ABOUT / DEREK SHANAHAN
Better leadership starts with the work in front of you.
I'm Derek Shanahan, a software engineering manager. I help leaders lead more effectively and focus their time on what really matters through the use of tools, systems, and AI.
01 / THE PURPOSE
Why this site exists
Leading people brings a steady stream of decisions: what deserves your attention, who owns the next step, which conversations need to happen, and where a tool might help. The Leader's Next Move brings together practical resources for working through those decisions.
I share leadership lessons, real examples, and ways to put ideas into practice. I cover priorities, delegation, feedback, useful meetings and one-to-ones, and using AI with judgment. My experience comes from software engineering management; the leadership questions reach across functions.
02 / THE PEOPLE
Who I want to work with
I want to work with curious, thoughtful leaders who care about their people, take responsibility for their decisions, and are willing to put better ways of working into practice.
You may be stepping into leadership for the first time, leading without a formal title, leading an established team, or working out how AI fits into your responsibilities. What connects the work is a desire to lead effectively and make time for what matters.
03 / THE APPROACH
How I approach the work
I like to make complicated work easier to see. Pictures, boxes, lines, and plain language help a team name the decision, the owner, and the next step.
Good leadership gives people clarity and room to act. I care about removing roadblocks, coaching through hard conversations, and using AI to support human judgment.
04 / USEFUL NEXT STEPS
What you'll find here
The views shared here are my own and do not represent my employer.
Explore the tools & guides