Right, I don't mean to imply that technical knowledge isn't central to the job. It is. But it can be learned.
A lot of engineers on this thread might not realize that within MBA programs, the word is out -- "don't even try to be a PM, you need a technical background." As if "coding" is something ultra-intimidating and therefore if you can't already do it, you can't be a PM.
My company has a reputation for this constraint, like we only hire people who were full-time SWEs in a past life. It's simply not true.
Once you get here, though, you have to understand the technical architecture, for sure. But being a PM isn't alone among careers, here -- most careers have a steep learning curve when you're starting out.
A lot of engineers on this thread might not realize that within MBA programs, the word is out -- "don't even try to be a PM, you need a technical background." As if "coding" is something ultra-intimidating and therefore if you can't already do it, you can't be a PM.
My company has a reputation for this constraint, like we only hire people who were full-time SWEs in a past life. It's simply not true.
Once you get here, though, you have to understand the technical architecture, for sure. But being a PM isn't alone among careers, here -- most careers have a steep learning curve when you're starting out.