The emotional journey of leaving the code behind

Moving from developer to manager feels like picking up a new programming language. At first it’s awkward, sometimes even frustrating. But once you get the hang of it, the rewards are huge.

You leave behind the comfort of your editor and enter a world of strategy, people, and big-picture thinking. Letting go of your “code baby” can feel strange… but leading others to grow is worth it.

People over code

The real shift? It’s no longer about what you build. It’s about what your team achieves together. Success becomes collective. And there’s something powerful in cheering them on and watching them thrive.

Always learning

The journey doesn’t stop when you move into management. It just changes shape. From solving bugs to solving people puzzles. From fixing code to building culture. The keyboard gets less action, but your impact grows bigger every step of the way.