Every technology professional faces a choice at some point in their career: To move up, should I pursue a people manager role? If I don't, does that limit my career growth? I have moved from senior management "back" to individual contributor twice in my career. People management and individual contributor roles have pros and cons, and the same person can succeed in both, but what matters is whether you feel satisfied in the role. I will discuss the differences between leadership and management roles, share my tips for people considering people management, and help you determine what matters to you and how to act on this knowledge. I'll also talk about why I'm happy, 27 years into my UC career, that I'm once again an individual contributor.