Case Study: Abstract boosts engineering manager skills and employee engagement with Lingo Live

A soft skills toolkit for engineering managers

Abstract, a fast-growing design-intelligence platform, faced low manager-related engagement and turnover after rapid expansion. VP of Engineering Wynn Netherland brought in Lingo Live’s Lingo Leaders coaching program to boost newly promoted engineering managers’ soft skills—things like self-awareness, difficult conversations, planning and coaching in one-on-ones—to strengthen manager–employee relationships and reduce attrition.

Lingo Live ran peer coaching hours and role‑play sessions (200 sessions total) that produced measurable gains: the engineering department’s employee engagement score moved from -50 to +50, post-coaching metrics showed Manager Clarity 32%, Employee Motivation 30%, Company Loyalty 13%, session satisfaction averaged 5/5, and 81% of learners reported skill improvement. The results led Abstract to roll out Lingo Leaders more broadly and report stronger internal mobility and manager effectiveness.

Abstract

Merritt Quisumbing Anderson

VP of People & Culture