Should You Really Become A People Manager?

## UPDATE: WE ARE SOLD OUT

## 🔥 Register Here 🔥

The event has limited seats and requires registration.

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## 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!

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## Who Is This 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

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## 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

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## ​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.

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## ​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

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## 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.

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## Venue

Mindspace, Skalitzerstraße, Berlin
A cozy, central Kreuzberg location, fully equipped for a comfortable evening of discussion and connection.