As a woman in tech or an aspiring one, you have probably heard of a Product Manager and a Tech Lead. You might have even assumed that they are the same, especially since they both lead teams and seem to be in charge. But they are different, and each plays a unique role in the tech industry. So, if you are hoping to become any of them but do not know the difference, here is a detailed explanation of who they are and the roles they play.
A Product Manager, also called PM, oversees the team and their goals. They focus on the product the team is building and do a lot of research to understand the problems users face and the best way to solve them. PMs make sure the product solves the right user problems and work with designers, developers, and stakeholders to make sure everybody is on the same page. They decide what the team needs to build next and make sure the product is the right fit for the users and the business.
Now, a Tech Lead, on the other hand, guides the technical side of a project. They are the team’s engineering lead who decides how to build the product. Tech Leads choose the tools, systems, and the tech stacks the team will use. They also help to write code, fix bugs, review others’ code, and solve technical issues. Aside from this, they mentor junior developers and make sure the team is following the best practices.
A Product manager and a Tech Lead work together to bring the product to life. A PM brings the vision, user needs, and business goals while a Tech Lead figures out how to bring that vision to life.
If you are wondering what the best role for you is as an aspiring woman in tech, here are two things you should think about:
- If you are someone who loves planning, doing research, making decisions and documenting them. You will enjoy being a product manager.
- If you love coding, solving technical issues and leading developers then you might prefer Tech Lead.
Both of them are leadership positions in different areas, and they are really important when building a product.