No path to promotion
No visibility to your value or impact
Struggling to influence without authority
Not being mentored or supported
Burned out but afraid to slow down
Feeling stuck in your role or career
No ownership over end-to-end features
Managing up
Managing unrealistic or unclear expectations
Struggling to build a strong relationship with your manager
Ideas aren't considered or accepted
Know you could be earning more
You’ve been in your current role for a while and haven’t been promoted
You’re not getting recognized for your contributions, even though you deliver
You want more influence with your team, manager, and cross-functional partners
You’ve taken courses or read career books but don’t know how to apply them
You’re unsure how to position yourself for growth without overworking
You’ve hit a ceiling and don’t know how to break through
You want to lead, but feel behind or overlooked
You’re ready to grow, but want a clear, structured way to do it without burning out
A clear roadmap for your next promotion or role
Increase your total compensation (TC)
Manage your time and priorities at work, so that you have more time for yourself and for your family.
Have confidence in your communication and ability to lead and influence your team and cross-functional partners
More ownership and satisfaction in your career growth
Learn at your own pace with short, focused lessons designed to give you immediate clarity and tools you can apply right away.
Get personalized feedback, guidance, and accountability from your coach, and your peers.
Connect with growth-minded engineers, share wins and roadblocks, and stay motivated with others who are on the same path.
Practical frameworks that help you identify high-impact opportunities, document your wins, and share your value.
Measure your growth with targeted check-ins that help you reflect, refocus, and track the changes you’re making across your career.
A growth plan based on your goals, challenges, and current role so you know exactly what to focus on and how to measure progress
from day one.
Stage 1: Focus on yourself and build the foundation.
Stage 2: Multiply your impact by shifting focus to others.
Stage 3: Accelerate your performance by gaining visibility and positioning yourself for the next level.
Good communication is at the heart of everything we do. In this module, you’ll learn how to express your ideas clearly, understand how others see your message, and bring people onto the same page. We’ll also dive into how to handle tricky conversations so you can feel confident and stay effective no matter the situation.
Mastering time management is key to staying productive without burning out. In this module, you’ll learn how to prioritize effectively, plan your time proactively, and focus on the tasks that truly move the needle. You’ll also find strategies to reduce stress and fatigue, helping you avoid the “busy work” trap and focus on what actually matters.
Having strong relationships at work and in your network are key to your growth. In this module, you'll learn how to build meaningful relationships that foster trust and accountability. You’ll gain the skills to develop connections where you feel comfortable sharing, depending on others, and holding one another accountable.
Driving impact goes beyond just code. In this module, you'll learn how to contribute beyond your hard skills by identifying opportunities to add value and building a reputation as someone who consistently drives both personal and organizational success.
Your hard work means nothing if no one else sees it. Learn how to highlight your contributions and build a track record of success. Position yourself for opportunities by effectively sharing your impact and creating trust with others.
At this point, you’ll have all the tools you need. This module teaches you how to hone in on your growth by focusing on the right actions at the right time. You’ll learn how to build momentum with small, consistent efforts that not only improve your performance but also positively impact your team.
I’m a seasoned engineering leader and software engineer career coach. Today, I serve as a Senior Engineering Manager 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.
Fullstack Engineer
Software Automation Engineer
Founder & CEO
"Justin Otero brings the kind of steady, insightful leadership that only comes from real experience. His clarity, calm, and wisdom make him not just a coach—but the kind of leader others should aspire to become."
- Christopher Peret
"Under Justin’s guidance, we exceeded expectations and boosted performance by 70%."
"Anyone would be lucky to work with or learn from him."
"He didn’t just give me answers — he walked me through tough edges on a weekend call. That kind of care is rare."
"Working in tandem with Justin was one of the highest points of my career."
"His guidance and leadership of the junior members of the team has been invaluable and I highly recommend"
"Always willing to help, always a good mood. I’d work with him again, no doubt.”
Unlike generic career coaching programs, Value Driven Careers is specifically tailored for software engineers. It focuses on high-impact skills beyond coding, such as communication, time management, influence, and strategic contributions that lead to promotions and recognition.
Engineers who apply the lessons from this program can expect:
Increased recognition at work
Faster promotions and salary growth
More leadership opportunities
Stronger relationships with peers and managers
Reduced stress and increased job satisfaction
Most participants spend 2–4 hours per week engaging with lessons, exercises, and coaching calls. However, the more you apply what you learn, the faster you'll see results.
That's ok! Each live session will be recorded and sent out. We do strongly recommend that you attend as many sessions as possible to maximize your time with your coach and peers.
Absolutely! The program helps you build a strong professional brand, surface your achievements, and prepare for high-level job interviews so you can land better opportunities.
Yes! While the core program focuses on long-term career growth, we also provide resume optimization, personal branding, and interview prep strategies for those actively job searching.
Yes! You'll have access to coaching calls where you can ask questions, get feedback, and receive personalized career guidance.
Yes! We have a private community where you can connect with like-minded engineers, share wins, and get support. Our community is the best place to network and get referrals.
Pricing varies depending on the level of access and coaching. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about the best option for you.
Yes! We offer flexible payment plans to make the program more accessible.
Yes! If you complete the coursework, apply the lessons, and don’t see results within a set period, we offer a satisfaction guarantee.
You get lifetime access to the core curriculum, so you can revisit lessons anytime. Coaching and community access depends on your selected plan.
You'll have the skills, confidence, and strategies to keep growing your career. Many graduates continue engaging in our community and take advantage of network referrals.
If you don't love this program, contact us within 30 days and receive your money back, all we ask is that you show you did the work.
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