They have people skills; they're good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?

Appreciate the reference. Tom was an engineering liaison, not manager though

Of course he meant every employee with a "manager" title. And take "seems" to mean "I doubled the real number for effect".

I assume it's a way of saying engineering is a tiny part of the organization.

I think Musk is a master of tapping into public sentiment.

Griping about the uselessness of management is precisely the kind of folk wisdom that gets passed around. It's fun to divide the world into do-ers and managers, both because it rights the uncomfortable social hierarchy and encourages action over in-action.

He didn't mean anything. He doesn't know what he's talking about. He called their PhD turned engineer turned turned CTO turned CEO a "MBA type" and was too embarrassed to ask him any technical questions.

I think that question is indicative of the problem.