Everything You Need to Succeed as a First-Time Manager in Tech
Managing for the first time? You're not alone. Join a thriving community designed for First-Time Managers in Tech - a safe space to share challenges, learn from peers and grow into a confident leader.
The 9 Most Common Challenges for First-Time Managers in Tech
Through our work with New Managers in Tech, we've repeatedly observed these same struggles emerge. Do any of these sound familiar?
No Training - No Support - No Resources
Most new managers are promoted because they're great at their technical job, but suddenly, they're expected to lead a team - with no formal training on leadership, people management, or decision-making. It's like being handed the keys to a car without ever taking a driving lesson.
The Shift from Individual Contributor to Manager
One day, you're deep in the work you love - coding, designing, or building. The next, you're expected to step back and focus on leading others. Letting go of hands-on work isn't just tough - it's tempting to fall back into, especially when it's what you're best at and where you feel most comfortable.
Overwhelming Scope & Constant Interruptions
As a manager, you're no longer just responsible for your own work - you're accountable for your entire team's impact. That means setting direction, tracking progress, and ensuring commitments are met. On top of that, everyone starts coming to you for answers, decisions, and updates, making it easy to feel overwhelmed.
Decision Fatigue
As a manager, you're constantly making decisions - who works on what, what gets prioritized, how to handle team conflicts. The mental load can be exhausting, and sometimes, there's no clear right answer.
Giving Constructive Feedback & Managing Underperformance
Providing constructive feedback is a core part of leadership, but many new managers struggle with delivering it in a way that is clear, helpful, and well-received. When it comes to managing underperformance, the challenge gets even tougher - avoiding the issue can hurt the team, but addressing it can feel uncomfortable. Learning to do both well is key to strong leadership.
Convincing & Influencing Others
Managers don't just give orders - they have to get buy-in from both their team and leadership. Whether it's asking for resources, setting priorities, or resolving conflicts, you need to learn how to persuade, negotiate, and bring people along with your ideas.
Emotional Drain & Unexpected People Topics
Suddenly, you're not just managing work - you're managing people's emotions. Whether it's dealing with burnout, personal struggles, or team conflicts, you often have to be part manager, part coach, and part therapist.
Loss of Peer Relationships
When you get promoted, your colleagues don't always see you the same way anymore. You're suddenly "the boss," and that can make things awkward. Finding the right balance between being casual and being a leader isn't easy.
The Loneliness of Leadership
There are some things you just can't talk about with your team, like performance reviews, promotions, or conflicts between employees. But at the same time, you may not feel comfortable sharing everything with your own boss or peers. This can leave new managers feeling isolated.
If you are currently facing one of those challenges, you're not alone! Many First-Time Managers encounter these same hurdles, and there's a reason to address them promptly.
What Happens when Leadership Gaps are Ignored
When leadership gaps remain unaddressed, they trigger a dangerous downward spiral affecting both your wellbeing and team performance. As personal stress and overwhelm increase, team direction and morale deteriorate, creating additional pressure that further diminishes management effectiveness.
This accelerating cycle continues until either the team implodes through conflict and attrition or the manager burns out and resigns. Recognizing these challenges early and actively developing leadership skills can transform this potential failure into success - which is exactly what our community is here to help you achieve.
About Our Community
Join a supportive community specifically created for First-Time Managers in Tech navigating the challenges of leadership. Our community provides a safe space to share challenges, learn from peers, and grow as a confident leader. Gain insights from experienced leaders, attend events, and access practical resources to help you succeed.
Peer Support
Connect with others facing the same challenges and learn from shared experiences.
Expert Guidance
Access insights and advice from experienced leaders who've been in your shoes.
Practical Resources
Get templates, guides, and tools designed to make your management journey easier.
What Our Community Offers
We are continuously expanding our offerings to cover everything First-Time Managers in Tech need to succeed in their new role!
In-Person Meetups
Connect with fellow First-Time Managers in Tech in casual, small-group meetups - whether it's a walk & talk in the park, a intimate breakfast/dinner, or after-work drinks.
Online Community
Stay connected anytime, anywhere. Our Slack community is where New Managers in Tech share experiences, ask for advice, and support each other.
Case Studies
Learn from real-life management scenarios by reading and discussing case studies that help you tackle leadership challenges with confidence.
