Valentina Servile on how to win remote work as an engineer
Valentina Servile from Thoughtworks
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February 13, 2025
How do you foster collaboration and trust in distributed engineering teams?
In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah talks with Valentina Servile, Lead Software Developer at Thoughtworks and author of Continuous Deployment. Valentina shares how her teams leverage practices like pair programming, collective code ownership, and streamlined processes to succeed in a remote-first world.
They also discuss managing cognitive load, communicating effectively across time zones, and her strategies for replacing outdated practices like pull requests with more dynamic approaches.
- Why pair programming improves team dynamics and code quality
- The role of trust and alignment in distributed teams
- Automating quality gates for faster, safer workflows
- How to foster collective code ownership in remote teams
- (00:00) – Kicking Things Off with Valentina Servile
- (02:00) – Using Kickoffs to Build Trust and Clarity in Remote Teams
- (06:00) – The Role of Pair Programming in Remote Success
- (09:00) – Effective Communication Strategies for Distributed Teams
- (13:00) – The Pitfalls of PR-Driven Workflows in Remote Contexts
- (18:00) – Building Collective Code Ownership and Its Benefits
- (24:00) – Automating Quality Gates for Safer Deployments
- (30:00) – Keeping Cognitive Load Manageable for Developers
- (37:00) – Final Takeaways: Tips on Disconnecting and Balancing Notifications