from just-okay ones, Julian was crystal clear: it’s not about having the most brilliant engineers. Instead, it’s about creating teams where trust and agency thrive. He’d take a team of folks who have each other’s backs over a group of “genius jerks” any day. Why? Because cohesive, collaborative teams make better decisions and handle challenges head-on without needing constant supervision.
Agency stood out as a big one. Julian shared examples of teams that proactively course-corrected when projects started veering off-track. It’s the kind of ownership and entrepreneurial spirit that makes magic happen—and it’s a quality he’s seen in the best teams he’s worked with.
2. Remote Work Isn’t Just a Shift—It’s an Opportunity
Julian admitted he wasn’t exactly thrilled when Dropbox went remote in 2020. Like many of us, he had to figure out how to lead without those impromptu office conversations and whiteboard sessions. But over time, he embraced the unique opportunities remote work offers.
A couple of his tactics really stuck with me:
- Async over sync: Dropbox’s culture now leans heavily on asynchronous communication—whether it’s Slack updates, shared documents, or tagging teammates for feedback. Not everything needs a meeting.
- Heartbeat meetings: These are Julian’s solution to avoid the isolation that can creep into remote teams. Regular check-ins with the whole team—even when there’s no urgent agenda—create space for relationship-building.
- In-person meetups: Quarterly gatherings with teams, or even casual “neighborhood” meetups (like his engineering manager knitting group—yes, knitting) keep connections alive in ways Zoom never could.
3. AI Is Changing How We Work—Not What We Need to Learn
One of my favorite moments was when I asked Julian whether young engineers should even bother learning to code in this AI-powered world. His response? Learning to code isn’t about typing any more than writing a book is about knowing how to use a keyboard. It’s about learning to break down problems, apply known solutions, and think critically—skills that will always be valuable, no matter how advanced AI becomes.
The key takeaway? Engineers who embrace tools like AI, unlearn outdated workflows, and stay curious will thrive.
4. Company Size Shapes Your Challenges (and Opportunities)
Julian’s career has spanned tiny startups, mid-sized software companies, and now Dropbox, giving him a unique perspective on how team dynamics evolve as organizations grow:
- At startups, camaraderie and impact reign supreme. There’s nothing quite like building a product from scratch and seeing your work ship.
- In mid-sized companies, politics and product-market fit become trickier. This is where good architecture and practices pay off.
- At large organizations, specialization and focus take center stage. Teams invest deeply in what’s critical to the business—like Dropbox’s unparalleled syncing tech—but still face the universal challenge of prioritization.
5. World-Class Teams Are Built, Not Bought
Finally, Julian emphasized that you don’t need a big budget or flashy brand to build an amazing team. It’s about fostering trust, empowering people with agency, and ensuring everyone’s working toward a shared goal. The best teams aren’t the ones stacked with “brilliant jerks” but those that are proactive, collaborative, and aligned.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re running a tiny team at a startup or managing dozens of engineers at a large tech company, his insights offer a roadmap for creating a culture where people and products thrive.
If you haven’t already, give the full episode a listen—it’s packed with even more nuggets of wisdom. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What strategies have you used to build trust and agency on your teams? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message—I’m always up for a good chat.
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