7 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn the skills and frameworks top engineers use to grow in their careers
7 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn the skills and frameworks top engineers use to grow in their careers
Students from
Course overview
You’re great at what you do. You deliver results, solve complex problems, and help your team win. But you’ve probably realized that doing good work isn’t always enough.
You still get passed over for promotions. Your impact isn’t always clear. And you’re not sure what’s actually holding you back.
That’s where the Software Engineer Growth Program comes in.
This course gives you the clarity, systems, and confidence to move your career forward.
You’ll learn how to communicate your value, manage your time strategically, build stronger relationships, and make your impact visible.
By the end of the program, you’ll have
- A clear roadmap for your next promotion or role
- The ability to communicate and lead with confidence
- Systems to manage your time and priorities
- A track record that makes your impact impossible to ignore
- More ownership and satisfaction in your growth
You’ve mastered the technical side, now it’s time to master those soft skills that are easy to overlook.
What to Expect
This seven week program combines on-demand lessons, live coaching, and hands-on exercises that turn learning into action.
You’ll apply proven frameworks like the Opportunity Identifier and Track Record System, and get personalized feedback on how to grow your visibility, influence, and performance.
Course Content
Week 1: Mindset for Growth
Shift from passive to proactive. Learn how to take ownership of your career trajectory and adopt the mindset of engineers who grow faster, influence more, and stay ahead.
Week 2: Communicate with Impact
Communicate with clarity and confidence across peers, leads, and executives—so your message lands, decisions move faster, and your value is recognized.
Week 3: Master Your Time
Plan, prioritize, and protect your focus. Build systems that help you deliver high-quality work consistently—without losing balance or burning out.
Week 4: Build Intentional Relationships
Develop trust-based relationships that expand your influence and make collaboration easier. Learn how to gain allies, give accountability, and repair friction with maturity.
Week 5: Contribute Beyond Code
Go beyond execution. Identify high-impact opportunities, take initiative, and multiply your team’s effectiveness using the Opportunity Identifier Framework.
Week 6: Get Recognized
Turn your growth into visibility. Learn how to track your impact, communicate results clearly, and build a professional reputation that earns recognition, promotions, and raises.
Week 7: Optimize for Performance
Scale your performance through systems, preparation, and AI-assisted execution. Learn to operate efficiently and sustainably at the next level.
01
New Grads who want to grow faster, build confidence, and shorten the time it takes to reach strong compensation and a solid career path
02
Mid-Level Engineers who want to break through the plateau, communicate their impact clearly, and accelerate toward Senior
03
Senior and Staff Engineers who want to scale their impact, lead larger efforts, and prepare for Tech Lead, Staff+, or early management roles
Best for New Grads, Mid-level, Senior, and Staff engineers.
Students employed benefit most since they can apply skills immediately. We also cover career transitions and hiring processes.
A Proven Track Record System
Learn how to capture your achievements and impact in a way that makes performance reviews, promotion packets, and raise conversations effortless and evidence-based.
Time Management Tools and Frameworks
Build systems that help you prioritize effectively, stay focused on high-impact work, and create more space for life outside of work.
Strategies for Tough Conversations and Relationships
Gain scripts and frameworks for giving feedback, managing friction, and maintaining healthy accountability with peers, leads, and managers.
A Clear Roadmap for Your Next Promotion or Role
Understand what’s expected at each level, identify gaps, and develop an actionable plan to reach your next milestone with confidence.
The Confidence and Influence to Lead Effectively
Learn how to communicate with authority, align cross-functional partners, and guide your team toward shared goals—even without formal management authority.
Become a Force Multiplier by Scaling Your Efforts
Drive team and organizational impact through scaling, enabling others, and systems thinking.
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Live sessions
Learn directly from Justin Otero in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Bonus: Job search strategies
Resume templates and other strategies to help find your next role.
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
7 live sessions • 49 lessons • 7 projects
Jan
16
Jan
23
Jan
30
Feb
6
Feb
13
Feb
20
Feb
27
4-6 hours per week
Thursdays
6:00-7:30pm PST
Weekly projects
2 hours per week
I’m a seasoned engineering leader and software engineer career coach. Today, I serve as a Director of Engineering at Navan, a $7.5B+ tech company, where I lead cross-functional teams and scale systems, people, and impact.
With over 14 years in tech, I’ve built product teams from the ground up, mentored dozens of engineers, and led major technical initiatives across both startups and high-growth companies.
Through Value Driven Careers, I help software engineers grow beyond just technical skills — building visibility, influence, and a consistent track record of impact that leads to real career growth.
I’ve had the opportunity to speak on AI adoption, developer productivity, and career advancement, and serve as a Judge & Contest Chair for SkillsUSA Nevada. I also mentor rising talent through programs like Climb Hire and 1,000 Dreams Fund.
Outside of work, I’m passionate about real estate investing, staying on top of the latest tech trends, and giving back to the community through mentorship and speaking engagements.
Gabriel Burgos
Alex Yablontsev
Christopher Peret
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Join an upcoming cohort
Cohort 1
$695
Dates
Application Deadline
Active hands-on learning
This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects
Interactive and project-based
You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams
Learn with a cohort of peers
Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you
Join an upcoming cohort
Cohort 1
$695
Dates
Application Deadline