Book Club
Expand your leadership mindset with our book club! Together, we dive into must-read books on management, leadership, and personal growth - discussing insights and applying key concepts chapter by chapter.
Cohort
Join small, topic-focused peer groups where First-Time Managers in Tech connect, discuss real-world challenges, and get answers they need in a supportive environment.
Workshops & Webinars
Learn from experienced leaders through interactive workshops and live webinars that provide actionable strategies for becoming a successful manager.
Coaching & Mentoring
Get personalized support through one-on-one or group coaching, where experienced managers and coaches guide you based on their own leadership journeys.
Training Materials
Get access to bite-sized, practical training materials designed for New Leaders in Tech - learn at your own pace and apply insights immediately.
Templates
Streamline your workflow with ready-to-use templates for one-on-one meetings, career planning, goal setting, and leadership roadmaps - giving you more time to focus on leading instead of reinventing the wheel.
Upcoming Events
Join us for upcoming events designed to help New Managers in Tech grow and connect with like-minded peers.
We've previously Helped Professionals from
Why We Built this Community
Bridging the Leadership Gap in Tech
After years of working with technical leaders, we noticed a pattern: many new managers step into leadership without adequate support. The transition from technical work to people leadership comes with challenges that most companies don't prepare their people for.
Technical expertise rarely prepares you for navigating team dynamics, delivering constructive feedback, or balancing competing organizational priorities.
Created by Those Who've been There
Our combined experience spans years of technical leadership and coaching. We've sat in those uncomfortable first one-on-ones, made the early management mistakes, and eventually learned to build effective teams.
What makes our approach different is our perspective from both sides of the table. We understand the specific challenges of people management in tech companies that generic leadership resources often miss.
You've Found Your People
If you're feeling overwhelmed by your new responsibilities or doubting your approach as a new manager, you're in exactly the right place. The questions you're asking yourself aren't signs of weakness - they're common among thoughtful, self-conscious First-Time Managers.
This community exists because we believe no one should have to figure out leadership alone. You'll find both practical strategies and a network of peers who understand what you're going through.
About Us
Meet the Founders behind the Community
With 20+ years of experience as a former Head of HR and Leadership & Executive Coach, Martina brings exceptional insight to the challenges of leadership transitions. Having partnered with hundreds of leaders throughout her career, she has developed a profound understanding of the unique hurdles First-Time Managers face. In recent years, Martina has worked closely with clients from top tech companies and gained valuable insights into the dynamics of the tech world.
Martina founded our community with a clear vision: to provide supportive guidance for emerging leaders during their most formative professional years. Her approach combines deep expertise with genuine accessibility, creating a space where new managers can find both practical strategies and emotional support.
Known for her remarkable listening skills and empathetic presence, Martina has earned trust as an advisor to executives across diverse industries. Her passion for fostering psychological safety creates an environment where leaders can authentically explore their challenges. She specializes in helping managers gain clarity, build resilience, and develop the confidence needed to lead effectively while maintaining their mental well-being.
Martina's thoughtful guidance has transformed countless uncertain new managers into assured, effective leaders who create positive team environments. Her commitment to people-centered leadership shines through in every interaction within our community.
Pascal brings more than 20 years of versatile leadership experience to our community, having thrived across multiple roles including Engineering Lead, Manager of Managers, Individual Contributor, Team Lead, and both Product and Program Manager. His diverse background spans from prominent tech giants to nimble startups, giving him a comprehensive perspective on leadership challenges at every organizational level.
Throughout his career, Pascal has built numerous teams and organizations from the ground up, expertly guiding them through crucial maturation phases. His passion for helping others develop their potential drives his involvement in our community, where he generously shares insights from his wealth of experience.
Pascal excels at creating team environments characterized by high psychological safety, where open communication and innovation flourish. His expertise in strategic direction setting, relationship building, stakeholder management, and performance development provides community members with practical frameworks they can immediately apply to their leadership challenges.
His balanced approach to technical leadership and people management makes Pascal an invaluable resource for New Managers in Tech seeking to develop well-rounded leadership skills. His guidance helps transform theoretical knowledge into confident, effective leadership practice.
Get in Touch
Have questions about our community? We'd love to hear from you.