12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier

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Managing people is difficult wherever you work, but the tech

industry as a whole is pretty bad at it. Tech companies in
general lack the experience, tools, texts, and frameworks to do it
well. And the handful of books that share tips and tricks of
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Paperback, 226 pages

Published
April 2nd 2017
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ABOUT CAMILLE FOURNIER

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Camille Fournier is the former chief technology
officer of Rent The Runway and former vice

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president of technology at Goldman Sachs.

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12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier

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Yevgeniy Brikman
rated it
Jun 24, 2017
My Books
This book does a good job of walking you throughBrowse ▾
the typical career path of Community ▾
a software engineer, from individual contributor all the way up to senior More…

executive. It's a great read for all programmers and not just managers. In
NEWS & INTERVIEWS
fact, if you're still early in your career, you'll find this book especially
valuable, as it's a great outline of what to expect later in your career, and
some of the things you can do to accelerate your growth.

A few of my favorite insights from the book:

* As you move from ...more

86 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Mindaugas Mozūras
rated it

 · 
review of another edition Jul 07, 2018 Discover the Winners of the 2022
A great book on navigating a career path from Individual Contributor to Goodreads Choice Awards!
Manager. Doesn't go into depth on any topic, but provides a good overview.  
With more than 5.7 million votes cast and
I'm adding it to the list of recommendations for new tech leads. The full list:
counted, the 14th Annual Goodreads Choice
Awards are now official. Launched in 2009,...

- The Pragmatic Programmer

Read more...
- The Effective Engineer

150 likes · 64 comments

- Peopleware

- The Manager's Path

QUOTES FROM THE MANAGER'S PAT...

- High Output Management

“As you go through various stages of your
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
career, you’ll start to realize how much
uncertainty there is in the world. It’s a
- The Elements of Style pretty universal truth that once you get
the job you thought you wanted, the
- Crucial Conversations
...more
enjoyment eventually fades and you find
81 likes ·  Like
 · see review yourself looking for something else. You
think you want to work for that cool
Rod Begbie
rated it

 · 
review of another edition Apr 11, 2017
startup, and you get there only to find it’s
Shelves:
nonfiction, management
a mess. You think you want to be a
Having grown from being an engineer to manager to startup founder, this is manager, only to discover that the job is
probably the best book I’ve read on the topic of technical leadership and hard and not rewarding in the ways you
management, and one I wish I’d had available to me a decade ago! All those expected. In all of this uncertainty, the
hard lessons I got from screwing up and learning from my mistakes could only person you can rely on to pull
have been skipped if Camille’s book had existed then!
through it is yourself.”
—
6 likes

“For example, if overwork is due to

Though that dreaded word “manager” is in the title, it is not purely valuable
(in)stability of the production systems,
to those who have a strong desire to engage in people management. Part of
it’s your job as the manager to slow down
...more the product roadmap in order to focus on
15 likes ·  Like
 · see review stability for a while. Make clear measures
of alerts, downtime, and incidents, and
Vicki
rated it
May 07, 2017 strive to reduce them. My advice is to
I'm somewhere between individual contributor and management in my dedicate 20% of your time in every
career right now (mentoring and, at times, technical lead,) so this book was planning session to system sustainability
work (“sustainability” instead of the more
of interest to me.

common “technical debt”).”

—
5 likes

I hate to say that this book was disappointing because I enjoy following the More quotes…
author on Twitter and have enjoyed lots of her clear, well-written blog posts
about management and technical strategy, particularly ones like "how do
individual contributors get stuck".

I think this book essentially tried to stretch those blog posts into an en
...more

13 likes ·  Like
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path 2/7
12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
Sebastian Gebski
rated it
May 22, 2017

Don't get discouraged by introductory tech lead chapters - these seem like Sign up
written a bit "without inspiration". In fact, there are at least few better
books for people who just start leading tech teams - e.g. Pat Kua's "Talking
My Books Browse ▾ Community ▾
with tech leads". But Fournier's book gets significantly better once it
reaches relatively less explored areas - managing technical managers,
managing several teams, differentiating among various higher level
technical management roles, becoming CTO.

Recommended read if yo
...more

8 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Leonardo Andreucci
rated it
Apr 07, 2018

The best book about management in software development I have ever read!
A must read for managers and highly recommended even for individual
contributors. It has helped me enormously!

7 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Rômulo Oliveira
rated it
Mar 11, 2018

I recommend this book to anyone involved with software engineering

management, from individual contributors - willing or not to a managing
career move - to senior managers.

It gives a clear view and show countless real life situtations, from first level
to CTO, with a perspective of who had experiencied all of it.

