Lessons from the IT Industry: Transition from Developer to CEO
Hi there! I'm Kasha Tatami Ravesh, CEO of a software development company in Montreal, originating from Poland. I've been in the IT industry for over a decade, and throughout these years, I've donned various hats - from developer to project manager to CEO. I've helped create teams specializing in project management, operations, HR, and quality assurance. Today, I'll be sharing some key insights that I've learned from transitioning between these roles.
Lessons from Being a Developer
Being a developer is gratifying. It's thrilling to conceive a product and watch it come alive with your own hands. However, this process requires tremendous patience. Here's what I learned:
- Exercise patience: Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is any software solution. Be prepared to run into roadblocks, loop back and forth, delve into documentation, and browse through Stack Overflow threads.
- Ask Questions: Seeking answers to your questions can save you countless hours of unproductive work. Make sure you fully understand the requirements before you start, and don't hesitate to seek help with debugging challenges.
- Defend your ground but be ready for feedback: While you should advocate for your solution of choice, be open to receiving constructive feedback. Changing your perspective based on strong arguments is a sign of strength.
- Avoid over-complication: Keep it simple. Don't try to solve multiple problems at once. Break them down, and take them on one at a time.
Lessons from Being a Manager
Transitioning from a developer to a manager offers distinct challenges and learnings. Here are some points that stood out during my journey:
- Offer ample context: When allocating tasks or communicating changes, provide as much context as you can. This will instil confidence in your team about your decision-making process and reduces misunderstandings.
- Done is better than perfect: Similar to the developer's lesson of not over-complicating things, remember as a manager that delivering functionally sound software is a priority over seeking elusive perfection. Achieving a reasonable trade-off between quality and time is a mark of a good manager.
- Facilitate growth in your team: Your role as a manager is not to spoon-feed solutions but to enable your team to solve problems. Encouraging self-learning and growth can lead to surprising and gratifying results.
- Giving feedback: Positive feedback is important, but so is constructive criticism. Be honest, respectful, and while giving negative feedback for it will help your team members grow in the long run.
Developer VS Manager: The Key Difference
Both roles demand patience, but one crucial difference stands out. As a developer, your focus is primarily on individual tasks, while as a manager, you facilitate others in accomplishing theirs. You move from being a builder to a nurturer. This difference in mindset might be a deciding factor if you're contemplating a similar transition.
The Need for Women in IT
Women can bring immense value to the IT industry. Their presence can enhance workplace diversity and improve product offerings due to varied perspectives. Beyond these benefits, we also need more female role models in IT to inspire more young girls to consider STEM careers.
If you have any questions or wish to share your experience, feel free to leave a comment below!
Related Reading
Note: Resources given by Kasha Tatami Ravesh during the question and answer segment - 'Harvard Business Review on Management'