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Discussion on: I spent 30 years coding full-time, then I switched to full-time management and leadership. Ask me anything.

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Lorenzo Pasqualis

The answer is pretty clear in my mind: Soft skills and Project Management Skills.
Engineering didn't teach me much about soft skills and as a leader, I had to develop those from scratch. People are very complex, and leading them is a subtle art of seeding ideas and waiting for them to grow.
Also, project management. The "why" is a super important aspect of project management, but there are others. For example, an understanding of the importance of evaluating cost vs. value of anything that is being done is not something that an engineering background really prepares you for. The economy of software development is a key aspect that is important to understand for proper leadership.

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Jess Lee

a subtle art of seeding ideas and waiting for them to grow

oh yes, couldn't agree more.

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Lorenzo Pasqualis

Thank you, Jess!!