IC — Individual Contributor
Definition: Builder or doer, not a manager. Beginner trap: Promoting ICs to managers by default.
Example
In board meetings, you'll often hear something like: "Let's pull the latest IC numbers before we make a call" — shorthand for individual contributor.
When you'll hear it
IC shows up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. When someone uses it, they're usually referring to individual contributor — and they expect the room to already know what that means.
FAQs
What does IC stand for?
IC stands for Individual Contributor.
What does IC mean in business and finance?
Builder or doer, not a manager. Beginner trap: Promoting ICs to managers by default.
Where will I hear IC used at work?
IC comes up most often in board meetings, quarterly business reviews, and strategy off-sites. It's used as shorthand for individual contributor, so people assume you already know the term.
Related terms
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