You need to learn how to manage up. My VP could care less about API-driven design, etc.. I tell him that our system is designed with latest enterprise standard

You need to learn how to manage up. My VP could care less about API-driven design, etc.. I tell him that our system is designed with latest enterprise standard that meet user requirements, met the budget, delivered on time and as long as I hit his metric. He doesn't care. He leaves me alone and praise my work. Now, this only applies to VP and above, if your EM is L1 or L2 and doesn't know the system, time to switch team.