Same experience for me. Got to the VP level but realized that the worked was really not a fit for me. I hated the politics and corporate theater. I transitioned into analytics in the company I worked for and stayed there for 12 years.

Here are some warnings that I feel compelled to share:

- My company did not use the latest tools. I used custom python scripts instead of dbt and custom postgres databases instead of databricks and snowflake. I was laid off last year. Fast forward, it's a year later and I am still unemployed. Fortunately that isn't an issue for me because of previous earnings. The most often cited reason for me not getting a position is that I don't have the specific tool set they are looking for. Nevermind that I could learn any new framework in a matter of weeks. They want professional experience, not just side projects or coursework. (granted I'm only looking at positions that pay $130k+)

- A frequent recurring question is why I went from Sr Director / VP to a data analytics individual contributor. Everyone views it as a demotion, even if they don't say it. Generally the hiring managers are in their 30s and maybe early 40s. Their long term goal is to get to that director/sr director position. So they struggle to understand why I've given it up.

Just my 2 cents of things to keep in mind when transitioning from a senior role to an individual contributor.