I agree with Oliver. This is a tricky question, and the path might be narrow. I was a management consultant and am now a data scientist (basically a software engineer). From your project description, I also immediately thought of management consulting. However, it can be difficult to gain technical consulting credibility without technical skills. In fact, I’ve read that Elon Musk hates consultants, presumably for this reason. I’ve applied for jobs managing technical projects, and I’m ALWAYS asked about my technical skills. Presumably Musk also likes people who aren’t afraid to get get their hands dirty and in the weeds.
I’d ask, what do you like about Musk’s companies? If it’s that they are building things and solving tough challenges, keep an open mind about engineering. There are many types of ‘technical skills’, and you might find something you like. Remember, Musk, Gates, Bezos, and even Steve Jobs got their start by trying to solve a specific problem and diving deep into the technical details.
If it’s just the global impact of Musk’s accomplishments that attracts you, then maybe something ‘softer’ like an MBA (to go for management consulting, or to be an entrepreneur), or studying a specific field of public policy could be a good option. But beware, unless you can get into Harvard Business School, those types of jobs are generally more competitive, less numerous and pay less than engineering ones.
And most entrepreneurs fail. Sorry to be a buzzkill, but don’t overlook this fact. It’s difficult to ‘create a vision and oversee its implementation’ if you have no money and no one to help you implement. As Oliver mentioned, getting a few years experience under your belt first can be a great way to position yourself for entrepreneurship down the road (and make sure you actually like your chosen field).
Like Oliver, I love software engineering (I’m in machine learning/AI), even though I originally wanted to do something more in ‘policy’. A good software engineer can absolutely help guide the vision of a project. In fact, the ability to see the bigger picture will help you stand out among your peers who just write code and don’t ask questions. Presumably other fields of engineering are similar.
I agree with Oliver. This is a tricky question, and the path might be narrow. I was a management consultant and am now a data scientist (basically a software engineer). From your project description, I also immediately thought of management consulting. However, it can be difficult to gain technical consulting credibility without technical skills. In fact, I’ve read that Elon Musk hates consultants, presumably for this reason. I’ve applied for jobs managing technical projects, and I’m ALWAYS asked about my technical skills. Presumably Musk also likes people who aren’t afraid to get get their hands dirty and in the weeds.
I’d ask, what do you like about Musk’s companies? If it’s that they are building things and solving tough challenges, keep an open mind about engineering. There are many types of ‘technical skills’, and you might find something you like. Remember, Musk, Gates, Bezos, and even Steve Jobs got their start by trying to solve a specific problem and diving deep into the technical details.
If it’s just the global impact of Musk’s accomplishments that attracts you, then maybe something ‘softer’ like an MBA (to go for management consulting, or to be an entrepreneur), or studying a specific field of public policy could be a good option. But beware, unless you can get into Harvard Business School, those types of jobs are generally more competitive, less numerous and pay less than engineering ones.
And most entrepreneurs fail. Sorry to be a buzzkill, but don’t overlook this fact. It’s difficult to ‘create a vision and oversee its implementation’ if you have no money and no one to help you implement. As Oliver mentioned, getting a few years experience under your belt first can be a great way to position yourself for entrepreneurship down the road (and make sure you actually like your chosen field).
Like Oliver, I love software engineering (I’m in machine learning/AI), even though I originally wanted to do something more in ‘policy’. A good software engineer can absolutely help guide the vision of a project. In fact, the ability to see the bigger picture will help you stand out among your peers who just write code and don’t ask questions. Presumably other fields of engineering are similar.
Good luck!