Should You Really Become A People Manager?
Should You Really Become A People Manager?
Our Experts Talk About The Good, The Bad and the Wait, No One Told Me That!
About The Event
Stepping from Individual Contributor (IC) to Team Lead is one of the biggest career curveballs in any profession, not just tech. From the outside, leadership looks like “impact, visibility, growth.” From the inside… it’s often being less hands-on and suddenly dealing with the reality of people problems.
This panel brings together professionals who made different choices:
→ those who lead projects and expertise and
→ those who lead people.
Expect honest stories, real tradeoffs, and the things no job description ever mentions. No glossy narratives. No corporate fairy tales. Just the truth about whether the manager track is actually for you.
Plus: networking, snacks, drinks, and good Berlin vibes!
Who Is This For?
This event is for:
International professionals in Berlin exploring leadership roles.
New or aspiring managers wondering “is this the right path?”
ICs comparing the expert track to the people-lead track.
Anyone who wants a clearer, more honest view of what management really involves.
Speakers
⭐ Andreea Lungulescu - Founder and Community Leader, Talent Crunch, Berlin
The founder of The Principal Recruiter, Andreea brings 15+ years shaping specialist talent strategies. Twice awarded for Global TA Innovation, she led transformative programs at Zalando & Wayfair, including building and scaling Wayfair's Tech Hub in India. She also builds and leads Talent Crunch - Berlin, a thriving DACH community, from zero to 5,700+ through organic growth & 39+ events so far. Sharing insights on hiring excellence and career growth through her website, social media, and appearances at conferences and on podcasts.
⭐ Ester Atweh - Senior Manager Workforce Support, Flink
Ester is a senior people services manager passionate about helping teams thrive. With a background spanning workforce planning, team leadership, and employee support, she leads Workforce Support at Flink. Her work centers on improving collaboration, strengthening people processes, and supporting leaders and employees through the real, day-to-day complexities of a growing organization.
⭐ Jarek Wawszczak - Engineering Manager, Zalando
Jarek is an engineering leader with 15+ years of experience building and leading cross-functional teams in both high-growth startups and large-scale organizations. Currently at Zalando, he leads data and assortment engineering for the Sport and Beauty categories, having previously managed engineering teams across Berlin and Helsinki. Jarek focuses on technical strategy, delivery excellence, and leadership development. His track record spans high-impact customer products, core platform capabilities, and strategic company-wide initiatives.
What’s In It For You?
✅ A real understanding of the IC vs Team Lead tradeoffs.
✅ Insights from people who chose different paths (and why).
✅ What changes when you lead people, not just work.
✅ Practical questions to help you decide your next career step.
✅ Clarity on whether management is your next move… or not.
Event Schedule
18:30 – 19:00 → Doors open: snacks, drinks & informal networking
19:00 – 19:45 → Panel discussion with industry experts
19:45 – 20:15 → Audience Q&A
20:15 – 21:00 → Structured networking
Why Join?
Because career decisions deserve more than assumptions.
This event offers:
⭐ Real talk instead of LinkedIn myths
⭐ Multiple perspectives in one evening
⭐ A community of professionals facing the same dilemmas
⭐ Practical insight you can’t get from job descriptions
If you’re weighing “leading projects vs. leading people,” this is the conversation you want to be part of.
Venue
Mindspace, Skalitzerstraße, Berlin.
A cozy, central Kreuzberg location, fully equipped for a comfortable evening of discussion and connection.
Media Notice
Photos will be taken during the event for community documentation and promotion on LinkedIn. By registering, participants agree that images may be used by 90 Minute Labs for future event and community promotion.
Symbolic Ticket Price
Tickets are 5 EUR.
With food, drinks, expert time, and high-quality networking, it’s a bargain, and a great way to support a growing community of professionals in Berlin.
Your Hosts
Dagmar Glow → LinkedIn
Veronica Ambrosini → LinkedIn
REFUND POLICY
When purchasing a ticket to our event, you agree with the following policy:
Due to the symbolic ticket price of 5 EUR, platform and payment processing fees (Luma/Stripe), and the upfront effort we invest in arranging food from local businesses and preparing a high-quality event space, we do not issue refunds. Payments are treated as a supporting donation to help build our community.
If you purchased a ticket and are unable to attend, please contact us at [email protected]. We will be happy to invite you to our next event free of charge.