Well, you've got a lot of answers here already. I've worked in startups and the game industry as a programmer, designer, producer (probably more like your vers

Well, you've got a lot of answers here already. I've worked in startups and the game industry as a programmer, designer, producer (probably more like your version of PM), and kind of as a PM (which, in gaming, is probably like some percentage of your job now, but not all of it). It's definitely true that having worked as a designer and programmer was INCREDIBLY helpful in making me a better producer. The ability to communicate with people you manage or need to make decisions for at a passable level of their domain knowledge will be very fruitful and will help you command their respect. You'll make better decisions too, of course. Feel free to email me if you want to know more. (That goes for anyone here, I'm always happy to give advice.)