[015a]

I can't speak for everyone, but I would not argue against PMs or Senior Leadership.

There are two critical differentiators in the role of an EM: power over those managed, and the bias toward management over productive output. The people who predominately fill those roles are those who are good at management, not those who are good at production (and, by the way, the "good EMs" which DO exist are generally people with a history as an IC, and treat the role more as a PM).