Advice to become Director or any senior leader.

Microsoft
gates@bill

Go to company page Microsoft

PRE
Intel Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems
gates@bill
Apr 29, 2021 10 Comments

Currently I am working as an individual contributor (software engineer) and want to see my self as a director or any senior leader in next 10-15 years.

How do I proceed ?
What are the best tips ?
How to find opportunities and grab those ?
Is MBA worth ?

I know it’s hard to get all these answers. However I would really appreciate any valuable feedback.

No trolls please.

YOE-5
TC-180k (shitty ) I am in process of interviewing for more senior roles.

comments

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TOP 10 Comments
  • Amazon
    Ribbentrop

    Go to company page Amazon

    Ribbentrop
    Become a human machine. Gain broad experience and perspective, ideally through vertical growth in your team, horizontal growth on adjacent teams, and broader education including MBA. Deliver results successfully in whatever you own. Establish a track record and reputation, and guard it zealously.

    Edit: How does MBA help? Technology is a tool to solve customer problems in a way that's economically sustainable for business. MBA per se is not a silver bullet, but is a useful tool in your arsenal as it helps improve understanding around business, finance and organizational issues and opportunities, especially for potential leaders who grew up in tech and may not have this exposure.
    Apr 29, 2021 2
    • Microsoft
      gates@bill

      Go to company page Microsoft

      PRE
      Intel Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems
      gates@bill
      OP
      Thanks for your input, how does MBA help ? I am debating myself on whether MBA is worth my time to become director. Given that I am coming from technical background. Everyone has different opinion and I am kinda confuse on what suits the best.
      Apr 29, 2021
    • Amazon
      Ribbentrop

      Go to company page Amazon

      Ribbentrop
      Updated above.
      Apr 29, 2021
  • Amazon
    jefe_b

    Go to company page Amazon

    jefe_b
    How do you get someone to let you manage the strategic direction of a large product with many moving pieces AND the careers of a hundred people?

    You build trust. Key word: build.

    How do you get there?

    You manage the strategic direction of a smaller product with fewer moving pieces and the careers of tens.

    How do you get there?

    You manage the strategic direction of a team and how it aligns with higher order organizational goals while managing the careers of <10.

    How do you get there?

    Be the person who defines the technical direction of your team to make your team’s strategy succeed, and help other engineers to be better. Be a force multiplier.

    How do you get there?

    Learn to be a rock star IC that can be trusted to take ownership of an ambiguous project and run with it. How can you lead a team if you can’t lead a project independently and successfully? Do the annoying work that everyone appreciates (e.g. do CRs until your eyes bleed).

    Etc. etc.
    Apr 29, 2021 1
  • IBM
    Keycaps

    Go to company page IBM

    Keycaps
    Step 1: Befriend your executives
    Step 2: Kiss their ass nonstop
    Step 3: Repeat Step 2
    Apr 29, 2021 1
  • Google
    LGTM!

    Go to company page Google

    LGTM!
    To become a director, usually the path is: EM - Senior EM - Director.

    You can skip one step or two if you jump from EM of a big company to a small company.

    To become EM, usually the path is: senior SWE - TL - manager.

    Sounds like you are not senior SWE now. So maybe try to become a senior SWE first.

    Good luck.
    Apr 29, 2021 1
  • Google
    facebooked

    Go to company page Google

    facebooked
    I can say that an mba will not help unless you want to switch ladders to product management which is an entirely different career path, and one which doesn’t require a new degree. A masters may help if you want to work in a particularly narrow set of technology but it fade in relevance after a year or two of work experience at FAANG.
    Apr 29, 2021 0