Whether or not you are looking for a management career, we as software

engineers are going to live most (if not all) of the situtations described in
each chapter, directly or indirectly.
...more

7 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Amar Pai
rated it
Mar 01, 2019

I still don’t get what a CTO does

6 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Vinayak Hegde
rated it
Jun 16, 2018
Shelves:
tech-programming

Extremely well written book that takes you through the career progression
of a software engineer to managing a small team to VP Engineering and
CTO. It talks about the roles and responsibilities of each stage of the
technical as well as the techno-managerial career.

The book illustrates the various situations that you will face when you
navigate your career through a product startup. Several situations and their
solutions resonated with me as I have faced them myself. This is a book
written by so
...more

5 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Jacques Bezuidenhout
rated it
Mar 25, 2020

I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the whole book.

This book didn't bring ground breaking / earth shattering new information
to the table. But it highlighted all those little nuggets of areas you would
have to deal with in various stages of your career. I kept on thinking
"Exactly, I've dealt with that". She hits the nail on the head most of the
time.

Other times she highlights important areas that you've forgotten/neglected

and clearly states why it is important.

Reading some revie

...more

4 likes ·  Like
 · see review

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path 3/7
12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
Simon Eskildsen
rated it
Aug 27, 2017

Good book on the software engineering relevant parts of leadership. The

Sign up
author is well-read in management and leadership and seeks to supplement
the existing works with a book more focused on the parts unique to software
My Books Browse ▾
engineering. I think she does a good job pointing out the differences and
Community ▾
similarities, but I wasn't blown away. I wish there wouldn't been more focus
on managing projects, communicating with stakeholders, and prioritizing at
the project-level. If you manage people and you're in
...more

4 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Ieva Gr
rated it
Jun 22, 2019

Was it easy to read: Sort of. The language is not complicated at all. But each
chapter is intended for a person in a certain position. So chapters that are
still very far away in my career were quite difficult to get through. I think it
is best to be read as author suggested – just the chapters that are currently
of value for you.

What I liked about it: How practical and hands on the book is. It really gives
context about culture and situations in other companies + explanations and
advice how to ...more

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Marco
rated it
Dec 04, 2019
Shelves:
career, google-books, own

Well structured, explaining the different levels of being a (tech) manager.

Downside: some repetitions. Not really new stuff, but a good read.

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Maurício Linhares
rated it

 · 
review of another edition Jul 08, 2017

Camille's book on tech management is spot on, starts pointing out the
basics of management, how tech management differs from management in
other fields and the many levels you can find yourself (tech lead, manager,
engineering manager, VP and CTO) and stuff you should worry about at all
these levels.

She covers day to day work, stuff you will most likely face, problems along
the road, ways to perform self evaluation, collect feedback, find blind spots
(yeah, you'll figure out people don't tell yo
...more

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Stephanie
rated it

 · 
review of another edition Feb 22, 2018

This was my first "career" book and it was better than I expected. This is
great even for non-managers if you happen to land a copy of this because of
the chapters devoted to being a great IC and Tech Lead. It has concise advice
supplemented by stories about different stages of an engineer's career for
those on the manager track all the way up to the top.

Sidenote: I didn't finish as I stopped where it was relevant to my career, but

still am considering this finished (for now).
...more

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Haley
rated it
May 10, 2019
Shelves:
non-fiction, 2019, eng-management

this is a really incredible book. it's one of the first ones I picked up as I was
transitioning from a tech lead to an engineering manager and it was helpful
not only for navigating my own role but for understanding the needs and
communication patterns of everyone I work with from new engineers to
directors and above.

this is not only a book for managers imo, it's a book for anyone who wants
to better understand how to work with folks at all levels of an engineering
organization
...more

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path 4/7
12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Bjoern Rochel
rated it

 · 
review of another edition Jun 22, 2019 Sign up
Shelves:
2019, eng-mgmt

Contains a very good description about the different

My Books roles and
Browse ▾ Community ▾
responsibilities on the typical engineering career later (from engineer to
CTO). The best I've read so far actually. Also useful (albeit brief) advice and
tips for getting started in each particular role.

Sometimes felt a bit to deep in US/Silicon Valley culture and their

understanding of leadership to me.

...more

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Esteban
rated it
Oct 18, 2020
Shelves:
audiobook

Not particularly mind blowing but it contains a few nuggets of information

on how to navigate this career path, making it a must read for Individual
Contributors going the Management route.

I particularly enjoyed the Team Lead definitions and role responsibilities as

well as how nicely the author manages to clearly differentiate each role from
the previous one.

