>I’m a PM & designer in his late 30s who is itching to get into deep tech
I've always told people who are interested in getting into tech: if you don't love it enough to do it on your own, don't get into the field. Not because I think they're dumb, but to excel, you need an almost unhealthy obsession with building software.
So, having said that, I would explore the internet for a topic you are interested in and invest some of your free time into it. Build something to the point you think someone would buy it (polished, not throw away code). Make sure it's tested and relatively bug free. See how you feel after that.
Having said that (again), I have an undergrad MIS degree and it gave me a good foundation and I learned the jargon, but the vast majority of practical stuff I learned, I learned working on personal projects at home and projects at work.
I've always told people who are interested in getting into tech: if you don't love it enough to do it on your own, don't get into the field. Not because I think they're dumb, but to excel, you need an almost unhealthy obsession with building software.
So, having said that, I would explore the internet for a topic you are interested in and invest some of your free time into it. Build something to the point you think someone would buy it (polished, not throw away code). Make sure it's tested and relatively bug free. See how you feel after that.
Having said that (again), I have an undergrad MIS degree and it gave me a good foundation and I learned the jargon, but the vast majority of practical stuff I learned, I learned working on personal projects at home and projects at work.