Engineer to Manager Isn’t a Promotion

Derek Lakin is a technology leader with over a decade of experience scaling engineering teams and building products across startups and global tech giants. He’s led at every level - from shipping code at Skype, to managing global teams at Skyscanner and Meta, to now serving as CTO at Sidekick Money, a fast-growing WealthTech startup.

Known for his pragmatic approach to leadership, Derek’s passionate about helping engineers make the leap into management - not just by learning new skills, but by redefining what success means. His perspective blends the technical depth of an engineer with the empathy and clarity of a seasoned people leader.