How to Speak to Technical Teammates

Deepen your technical know-how

Insight from Rameel Sheikh

When I started at Uber Freight in 2017, I wasn't a fan of the whole biz-tech divide.

I thrived on being the wildcard in the room, leaving folks puzzled about which side of the fence I was on.

This skill is vital for those non-techie types elbow-deep in product work.

Before we had access to data scientists, our ops team had to beg for resources. Instead of waiting, I took the initiative to learn SQL to delve into data.

I got so good that I became a go-to person for financial performance updates. Uber was all for this cross-functional growth, fostering an environment where anyone could evolve their skill set.

For those first business hires in startups, diving into the techy details is part of the gig. 

It's about shielding your tech colleagues from the grind of deal-making or endless client meetings.

Why not learn the ropes yourself instead of dragging an engineer into yet another meeting?

At Uber, I aimed to ease the technical load, even if it meant stepping into their world.

I would convince an engineer or analyst to have lunch with me and whiteboard their processes. That way I would pick up on the key points that I could use for later meetings.

When you do end up chatting with non-technical folks, be sure to tailor your communication to your audience's expertise.

My tip for the latter? Get into their shoes. Understand what ticks for them in relation to the tech stuff.

For example, when explaining new APIs to a finance pro, I'd zone in on the money flow – that's their language.

And don't shy away from mixing up your explanatory tactics.

Use visuals and tell a story – like tracing a transaction from an Uber ride request to the final card charge – to clarify what an API call means in practical terms, even for those who might not know the first thing about APIs.

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