In the first ever episode of Amer’s Podcast, Amer has a conversation with Sohan Maheshwar, a lead developer advocate with over 10 years of experience in developer relations. The discussion focused on the role of developer relations, the skills needed for success in this field, and tips for effective public speaking.
Sohan described developer relations as bridging the gap between developers, product teams, and marketing. He emphasized the importance of having empathy for developers and being able to explain technical concepts clearly. Sohan shared advice for those interested in transitioning into developer relations, recommending they focus on building skills in one content medium they enjoy rather than trying to do everything at once.
The conversation also covered metrics and challenges in measuring the impact of developer relations work. Sohan highlighted the value of gathering feedback from developers to inform product decisions. He discussed strategies for tailoring presentations to different audiences and the importance of authenticity when speaking publicly.
Podcast and key points
00:00 Introduction
02:02 🎙️ Developer relations bridges the gap between developers, product teams, and marketing by being responsible for the success of developers using a product.
03:24 🧠 The most important skill for developer relations is empathy towards developers and their daily challenges.
07:57 😰 Public speaking doesn’t come naturally to everyone in developer relations. It’s a skill that can be developed through practice and learning from others.
15:05 🎭 Being authentic is crucial in developer relations. Your personality should come through in your presentations to connect with the audience.
19:55 📊 Measuring success in developer relations is challenging. It involves looking at input goals, output goals, and tying activities to broader organizational objectives.
26:16 🔄 Developer relations provides valuable feedback to product teams based on interactions with the developer community.
31:14 🔍 For those interested in developer relations, focus on one medium you enjoy (e.g. writing, video) rather than trying to do everything at once.
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