Show HN: A simulator for engineers transitioning from IC to management
pingananth Monday, January 05, 2026Hi HN,
I’m a former C++ dev turned Product Manager.
I’ve noticed many engineers struggle with the "politics" side of things when they become Leads. To help with this, I’m building a text-based simulator.
It is NOT an AI chatbot. It is a hand-crafted, branching narrative (logic tree) based on real experiences.
I just launched the first scenario: "The Backchannel VP."
The Setup: Your VP Engineering is bypassing you and giving tasks directly to your juniors, causing chaos.
Your Goal: Stop the backchanneling without getting fired.
It’s a short, specific puzzle. I’d love to know if you think the "Correct" path I designed matches your real-world experience, or if I’m off base.
Link: https://apmcommunication.com/scenario/backchannel-vp
Summary
The article discusses the use of backchannel communication, a technique in which a VP or other leader maintains an informal private communication channel with key stakeholders. This allows them to gather feedback, build trust, and navigate complex situations more effectively.
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Summary
apmcommunication.com