If you value tech skills and want to get certain standards implemented, you need to be able to navigate the people side of things to get agreement. If you strongly believe a certain tool should be used to solve a particular problem, your success in getting that tool selected is directly proportional to your relationships and ability to navigate in the circle of folk who can get that accomplished. If you want your new architecture implemented, you have to know how to sell it up the chain of command. It's not that the tech doesn't matter. Far from it. But those ideas have to be sold in a context that other stakeholders can understand. If you want to have that level of influence on your career so that you're not suffering unduly, you need to put yourself into a position to influence organizational level decisions. Otherwise the decisions will be made by the people who can navigate those circles regardless of their technical ability.