Who is Old School Burke?
Look. I love the Internet and computers.
At heart, I’m an engineer—someone who thrives on solving complex problems and building resilient systems. Right now, I’m in an engineering leadership role, where I balance my love for technology with the nuances of leading people.
I’m particularly drawn to topics like incident management culture, observability, and monitoring—basically, everything that keeps systems resilient and teams proactive. I thrive in chaotic, undefined situations. You know those moments when someone says, "Hey, can someone please figure this out?" That’s my sweet spot.
There’s so much I want to share here. This is actually my second attempt at blogging, but now I feel more ready. I want to talk about:
- How the tech industry is terrible at interviewing and hiring (and ways to make it slightly less terrible).
- Why on-call doesn’t have to suck.
- And for the love of all things good, can we agree that becoming a manager isn’t a promotion?
You get the idea?
Why “Old School Burke”? The inevitable question. Old School Burke was a gaming handle I came up with as a teenager. "Old school" usually describes something from a previous era, viewed with nostalgia. “Burke,” on the other hand, has roots in 19th-century British slang, originating from William Burke, a notorious grave-robber. Over time, it’s come to mean someone acting foolishly or making mistakes (thanks, Slang Sensei!).
To me, "Old School Burke" embodies someone who’s a bit quirky, occasionally prone to silly mistakes, but ultimately well-meaning and rooted in timeless values. It’s who I am—a little old-fashioned, a little playful, and not afraid to share what I’ve learned along the way.
Why This Blog? As Dan says:
"There’s nothing here that most of my co-workers don’t know (with the exception of maybe three or four posts where I propose novel ideas). It’s just that they don’t blog, and I do."
My vision is simple: to share what works (and what doesn’t) in leading teams, scaling systems, and thriving in the fast-moving tech world—with a touch of wit and a lot of honesty.
What You’ll Find Here:
- Posts on building high-performing teams.
- Tips for engineering leadership and decision-making.
- Tools and techniques to level up your career.
Whether you’re an aspiring manager, a seasoned leader, or just curious about the tech world, there’s something here for you.
Contact Burke: Want to connect or share your thoughts? Feel free to reach out: