[helpfulContrib]

> .. the most frustrating part about software engineers believing themselves to be the part of the business with the most complex, unknowable work. ..

>_Every_ function in a tech business has hidden complexity.

In my opinion, the conflict is in the distinction.

Stereotypes abound, but I have always found in this battle between worlds, there is a simple bridging maneuver: never work for someone, or accept management guidance, from someone who cannot also comfortably do your work. corollary: never manage someone unless you're prepared to do their job for them comfortably.

Yes, this is cold and hard, but so are those stereotypes, kids. There are Manager Engineers and there are Engineer Managers. But there's also just managers and engineers with both skills, simply focusing their work as needed for the specific project. The ultimately fun organization to work in is where different people have different roles in multiple projects, comfortably.

Key word. Getting this mix comfortable is the job of a good CEO, fwiw.

And guess what, it doesn't matter whether the salesperson can do any job but understand just how great this particular hierarchys' products are, and why the end result of this configuration is worth the spend.