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Vytas
rated it
Aug 26, 2020
Shelves:
tech-leads

Where was this book in 2005 :) great practical content, actual for every level
in technical management career. My friend recommended me this book
when I started to raise the questions about scope of CTO and head of
engineering responsibility. I found some answers indeed

3 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Itai
rated it
Jun 14, 2021

A practical guide that delivers good advice in a no-nonsense approach,

highly recommended.

This book takes you through what might be a possible path for a technical
employee up the ranks, from managing only yourself, to managing the
entire company. At every step of the ladder the different responsibilities and
challenges are described, how to overcome them, succeed, and move on to
"the next level".

At the beginning of the book I felt like it was very insightful and extremely
practical with its ad
...more

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Kirila
rated it
Mar 21, 2021
Shelves:
own_it, non-fiction, management

"The Manager's Path" follows a tech career from the very start through
management to the very top. It gives an overview of different positions with
their responsibilities, provides anecdotes from personal experience and tips
how to handle various situations you might encounter.

I started reading this book 2 years ago when I took on the challenge to
manage a team. At the time I felt a bit lost what my responsibilities were (it
was not clearly defined) and this book helped me orient myself in my ne
...more

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Michael Koltsov
rated it
Feb 16, 2020

I don't have much to say about this book as it's mostly a compilation of
ideas I've either heard or used during my career.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path 5/7
12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
This book can be definitely replaced with a few blog posts. The examples
that it gives are rather nonillustrative, I've never heard about most of the
Sign up
companies that the author uses as role models.

My Books
Regardless Browse
of what I just said the book was nice and ▾
easy to read and I really Community ▾
appreciate author's efforts to write it.

I can recommend it as a book you can start and finish during on

...more

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Maria
rated it
Jun 19, 2020
Shelves:
work-books, business

How can you tell if you really enjoyed a book after finishing it?

I guess ordering a physical copy when you already had the ebook is a sign.

It took me quite a while to finish this book, as I would stop every time that I
didn't relate with the role described. Then, I would pick it up when I felt that
I had matured in my role and I could better understand the concepts.

I believe it's a very insightful book, and that everyone can gain by reading it.
Even if you don't want to be a manager, it can te
...more

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Farid Bekran
rated it
Sep 03, 2022

It seems to me that the book was a little bit a commercial book. Because
most of the content of the book was very general. If you want to gain a bit
deeper knowledge about topics of the book you need to read different books
as well. Bu if you are interested in technical management, and you have not
read any in-depth content about it, this book would be a good choice for you
to start.

Overally the book worth reading.

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Martijn
added it Feb 08, 2020

This is the sort of book I wished I had read several years ago, before I started
managing people and teams. It has many practical suggestions and its
technical focus makes it very relatable.

I did miss a focus on diversity though. Though the author is careful to

switch pronouns, there was barely any mention of the importance and
challenges of managing cultural diverse teams and I worry a few of her
comments on company culture could be misconstrued as saying these aren't
a good idea.
...more

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Rosie Shute
added it May 29, 2022

The first of what I suspect will be many books I read about management.
This was recommended to me by Gary and it’s a good procedural overview of
what the responsibilities are of a manager at different levels within a tech
organisation, and generally covers what needs doing and when. If nothing
else this book has reassured me that I’m not forgetting some key element of
the job.

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Bartek Andrzejczak
rated it
Mar 11, 2022

This is the IT management book. I recommend it to all the people working

in IT, from junior engineers wondering how to use a manager to their
benefit and what lies ahead up to executives thinking about culture and
structure. As many people have noticed, it starts a bit slow with first
chapters stating the obvious (at least to those who’ve been in the industry

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path 6/7
12/12/2022, 11:47 The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier
for some time), but with time it presents more and more useful advice.
What’s great about it is that you don’t have to be an executive to ...more
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2 likes ·  Like
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Tyler
rated it
Browse ▾ Dec 10, 2019 Community ▾

It was good, especially the first part of the book. If I hadn’t worked at
Facebook, I’d probably have rated it four or five stars, but so much of this
I’ve already learned. And what I was hoping to get out of the book, which
was the sections about senior management, she didn’t really cover the
layers of positions in upper management at large companies (because she’s
writing about smaller companies and she doesn’t have the experience). It
went from managing managers straight to CTO. Also, some pa
...more

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Matas Tvarijonas
rated it
Jan 19, 2021

The book allowed me as junior engineering lead to understand paths of

grows and what challanges are ahead. Also it has valuable advices on how to
react and act during difficult situations.

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

Jose Perez
rated it
Jul 03, 2022

Excellent book for understanding how different managerial levels work on

software development company and how grow through them.

2 likes ·  Like
 · see review

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