The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You

Learn Essential Leadership Skills with The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo

About the Book

The Making of a Manager is your guide to navigating the messy, rewarding reality of leading people. Julie Zhuo became a manager at age 25 with zero training, and she learned everything the hard way. Now she’s sharing those hard-won lessons so you don’t have to. This book covers everything from running effective meetings and giving feedback that actually helps, to building trust with your team and knowing when to step in versus step back. It’s honest about the challenges, clear about what works, and refreshingly free of the vague platitudes that fill most management books.

From the Back Cover

“Management isn’t something you’re born knowing how to do. It’s learned through experience, mistakes, and the courage to keep trying. This book gives you the roadmap others wish they’d had when they started.”

About the Author

Julie Zhuo spent over a decade at Facebook (now Meta), rising from intern to Vice President of Product Design where she managed teams of hundreds. Her journey from nervous first-time manager to confident executive gives her unique insight into what new and experienced managers actually struggle with. She’s known for her straightforward, empathetic leadership style and her popular writing on design and management. After leaving Facebook, she became a startup advisor and venture capitalist, continuing to help leaders grow.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is essential for anyone who just became a manager or is about to step into a leadership role for the first time. If you’re suddenly responsible for other people’s work and wondering how to do this job well, you’ll find immediate, actionable guidance here. It’s also valuable for experienced managers who want to refine their approach, tech professionals moving into leadership positions, or anyone feeling stuck in their management journey. Even individual contributors who want to understand what good management looks like will benefit from Zhuo’s clear framework.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is The Making of a Manager only for tech industry managers?
While Julie Zhuo’s experience is in tech, the management principles apply across industries. The book focuses on universal leadership challenges like building trust, giving feedback, and developing people—skills every manager needs regardless of their field.

Q: What makes this different from other management and leadership books?
Julie Zhuo writes from personal experience about the real struggles new managers face, not abstract theory. She’s honest about her mistakes and provides specific, actionable advice instead of vague inspiration. The book feels like getting mentorship from someone who’s been exactly where you are.

Q: Should I read this before or after becoming a manager?
Either works! Reading it before your first management role gives you a head start on avoiding common mistakes. Reading it after you’ve started helps you make sense of what you’re experiencing and provides frameworks for challenges you’re already facing.

Q: How long does it take to read The Making of a Manager book?
Most readers finish it in 5-7 hours. However, many managers keep it as a reference and return to specific chapters when facing new challenges, making it a resource you’ll use throughout your management journey.

Q: Does this book cover remote team management and virtual leadership?
Yes, while Zhuo’s experience predates the full remote work shift, the principles she teaches—clear communication, building trust, effective one-on-ones—are even more critical for remote managers. The fundamentals of good management apply regardless of whether your team is in-office or distributed.