Craft Beyond Code: Building Better Teams, One 1:1 at a Time

After 3.5 years managing two teams of 12 engineers at Issuu, I built Craft Beyond Code to address a key gap: the traditional approach – focusing solely on metrics and project delivery – often misses the mark.

Core Capabilities

The platform enables managers to:

• Track Individual Progress: Capture goals, growth areas, and skill focus in one location
• Facilitate Meaningful 1:1s: Share agendas and document notes for productive conversations
• Align Projects with Individual Goals: Make staffing decisions that support engineer development
• Receive Gentle Nudges: Get timely reminders like "Engineer X hasn't discussed goals in 30 days"

MVP Features

The initial release includes Engineer Profiles, Shared 1:1 Agendas, Project Alignment, and Lightweight Suggestions.

Future Direction

Planned enhancements involve AI-powered summarization of report trends and career path templates.

Philosophy

A thriving engineering team is built on trust, communication, and a genuine commitment to individual growth. Craft Beyond Code is designed as a support system rather than a replacement for managerial judgment.