I deliberately stayed in a first line management position, for most of my career.

I was quite capable of going quite far up the ladder, but found that I could make a huge difference, at that level.

Also, I was quite aware of the ethos of most managers (both high and low), at my company, and knew that they would be unable to get the results that I did, and they would quickly drive out the team, which I held together, for decades.

I have always enjoyed doing effective work, much more than being BMOC. I found that I could be most effective, at that level.

That said, I hated being a manager. I always did tech work, on the side, and, upon leaving that company, I went straight back to IC work.