Should I be an individual contributor or a people leader? 🤔 It's a question I get often.

My honest answer:

Which motivates you more?

It sounds simple, but it's an essential question for many.

🧰 If you enjoy building systems more than building people, then the IC track is probably right for you.

👔 If you enjoy growing and leading others, then people leadership might be the right path for you.

The good news is that you can switch later.

A lot of people change between IC and people leadership roles. Some love both equally and switch multiple times throughout their career.

Just keep those leadership and technical skills sharp.

A Word of Warning ⚠️

The higher you go, the fewer IC roles you’ll find—especially at companies without a strong IC path.

Some companies top out early, and some treat the IC track as a first-class path.

So, choosing the IC track might limit your options, but it's worth it if that's what you genuinely want to do.

Have you chosen your path?

For me, the IC path was the clear winner, but there were several times I considered people leadership opportunities.

Before I became a Staff Engineer, I applied for a Director of Engineering role. I didn't get it, but the process helped me figure out what I wanted.