[yawz]

Hah! I would argue that your friend is either extremely fortunate to be naturally gifted to work with people, or (the way more likely option) they don't have enough knowledge and experience to know that they're not being a good manager.

Being a good manager is generally not an easier position. It's a different way of solving mostly different problems. That's why it requires a different set of skills.

[skrtskrt]

It could also be that the company was trying to squeeze too much out of them as an IC.