PyCon 2016 in Portland, Or
hills next to breadcrumb illustration

Tuesday 3:15 p.m.–4 p.m.

From Developer to Manager

Sean O'Connor

Audience level:
Novice
Category:
Other

Description

As developers move along in their career, they will often be given the chance to move into management. This can be great, but it can also end in tears. In this talk we'll follow one developer's journey into management. Through that process we'll explore what one should think about before embarking on their own journey as well as some lessons for those who do decide to go down the management path.

Abstract

As developers move along in their career, they are often encouraged to take on roles that involve more and more people management and less code. Stepping towards management often can be a good move to make, but it is not one that should be taken lightly. If such a move is taken without a full appreciation for what it truly is (a career change), it can lead to woe and misery for all involved. In this talk we'll follow one developer's journey from coding 40 hours/week to primarily managing humans. What worked well, what didn't work well, what was hard, and what was surprising. Attendees of this talk should expect to walk away with a better idea of if they may be suited for management and if so, how they can successfully acclimate to their new role.