Wait, do you actually want to stop programming and manage other programmers so early in your own personal development arc?
My primary advice is a strong "most people asking this question should not do this".
Not because you won't be good enough or grow into the job, but because it's a completely different job - and one that many programmers who actually like programming don't enjoy and in many cases aren't well suited for.
There are two toxic traps I should confront. The first is that titles like "tech lead" and "CTO" flatter your ego and impress your friends and parents. The only thing I can think of that exceeds this on the "sounds amazing today; tomorrow you'll start the rest of your miserable life" is an idealist taking money from a VC. Find a different way to impress your dad.
The second is that many companies do not understand how to incentivize programmers beyond "junior/intermediate/senior" (even architect is mostly just a senior who has to spend time managing, eg are distracted and less productive most days than a senior with a closed office) and you get to the point where the upper reaches of the programmer food chain are managing other programmers. Very few things could be more destructive. Honestly, it's fucking obnoxious.
You know what the very best programmers should get? A salary twice as big as the next best programmer, a quiet private workspace with permission to work from home, paid childcare and spousal assistance, and firm dedication from the management to insulate them from as many meetings and distractions as logistically possible. There should be penalties for disturbing them. Now that's tech leadership.
Also, the folks saying that you're working for the product, not the company are high as a kite. They are painfully wrong.
Long story short: if you love what you do, thank them politely for considering you and ask them for a quiet workspace and insulation from meetings. Then get back to work.
My primary advice is a strong "most people asking this question should not do this".
Not because you won't be good enough or grow into the job, but because it's a completely different job - and one that many programmers who actually like programming don't enjoy and in many cases aren't well suited for.
There are two toxic traps I should confront. The first is that titles like "tech lead" and "CTO" flatter your ego and impress your friends and parents. The only thing I can think of that exceeds this on the "sounds amazing today; tomorrow you'll start the rest of your miserable life" is an idealist taking money from a VC. Find a different way to impress your dad.
The second is that many companies do not understand how to incentivize programmers beyond "junior/intermediate/senior" (even architect is mostly just a senior who has to spend time managing, eg are distracted and less productive most days than a senior with a closed office) and you get to the point where the upper reaches of the programmer food chain are managing other programmers. Very few things could be more destructive. Honestly, it's fucking obnoxious.
You know what the very best programmers should get? A salary twice as big as the next best programmer, a quiet private workspace with permission to work from home, paid childcare and spousal assistance, and firm dedication from the management to insulate them from as many meetings and distractions as logistically possible. There should be penalties for disturbing them. Now that's tech leadership.
Also, the folks saying that you're working for the product, not the company are high as a kite. They are painfully wrong.
Long story short: if you love what you do, thank them politely for considering you and ask them for a quiet workspace and insulation from meetings. Then get back to work.