How Staff Engineers approach leading remote teams
Cassia Scheffer
·
February 27, 2025
What’s the right way to operate as a hybrid team in today’s engineering landscape?
In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah speaks with Cassia Scheffer, Staff Software Engineer at Wealthsimple, to explore her best practices for mentoring and collaborating in a remote-first environment. Cassia shares insights on balancing hybrid work cultures, the power of pair programming, and how distributed ownership empowers engineers to make better decisions. She also reflects on the challenges of feeling disconnected in hybrid setups and how Wealthsimple prioritizes customer-focused values to align teams.
- The importance of balancing hybrid work cultures to foster a sense of belonging
- How schema validation enables distributed ownership and better decision-making
- Why mentoring and pair programming improve collaboration and learning
- Strategies for driving alignment through clear documentation
- The role of curiosity in planning, problem-solving, and building strong teams
- (00:00) – Kicking Things Off With Cassia Scheffer
- (02:00) – Wealthsimple’s Approach to Hybrid and Remote Work
- (04:30) – The Power of Pair Programming in Remote Environments
- (08:00) – Driving Alignment Across Teams Through Architecture Reviews
- (12:00) – Lessons Learned From Managing Team Dynamics in Challenging Times
- (17:00) – Fostering Belonging and Balancing Hybrid Work Challenges
- (22:00) – Mentoring and Coaching Engineers in Distributed Teams
- (27:00) – Final Takeaway: Approaching Collaboration With Curiosity