Technical Product Manager vs generic PM role, which is better to pursue (if interest isn’t a factor) career wise? Are TPMs r a better track now because of the recent tech layoffs and idea that most non-technical business-ey MBA type PMs are more dispensable?

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Developers might respect TPM more.

It also depends on the environment.
There are Technical Product-Managers who are definitely more respected by developers as they could develop themselves and know their pain points, defend technical strategy against business strategy or can align both properly. In such contexts there is often a mix of technical product managers and product managers to share the workload and specialise on tech decisions for the TPM.

On the other hand there are Technical-Product Managers. That is the core product itself is very technical and it’s absolutely vital to have a software development background to understand the product even though you would work on business topics. Credible AI tools would be an example.

I’d argue you would need to have studied CS or similar to qualify for a TPM role. It’s certainly more than coding skills and I’d say it’s all about credibility that gives you this cachet.

(There is further a difference between P-Manager and P-Owner – product owners are certainly more dispensable)

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Of course

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Are you technical? There’s a dependency that you at least are self taught on topics if you don’t have a background as an engineer or CS degree.

Not really, but know basic coding concepts and and a thing or 2 abt data models. Anyway it’s just because the PM team at my company is pretty technical so I’m wondering if it’s good or bad

Depends on the role. Sometimes TPMs are more like analysts or technical project managers, sometimes it is a PM role that requires very deep engineering qualifications (chip making for instance). Neither is more or less dispensable-- totally depends on the state of the company and their products in flight. It's more about your skills match to the market needs.

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