In January 2026, as I was moving on to a new opportunity, Mina El-Raheb — a Senior DevOps Engineer I had the privilege of managing, and a friend — shared these words on LinkedIn. With his permission, I’m keeping them here, together with my reply.
What Mina wrote
When I started my career, I was that kind of rebellious guy, driven by ideas of equality and fairness, and skeptical of rigid hierarchies. I believed work should stay in its proper place: nothing more, nothing less. A job was just a job.
I was lucky to be surrounded by many colleagues who became my best friends… but a manager? That felt impossible. Like an automatic power gap that couldn’t be crossed, or a kind of forced closeness that never felt genuine.
Until I met Peter GORGY!
Peter wasn’t just my manager. He became a genuine friend. He completely changed my perspective on leadership and showed me that authority doesn’t have to come at the expense of humanity. Respectful. Trusting. Dedicated. Someone who truly believes in what he does.
Now Peter is moving on to a new opportunity, and I am really excited for him!
I’m not writing this because I’ll miss him at work. we’ll stay friends even if he doesn’t like it.
I’m writing this simply to say how genuinely grateful I am that I got to know him, work with him, and learn from him.
And to anyone reading this:
Yes, your manager can be your friend. Peter is proof of that.
Wishing you all the success you deserve, boss!
Mina El-Raheb, Sr. DevOps Engineer — on LinkedIn, January 2026
My reply
Mina El-Raheb, I’m genuinely moved by these words. This truly means a lot; thank you 🙏
I’ve always believed that leadership is not a position of authority, but a responsibility of care.
Titles don’t create impact; people do. And respect is never demanded, it’s earned through consistency, honesty, and showing up as a human first. I never aimed to be “the manager.” I aimed to create a space where people feel trusted, heard, and empowered to do their best work and to grow beyond it.
If that led to friendship, then that’s not a conflict to leadership; that’s a sign it’s working.
Working with you reminded me that when talented people are given trust instead of control, they exceed expectations every single time.
Grateful for the journey, proud of what we built together, and certain our paths will keep crossing professionally and personally.
Wishing you nothing but continued growth and impact, my friend Mina ✨