Hello fellow techies! 👋
This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dagna Bieda… A former senior software engineer turned career and mindset coach for tech professionals. Dagna’s journey is an inspiring one, from dealing with burnout, to transforming her mindset, and helping others with reframing their internal narratives too.
🧠 From Debugging Code to Debugging the Mind
What started as a career in control engineering and robotics eventually led her into the software world, until burnout and a desire for deeper impact led her to refactor not just code, but brains too! Now a coach, author, and speaker, Dagna helps engineers optimise their “mental OS” for performance, clarity, and fulfilment.
She puts it best:
“I moved from programming computers to reprogramming human minds.”
🔥 The Mental Models Driving Burnout
Dagna shared the mental models that nearly derailed her engineering career:
Hard Work Bias – The belief that value only comes through struggle, leading to overwork and exhaustion.
Perfectionism – Setting the bar impossibly high, always chasing the outcome while forgetting to enjoy the process.
Lack of Boundaries – Without clear lines protecting your time and energy, burnout is all but inevitable.
For those wondering if they’re on the verge, here are a few signs she says to watch for:
😓 Feeling drained
😒 Growing cynicism
📉 Diminishing performance
🕳️ Avoiding interactions
🍷 Relying on short-term coping strategies
🎯 How She Refactored Her Own Brain
After hitting a wall, therapy helped Dagna uncover the roots of her stress. But it was neurofeedback training—used to improve her brain’s processing efficiency—that truly rewired how she experienced stress and relationships.
“ It felt like I was this kayak on the ocean and you know, any wave would just kind of trip me over. Now I'm a freaking cruise ship and no waves can really trip me over.”
The effects? Better emotional regulation, improved relationships, and a calmer parenting experience… Even after becoming a mother of four!
💬 Why Soft Skills Aren’t Optional Anymore
Dagna emphasised that emotional intelligence, communication, and feedback skills are no longer “nice-to-haves”… They’re critical!
“ Tech skills kind of open the door, but it's the soft skills, the ability to lead, influence, impact is what brings you the opportunities.”
In her coaching work, she helps clients overcome imposter syndrome, burnout, conflict avoidance, and poor self-marketing. One key reframing?
Marketing yourself isn’t bragging. It’s educating others about the value you bring.
📚 Brain Refactor: The Book
Her book Brain Refactor: Optimise Your Internal Code to Thrive in Tech combines client case studies with neuroscience-backed strategies. It’s a playbook for levelling up not just your career—but your entire mindset.
🧠 Takeaways from Dagna:
Feedback is everywhere… if you’re willing to listen.
Emotions are data. Use them wisely.
You can’t out-code a broken mindset.
Coaching = performance upgrades; therapy = stability. Know which you need.
🎧 Listen to This Episode If You:
Struggle with imposter syndrome or burnout
Are transitioning from IC to leadership and feeling lost
Want to develop a healthier, high-performing mindset
Are curious about how therapy, coaching, and neuroscience can boost your career
🔗 You can find Dagna’s work at dagnabieda.com, where she excellent insights into her coaching experiences.
💬 What’s your mental model that needs the biggest refactor right now? I’d love to hear it in the comments.
Until next time,
Jade Wilson
Host, Tech Unfiltered
Note: As an Amazon Affiliate partner, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this newsletter
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