YMMV but after almost 20 years I try to keep a foot firmly in both camps and position myself as an early-stage generalist who can also lead and magnify the prod

YMMV but after almost 20 years I try to keep a foot firmly in both camps and position myself as an early-stage generalist who can also lead and magnify the productivity of the whole team. Managers who aren't technically illiterate suck, programmers who can't see beyond the scope of their own little fiefdom also suck. If you can marry disparate skills from a few different areas you can really work magic in the right position.