Autotrader life

Hi, I'm Neelam. I'm a Tech Lead here at Autotrader and a mum to two bright, happy girls. Going between these two worlds can be a bit of a balancing act, but I've found that both require plenty of patience and the ability to switch gear quickly. It's not always easy, but it's so, so rewarding.

I joined Autotrader back in 2019 as a Senior Developer. From the start, my attitude has always been to just do the with whatever I'm doing – I think that approach has helped me a lot throughout my career. As I've gone from hands-on coding to leading a team, there's been a lot I've had to balance along the way. As a Tech Lead, I have to be part architect, part mentor, part problem solver and sometimes even part firefighter. I love it though, even if It means I don't write as much code as I used to. It's all part of helping create the right environment for others to be their best selves and do their best work.

As part of creating this environment, I always encourage people to do things they'd normally shy away from, such as asking questions, admitting they don't know something, constructive critiques, and most importantly, celebrating outcomes. Woo!

Most of my days start with a coffee and catching up with messages before standup. Tech huddles are great for making sure there's clarity across the team and that we're working as one. We frame why tasks matter, encourage design reviews, and reinforce that we have the freedom to experiment. It sets the tone for the day! Everyone knows what direction they're heading in and feel empowered to make decisions.

I then move on to reviewing code, unblocking developers and occasionally tackling more complex system tasks. I always try to strike the balance between being hands-on but not bottlenecking.

Then comes the most important part of my day – lunch! Taking time to reset does wonders.

Afternoons are usually cross-functional. I take time to sync up with product, design and other teams to make sure we're on the same page. It's not always smooth sailing, but we get there in the end.

I'm able to do my job because of the support system I have around me. My manager always provides honest feedback; I have people I can turn to at work and ask 'am I overthinking this?' and it all just helps keep me grounded and heading in the right direction.

I'm part of an 'all-women team', which might sound homogenous from the outside, but the reality is anything but. We come from diverse cultural backgrounds, technical experiences, and career paths. There's a myth that all-women teams avoid conflict, but that's rubbish. We disagree, debate, and challenge each other's thinking regularly, but we're always respectful and those conversations are always driven by curiosity, not ego. Inclusion isn't performative with this team, it's real.

In one of our leadership sessions, our COO shared something that truly stayed with me. She said: 'Rather than striving for balance, which can be unrealistic, strive for contentment with the choices you make.'

As a mum of two daughters, I found myself genuinely relieved to hear that message spoken so openly by someone in senior leadership. It reminded me that I'm not alone and that I don't need to feel guilty for the choices I make. So, I have stopped chasing perfection. When I am at work, I give it my full attention and focus. When I am with my family, I do the same, unapologetically.

Being a Tech Lead at Autotrader is a balancing act. It's a role that requires both technical depth and being able to connect on a human level. If you love building teams as much as systems, it's the kind of challenge worth showing up for every day.

Since I joined Autotrader, the combination of ongoing coaching, leadership training, the Diverse Talent Accelerator programme, a fantastic group of allies, and an incredibly supportive manager guided me towards becoming a Tech Lead. It's been a fantastic journey, and I can't wait to see where it leads next.