How often have you heard that engineers don’t make good managers? Many engineers, their teams, and even the HR professionals who support them believe technical people aren’t wired for leadership. That assumption is wrong. In Minimum Viable Manager, Matt Gjertsen reveals how technically minded people can move past solving problems and take the first steps towards being exceptional leaders.

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What people are saying

“Minimum Viable Manager speaks directly to one of the hardest transitions in a career. Written from the trenches of high-performing environments like SpaceX, it offers advice that is both credible and hard-earned.”

Hans Koenigsmann, former VP of build and flight reliability at SpaceX

“By focusing intensely on the ‘minimum viable’ behaviors, this book provides technical leads with an actionable operational system. It respects their time, speaks their language, and protects them from burnout while ensuring their teams deliver safely and predictably. Minimum Viable Manager is the exact playbook scaling technical organizations need.”

Marie Burgos, head of people at Skyryse

“Becoming a technical leader was one of the best moves I made for my career. I just wish I’d had Matt Gjertsen’s book to spare me years of learning the hard way. It’s the book I’d hand to anyone stepping into the role today.”

Lucie Nurdin, PhD, reactor lead engineer at Terraform

“Minimum Viable Manager is the reference every manager should keep close. It blends worked examples, theory, and playbook-ready guidance into the operational framework leaders need to build and deploy their teams against any technical challenge.”

Chapman Snowden, chief operating officer at AstroForge

“Minimum Viable Manager is a wonderfully targeted handbook for the accomplished technical engineer. It focuses on the few things every manager must get right to build a high-functioning, cohesive team from a group of misfit toys.”

Eric J. Roulo, structural and dynamics engineer and consultant

“One of the most enjoyable and digestible books on the topic I’ve read. The stories are engaging and relevant and knit the topics together seamlessly.”

David James, chief learning officer at 360Learning and host of The Learning & Development Podcast

“Matt Gjertsen cleverly weaves together his vast experience as an Air Force instructor pilot, a SpaceX alumnus, and a small business founder to share practical details about the essence of leadership. His First Principles Leadership Model will resonate with you as it did for me!”

John “Dragon” Teichert, US Air Force Brigadier General (ret.)