Between Code and Culture — the messy middle: Why I’m starting this newsletter
Lessons from building teams, scaling systems, and leading through complexity.
It starts with us
We talk a lot about systems, strategy, technology, frameworks, but in the end, every meaningful shift in a company starts with people. It starts with how we show up. How we lead. How we make decisions when the choices are unclear and the calendar is already full. How we navigate uncertainty, competing priorities, and the pressure to deliver faster than the systems were ever designed to support.
(And yes, occasionally how we stay calm while everything around us catches fire—again.)
After years of working inside companies at every stage, from early-stage chaos, rapid scaling, and mature organizations with systems held together by hope and a few heroic engineers, I’ve learned that the real work happens in the space where code meets culture. Where logic meets intuition. Where what you planned and what actually happens finally meet and have a long overdue conversation.
Between Code and Culture is my attempt to illuminate that middle ground with honest stories, practical tools, and lived experience. Not theory. Not recycled leadership slogans. Just the messy, human, high-leverage work that actually moves companies forward—plus the occasional laugh we all need to stay sane.
What you’ll find here—and why it might matter to you
My goal is to share the kind of lessons that help you navigate complexity with more clarity, a bit more calm, and preferably fewer headaches. Whether you’re building a team, shaping a product, or trying to make sense of an operating model that somehow grew into a hydra, the topics here will meet you where you already are.
You’ll find reflections on:
Engineering leadership and scaling teams without losing trust or quality
Systems thinking that (actually) works (sometimes) in real-world chaos
The intersection of product, engineering, and operations, and how to align them (or at least try to)
Leading through uncertainty, ambiguity, and “who the hell added this to the backlog?” moments
Practical AI tools and patterns for modern leaders
Culture as an operating system: how trust, ownership, and accountability scale (if you let them)
As much as I like abstract ideals, I like practical things more. I’m pragmatic at heart. Everything I share comes straight from experience—the successes, the mistakes, and the “we will never do it this way again” moments.
Who might get the most out of this
This space is for people who operate in the messy middle—the ones who translate across functions, keep things moving, and quietly absorb more operational chaos than their job description ever mentioned.
People like:
Engineering leaders navigating growth, complexity, or both at once
Product managers juggling vision, timelines, and reality—sometimes all before lunch
Operators who keep the machine running even when half the parts are missing
Founders who want clarity without consultants or corporate theater
Emerging leaders looking for grounded guidance (and maybe a little moral support)
Anyone who believes people and systems should work with each other, not against each other
And of course, the unofficial requirement for any operator or product manager:
a healthy dose of masochism.
(If you know, you know.)
If you think in both logic and intuition…
if you build, question, experiment…
if you want teams to thrive and products to succeed…
you’ll feel at home here. This can be your haven. Or your sanity board. Whatever you need.
What to expect
I’m committed to making this newsletter practical, human, and worth your time—even on days when you’ve already had three meetings that could’ve been an email.
Cadence
1–2 thoughtful posts per month
And the occasional surprise post when inspiration finds me in the in-between. Sometimes it is a quote, sometimes a situation, sometimes sheer will to get a thought out of my head and onto the page
For all subscribers
Core essays on leadership, systems, product/tech alignment, and we-shall-not-name-the-latest-hype-technology-but-it-is-actually-great
Frameworks and practical takeaways
Behind-the-scenes reflections, recommendations, and the occasional operator-level confession
For future paid subscribers (when the community is ready—and when I’m brave enough)
Deep-dive playbooks
Leadership mini-series
Templates, tools, and models I use with teams
Q&A sessions and community discussions
This will evolve as I learn what helps you the most.
One more thing before you go…
If the messy middle is where you spend your days—and where you want to grow—I’d be grateful to have you here from the beginning.
Here’s to building better systems, stronger teams, and more intentional ways of working.
And here’s to finding a little humor in the chaos while we do it.
Remember: it starts with us.
— Mateja
