“Even the VP codes here!” That’s the kind of statement that jolts you awake in an era when higher designations often mean fewer lines of code. But for one techie Redditor, that’s just another day at their new job—and the internet is having a field day with it.
The Redditor, posting on r/developersIndia, shared their amazement at joining a U.S.-based investment firm where even the Vice President and Director actively write and debug code. Far from being ivory tower executives shuffling spreadsheets or attending endless meetings, these leaders are knee-deep in DevOps tasks, setting up AWS servers, debugging Jenkins pipelines, and contributing Java and Python code to real-time projects.
And this isn’t your typical startup environment. The company in question boasts over 5,000 employees and a solid LinkedIn following of more than half a million. It’s structured, it’s corporate—but it’s breaking all stereotypes about hierarchy and technical engagement.
From Passive Managers to Passionate Coders
The Redditor contrasts this refreshing culture with their previous experience at a large Europe-based MNC, where tech leads and architects often detach from the actual act of coding. According to them, leadership there was more about scheduling meetings, delegating tasks, and dishing out occasionally impractical suggestions—sometimes from people who hadn’t touched a line of code in years.
“I once asked my Architect why he doesn’t explore more, and he told me, ‘Why is it necessary? This is not what is expected from me,’” the Redditor recalled, highlighting a fundamental disconnect between designation and skill.
In contrast, their new workplace embraces a philosophy of continuous learning and hands-on involvement, where hierarchy doesn’t dictate detachment. Even feature planning and sprint retrospectives see the Director and VP actively participating—not just supervising.
Reddit Reacts: Applause, Doubts, and Everything in Between
As expected, the post stirred a variety of reactions across Reddit. Some users lauded the culture, calling it “the type of company where you would want to be in,” while others raised eyebrows, speculating whether these job titles might be inflated or strategically assigned to skirt visa restrictions.
Others chimed in with their own workplace anecdotes. One user working at a European MNC in Noida said, “Almost everyone codes here—even PMs and managers. If you don’t, you won’t survive.” Another lamented a workplace where buzzwords fly freely—“AI-driven programming” and “data-driven database” being among the offenders—but technical competence is scarce.
Interestingly, a few users pointed out that this culture isn’t all that rare in investment banking circles. Vice Presidents coding isn’t unusual when the job role is that of an individual contributor rather than a conventional manager. It’s not about overseeing work—it’s about owning it.
Coding Titles or Title-less Coders?
The Redditor’s post touches on a deeper debate within the tech industry: Should career progression mean moving away from the craft that brought you up the ladder? Or is it more valuable to retain and deepen your technical roots, even as you gain leadership responsibilities?
For many, the idea of a VP rolling up their sleeves to debug a pipeline is not just unusual—it’s aspirational. It’s a call for companies to rethink the outdated ladder-climbing model that equates management with success and hands-on work with stagnation.