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IT Professionals Moving from a Technical Position into

Leadership Roles

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In contrast, companies like Google and Netflix What Forward-Looking Organizations Are Doing
have well-documented leadership tracks for Organizations that recognize the value of
engineers, allowing dual progression: one for homegrown leadership from the IT team are
people management, another for technical implementing programs such as:
leadership. • Leadership Bootcamps for Engineers
• Internal Coaching Programs
Underrepresentation on the C-Suite • Dual Career Ladders that let techies choose
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between people management or tech mastery
only 17% of CIOs or CTOs in Fortune 1000 • Shadowing Existing Leaders to build
companies began their careers in hands-on business exposure
technical roles. While that number is growing,
it reflects the historical dominance of business- According to a 2023 report by McKinsey &
side leadership. Company, organizations with internal leadership
tracks for technical staff saw a 23% increase
Preparing for the Move: What Can Technical in retention and a 19% increase in product
IT Professionals Do? delivery success.
For those in technical roles looking to move

up, these are examples of actionable ways to In Conclusion:
get ready: For technical personnel, the move to a leadership
position is not a leap, it's a climb. This is built
1. Seek Cross-Functional Projects: Work on experience, learning, and an evolving mindset.
on initiatives that touch sales, marketing, or For those who started in the trenches of IT five
operations to understand different perspectives. years ago, the move into leadership is more than
a title change; it's a transformation that blends
2. Get a Mentor: Find someone in leadership, technical roots with a broader vision.
technical or not, who can guide your transition.
Albert Magallanez, Director of Information
3. Learn the Business: Start reading annual Technologies, Sunnyside Unified School District
reports, attending budget meetings, and asking #12, can be reached at: albertm@susd12.org.
how your team supports KPIs.

4. Study Leadership: Books like "The First 90
Days" by Michael Watkins or "Radical Candor"
by Kim Scott offer useful frameworks,

5. Request Feedback Frequently: Ask your
manager and peers for feedback on communication,
initiative, and influence, not just task execution.

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