i don't need to be an engineer

as an engineer, i'm naturally like to be hands-on (control) and build things myself, which i thought was the only pathway to drive and make a difference.

studying and working in the sustainability field, i'm fascinated by the meaningful projects and innovations. every day is different. i spent years honing my technical skills and working on innovative projects. until the day that i had to leave tesla, it hit me and broke me deeply at the beginning, but then i realized there were so many opportunities and different roles i could play to still make a difference.

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so i start to think about what it takes to bring an idea to a final product. what are the key roles?

stage 1: idea generation and conceptualization

innovator/founder: generates the initial idea and defines the vision.

market researcher: conducts preliminary research to validate the idea and assess market potential.

stage 2: planning and strategy

product manager: defines the product strategy, sets goals, and prioritizes features.

legal and compliance expert: ensures that the product complies with relevant laws and regulations.

finance and budget analyst: establishes the project budget and financial planning.

stage 3: design and prototyping

designer: creates the user interface (ui) and user experience (ux) design.

prototyper/rapid prototyping team: develops prototypes or mvp to validate the concept. market researcher: continues to gather user feedback and insights.

stage 4: development

developer/engineer: builds the software or hardware components of the product.

qa tester: tests the product for bugs and quality assurance.

data analyst/data scientist: may begin collecting and analyzing data.

stage 5: testing and iteration

qa tester: continues testing and ensures the product functions correctly.

advisor/mentor: provides guidance and feedback for improvements.

data analyst/data scientist: analyzes user data and feedback for insights.

stage 6: launch and marketing

marketing specialist: develops and executes the marketing strategy.

sales representative: prepares for product launch and sales efforts.

customer support/success: sets up support channels and resources.

stage 7: growth and scaling

sales representative: focuses on selling the product and expanding the user base. customer support/success: continues to provide support and gather user feedback.

operations and logistics: manages manufacturing and distribution for physical products.

stage 8: post-launch optimization and maintenance

product manager: continuously refines the product roadmap based on user feedback and market changes.

data analyst/data scientist: provides insights to support ongoing product improvements. customer support/success: ensures ongoing customer satisfaction.

then i asked myself, imagine in an ideal world where i could choose any role i want to be in. which role will bring me the most excitement in my career in the next three years?

surprisingly, engineer is not my first choice.

1. investor

2. pm

3. designer

being an engineer plays a crucial role in bringing technical expertise and making the product during the whole process, compared to being an investor who not only brings financial support to the team, but also external technical support and resources to transform a concept into a finished product. investors also play an important role to expand and scale the product.

this is what drives and excites me.

yes, i don't need to be an engineer to make a difference.

what role excites you the most?