[pettycashstash2]

I am doing something similar and it's quite rewarding. I have a masters in finance and management from while back, and am just finishing 9 month program to get my CISSP and PMP. Personally I enjoy the learning and challenge, and this field allows for so much.

If you have the time and genuine interest, I say go for the MSCS. Choose a rigorous program, dive into deep learning, and let your enthusiasm shine through. Ignore any naysayers and embrace this season of structured learning.

The one potential risk I'd consider is signaling a desire to return to hands-on technical work. Some may interpret your degree pursuit as dissatisfaction with management and a wish to return to individual contributor roles. You can likely mitigate this by clearly communicating your rationale to key stakeholders.

[jgilbertson47]

Great call-out: "Some may interpret your degree pursuit as dissatisfaction with management and a wish to return to individual contributor roles." Thank you!