The hard power of management and the soft power of senior ICs | Josh Wills
Mar 19, 2024
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Josh Wills, former data leader at Slack and angel investor, shares insights on transitioning from management to IC roles, emotional intelligence in engineering management, challenges in Climate Tech, and practicality in engineering. He also discusses his journey into angel investing and criteria for evaluating startup investments.
Managing: hard power involves hiring, promotions; ICs: soft power in knowledge, foreseeing outcomes.
Transitioning: personal factors influence role shifts, self-awareness crucial for career satisfaction.
Emotional intelligence vital in management: empathy, communication, understanding team impact for supportive work environments.
Deep dives
Hard Power of Management vs. Soft Power of Engineering ICs
The podcast episode discusses the distinction between the hard power of management and the soft power of being an individual contributor (IC) in engineering. Management's hard power involves hiring, promotions, and status, while ICs' soft power is rooted in knowledge and the ability to foresee outcomes and trends. The speaker highlights the flexibility of transitioning between management and IC roles based on personal preferences and strengths.
Transitioning from Engineering Management to Individual Contributor Role
The speaker shares a personal experience transitioning from an engineering management role back to an individual contributor role. The decision was influenced by factors like dissatisfaction with management responsibilities, noticing skill misalignment, and realizing personal preferences. An anecdote about a director observing their technical contributions compared to team members points towards the significance of self-awareness and identifying career satisfaction indicators.
Navigating the Challenges of Climbing the Corporate Ladder
The conversation delves into the psychological aspect of career progression and the ladder-climbing mentality prevalent in individuals pursuing management roles. The speaker highlights the importance of aligning personal goals with job requirements and avoiding pursuits solely for external validation. Anecdotes and references emphasize the concept of self-awareness in career decision-making.
Emotional Intelligence in Engineering Management
The dialogue explores the significance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in engineering management. The speaker emphasizes the value of empathy, effective communication, and understanding the impact of words and actions on team members. Personal anecdotes and insights underscore the role of EQ in managing teams and fostering supportive work environments.
Criteria for Angel Investing
When considering angel investments, the podcast suggests two key prerequisites. The first is a strong relationship with the individuals behind the venture, indicating a fundamental belief in their ability to succeed irrespective of the specific idea being pursued. The second criterion is domain knowledge or expertise, particularly in fields like data or AI, where the investor can provide valuable insights based on their experience. The decision-making process involves a simple question: would the investor personally purchase the product or service being offered? This framework helps filter potential investments and ensures alignment with the investor's strengths and beliefs.
Importance of Providing Value in Angel Investing
The podcast emphasizes that having a distinct value proposition or 'shtick' is crucial for aspiring angel investors. Establishing a unique brand or area of expertise sets investors apart and attracts opportunities. Practical examples include engaging with venture capitalists through relationships built on meaningful interactions and shared interests. Developing a reputation based on industry insights or problem-solving skills enhances visibility and credibility within the investment community. By offering tangible value and expertise, angel investors can position themselves effectively in the competitive startup landscape.
As a self-described “gainfully unemployed data person”, Josh Wills is an angel investor and has worked on and led data teams at Slack, Cloudera, WeaveGrid and Google. We discuss:
How to get started with angel investing without a ton of $$
Attributes that define great engineering managers
What’s it like transitioning from management back to IC
Challenges in Climate Tech from a software perspective
And more
Segments:
[0:01:35] Transitioning from management to individual contributor (IC).
[0:10:19] Emotional intelligence and its role in engineering management.
[0:25:21] Contrasting the hard power of management with the soft power of senior individual contributors.
[0:37:18] Addressing challenges in climate technology.
[0:51:34] The importance of practicality and how to assess it in interviews.
[0:56:01] Josh's journey into angel investing.
[1:12:59] Criteria used by Josh to evaluate whether to invest in a startup.
