Human Factors in Engineering

H11 A Developers Guide to Failure

March 19th, 2026

11:00am - 12:15pm

Level: Introductory

Semira Allen

Engineering Manager

Grainger

Failure is inevitable in software development—bugs slip through the cracks, deployments go sideways, outages happen, and technical debt creeps in. But failure isn't just about broken code; it's about how we respond, learn, and adapt. In "A Developer's Guide to Failure," we'll explore failure as an essential part of growth and innovation, while also diving into the psychological toll it can take on developers.

Through real-world and personal examples, psychological insights, and actionable strategies, you'll gain tools to shift your mindset, build resilience, and foster a culture where failure leads to progress instead of burnout. Whether you're facing imposter syndrome, dealing with a post-mortem on a catastrophic incident, or struggling with self-doubt after a major setback, this talk will equip you with the skills to manage failure constructively and turn setbacks into stepping stones.

You will learn:

  • Failure as Feedback: Redefining failure as an opportunity for continuous improvement.
  • Resilience Framework: Techniques to bounce back quickly from setbacks.
  • How to learn from failure