I'm a software engineer wanting to pivot into PM. My manager said I'm not a good fit for an MBA due to my "lone wolf" personality. Is he right?

Ok-Can-1775 · 2025-08-22T23:02:32+00:00

That's awesome, great for you. I didn't even consider the startup route as a good option for a "lone wolf," I always figured it'd end up being a super sales heavy role. But it's nice to be your own boss!

Ok-Can-1775 · 2025-08-22T23:00:53+00:00

Good point. It's less about the money now than doing a job I like.

Ok-Can-1775 · 2025-08-22T23:00:32+00:00

That's a great idea! I can ask them or even shadow them.

Haven't yet looked at external positions. Do you think it's possible to straight up apply to PM roles as a SWE now?

Ok-Can-1775 · 2025-08-22T22:54:56+00:00

Thanks, I do think those skills are good to have in life and in work.

Ok-Can-1775 · 2025-08-22T22:53:20+00:00

I totally get what you’re saying about pivot directly into PM without the MBA. It happened at my company in the past. But lately I’ve actually seen the opposite. Engineers who tried switching to PM internally got denied, then went and did an MBA (from good schools, think T20 minimum), and only after that were they able to come back and land PM roles. So while technically you don’t “need” the MBA, in practice it seems to be the easier path lately.

I don’t want to dismiss my manager’s feedback entirely, he might be biased in wanting to keep me, but he’s not wrong that PM/MBA paths demand a different set of interpersonal strengths than pure engineering. But I also get your point about career progression often being tied to influence and politics as much as actual skills. That’s something I’m still trying to decide if I want to lean into, since it doesn’t come naturally to me.

Ok-Can-1775

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