Dev Life S5E15 | Inside Technical Program Management: Misconceptions, Mindset & Making the Switch

What does a Technical Program Manager actually do & and why is the role so often misunderstood? In this episode of Dev Life, Brooke and Matt go inside Technical Program Management — unpacking the misconceptions, the mindset shift from engineer to TPM, and how engineers can work more effectively with the role. We explore: • What a TPM really owns (and what they don’t) • Where engineers misunderstand the role • Fair criticisms TPMs need to hear • What great TPM support actually feels like • Staying technical without writing production code • When making the switch makes sense — and when it doesn’t Whether you're considering the move to TPM or simply want to collaborate better with one, this conversation brings clarity to one of the most misunderstood roles in tech. CONNECT WITH US: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedibravery/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbchristiansen/ The Ai Dev Craft Show is a part of the Ai Dev Craft Conference happening Master October 27-28, 2026 Las Vegas. Join us weekly as we discuss the rapidly changing AI-scape and how developers can adapt and excel. Master developing with AI, become your team’s AI expert Join us for Ai Dev Craft Get tickets now! https://ai-devcraft.com/ Special thanks to our hosts: Lara Newsom Jay Bell Mike Hartington James Spivey Brian Love