Mixed Signals - Discovery Phase Recommended

IC vs Management Path Analysis

Fit Assessment

IC FIT SCORE: 70% (Moderate-High IC affinity)

• Loves complex technical problems and architecture
• Wants to maintain hands-on product work
• Mixed signals: Also enjoys mentorship (could go either way)

MANAGEMENT FIT SCORE: 60% (Moderate management affinity)

• Enjoys mentoring junior PMs
• Cares about helping others grow
• Unsure about giving up hands-on work
• No mention of interest in org design, hiring

Key question: Do you want to mentor/grow people as your PRIMARY job (management) or as a SECONDARY activity (senior IC)?

Company IC Track Assessment

COMPANY IC TRACK MATURITY: 55% (Emerging IC track)

• Staff PM level exists
• Only 1 current Staff PM (limited track record)
• 400 people: Large enough to support dual tracks
• Manager pushing for decision (possible management bias)

Reality: Company HAS an IC track but it’s not well-established. Being the 2nd Staff PM is riskier than the 10th, but more feasible than the 1st.

Primary Recommendation

Explore both paths before deciding - You need more data

Your mixed signals suggest you need to:

1. Understand what each role ACTUALLY involves day-to-day
2. Test management tasks before committing
3. Evaluate company’s true commitment to IC track
4. Make decision based on experience, not theory

Discovery Phase (Next 3-6 months)

Goal: Gather real-world data about both paths

Action 1: Interview Your Company’s Staff PM

Questions:

• “What does your typical week look like? Hands-on vs strategic?”
• “What’s the scope difference between your role and Senior PM?”
• “How much influence do you have compared to Directors?”
• “Do you feel IC track has equal standing with management track?”

Action 2: Interview Directors of Product

Questions:

• “What does your typical week look like? Time in meetings, 1-on-1s, strategy?”
• “How much hands-on product work do you still do?”
• “What’s most rewarding about management? Most challenging?”

Action 3: Shadow Both Roles

• Shadow Staff PM for 2-3 days (meetings, work sessions)
• Shadow a Director for 2-3 days (1-on-1s, planning, strategy)
• Note: What energizes you? What drains you?

Action 4: Test-Drive Management Tasks

Volunteer for:

• Mentor a junior PM intensively for 3 months (weekly 1-on-1s, career coaching)
• Run team retrospectives or process improvements
• Participate in PM hiring

Reflect: Did mentoring feel fulfilling or like distraction from “real work”?

Action 5: Test-Drive IC Leadership

Take on:

• Lead cross-functional technical initiative (platform, API, architecture)
• Influence without authority across multiple teams
• Deep technical work (complex problem requiring weeks of focus)

Reflect: Did you miss having a team? Did technical work energize you?

Decision Framework (Month 6)

Choose IC Track if:

• Deep technical work consistently energized you
• Management tasks felt like obligation, not fulfillment
• Staff PM shadowing looked appealing
• You kept wanting to return to hands-on work

Choose Management Track if:

• Mentoring/coaching was most fulfilling part
• You enjoyed thinking about team dynamics and process
• Director shadowing looked engaging
• You can accept giving up most hands-on work

Still Unsure? Default to IC track. IC -> Management is easier than reverse.