In this episode, I’m joined by Carly Malatskey, an engineer-turned-investor and podcast host of She Leads. We dive into one of the most important career questions in tech today: Should you work in big tech or small tech, or found your own company? With the rise of AI and new economic conditions, these choices have never been more different. We break down how industry dynamics have changed, the tradeoffs associated with each path, and some exercises for determining the best fit for you.

Key topics:

How AI is reshaping the tech job market
The (under-appreciated) differences between big tech and small tech
How PM and engineering roles have changed
How to assess your potential as a founder
What your worries reveal about your ideal work environment

Referenced:

Carly’s podcast: https://www.sheleadspod.com/
Ready to start a startup?: https://www.skip.show/ready-to-start-a-startup-shreyas-doshi-former-pm-leader-at-stripe-twitter-google/

Where to find Carly:

Where to find Nikhyl:

Where to find The Skip:

Don't forget to subscribe to The Skip to hear me coach you through timely career lessons. If you’re interested in joining me on a future call, send me a note on LinkedIn, Threads, or Twitter.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Teaser: Big tech vs small tech: Should you do both?

(00:35) Intro

(03:15) Why this discussion matters

(05:06) The biggest change in tech during 2024

(08:20) Why everyone should consider being a founder

(10:14) How to assess your potential as a founder

(14:44) How PM & engineering changed in 2024

(23:06) The all-important differences between big and small tech

(28:55) Assessing your fit for big vs small tech

(36:18) The challenges and benefits of working at both scales

(42:31) Do the best PMs work in big tech?

(52:17) Who this advice doesn't apply to

(54:56) Key takeaways

(56:33) Get in touch with Nikhyl

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theskip.substack.com

The Widening Tech Career Divide: Big vs Small Tech

The Skip Podcast