Over the years, I’ve written all kinds of code, bad code, good code, and a lot that falls somewhere in between. I’ve worked in many roles, hired people, sometimes fired people, and mentored others along the way. Through it all, I’ve stayed pretty happy with what I do.

Lately, though, I keep hearing the same questions from developers:
“Do I have to become a manager to grow my career?”
“What if I’m happy just writing code?”

If you’ve ever felt that way, this talk is for you. I’d like to share my perspective on what career growth can look like for developers who love coding and don’t want to "climb the ladder" in the traditional sense.

This is about finding success, satisfaction, and progress without feeling like you’re stuck or missing out.