Faris Aziz: How to Get Promoted, Build Resilience, and Lead with Empathy

Links- Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters- Become a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/wMqBmVhuzL46Ha3P7- ZurichJS Discount: https://conf.zurichjs.com?utm_source=contejas&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=zurichjs-conf-2026- Faris on X: https://x.com/farisaziz12- Faris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12/- ZurichJS: https://zurichjs.com- SmallPDF: https://smallpdf.comWhat does it take to become an Engineering Manager at 21? How do you rebuild your identity when a chronic illness takes away your physical strength? In this episode of ConTejas Code, I sit down with Faris Aziz, a Staff Engineer at Smallpdf and the lead organizer of ZurichJS. At just 25 years old, Faris has lived a career’s worth of highs and lows. From failing his first coding bootcamp module to building a career ladder for a fintech startup, and from ranking as the 2nd fittest CrossFit athlete in Switzerland to being bedridden by an autoimmune condition, Faris shares the mindset required to navigate extreme volatility.This conversation moves beyond technical skills into the "internal garden"—how emotional regulation, sleep, and nutrition directly impact your ability to lead others. Faris breaks down his philosophy on "Peace of Mind" as the primary metric for promotion, why invisible work builds character, and how to steward authority without intimidation. Whether you are an aspiring manager, a developer looking to level up, or someone navigating a personal setback, this episode offers a blueprint for resilience and professional excellence.Chapters00:00:00 Intro00:04:33 Getting into Tech at 1900:08:12 Failing (and Surviving) Bootcamp00:11:00 Building a CrossFit App During Lockdown00:13:38 Getting Hired Without Writing Code00:18:49 Accidental Managers: Leading at 2100:22:19 Choosing a Pre-seed Startup Over High Salary00:28:53 Red Flags in Leadership00:33:41 Tending the Garden: Balancing Work & ZurichJS00:42:51 Health Crisis: From Top Athlete to Bedridden00:48:51 Emotional Regulation & Bio-Hacking00:59:36 Mindset: Gratitude vs. Bitterness01:07:44 Invisible Work & Building Character01:11:18 How to Get Promoted: Giving Peace of Mind01:17:28 Confidence vs. Arrogance01:21:42 Owning Mistakes Confidently01:25:38 Stewarding Authority (The Kent C. Dodds Example)01:28:06 Don't Just Be an Engineer: Solve Business Problems01:35:02 Managing "Diva" 10x Engineers01:40:12 Organizing the First ZurichJS01:46:30 Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.