The only things separating an associate PM from a VP of product aren’t just a few more years of experience and several promotions.
For instance, taking on new challenges is a tried-and-true way to show your ability to handle more responsibility, but that’s a big ask when you manage the development and delivery of entire products, not just individual features or campaigns. Demonstrating leadership is also important to advancement, and that can also be difficult when you’re leading a team made up of people from across the company with competing interests and unique work styles.
It’s a lot to balance and consider, and the people with the best advice are those who have been there before. Continue reading to hear from three Chicago PMs about the lessons they’ve learned that were critical catalysts to their career development, how internal learning and development initiatives have helped grow their skill sets, and their top advice for taking your career to the next level.
Auto insurance, ridesharing and marketing companies work with Arity to develop driving-focused products, apps and campaigns. The company was founded by Allstate in 2016.
Looking back on your career thus far, what were the most important lessons you learned or professional experiences you had?
Earlier in my career, I was a solid contributor to team efforts, but I learned a lot of my growth happened when I took ownership of something. Doing the work is the best way to gain experience and nothing prepares you more than taking responsibility for an outcome because, good or bad, the result is on you and you’ll learn something either way.
Another area I focus on is creating relationships with colleagues so I can understand where they are coming from, which makes working together easier. It really helps me not be afraid of conflict in the workplace because trust has already been established and we can keep disagreements healthy with stronger outcomes. Overall, it has served me well to stay curious and keep an open mind to learning more. To me, work and life, in general, are more interesting when I’m learning new things.
Earlier in my career, I was a solid contributor to team efforts, but I learned a lot of my growth happened when I took ownership of something.”
How have Arity’s learning and development programs or opportunities helped you to advance your career? And what role has your manager played in supporting your career growth?
Arity has offered me opportunities to be a mentor and to attend conferences and mentorship programs, such as the Grace Hopper Celebration and programming with Bonfire. Any opportunity to attend an external development program is beneficial because it enables you to see what others do, network and learn from their experiences and assess what areas you excel at and what things you want to try. I also appreciate mentoring others and helping them succeed and achieve their goals, which helped my preparation to become a manager.
When I told my manager what I was looking for in my career growth we had several discussions about what I wanted, why I was looking for that and how he could help me get there. We were able to get together a rough timeline and establish a path, including some major initiatives specific to our business that could help me reach my goals. He also put me in front of leadership and customers at any chance possible to give me more visibility at the company.
What’s one piece of advice you would offer to a product manager that’s looking to take the next step in their career?
There are a number of ways to advance your career, and nearly all of them involve you deciding what you want and advocating for yourself. Think broadly about what you want to do next and what you want to do after that. Instead of approaching it narrowly as, “How do I get promoted?” consider what gaps you have and what skills you want to gain to get to that next level. Once you have some goals in mind, communicate that to anyone who can help you get there, be it your direct manager, mentor or anyone in your network. People often want to help but no one is in your head, so they can’t think about how to get you to what you want next.
PerkSpot offers discounts and perks as a benefit, with companies able to offer their employees exclusive deals for brands like Apple, Adidas, Stitch Fix and more. Along with consumer brands, the company also offers discounts on gyms, car purchases and hotel stays.
Looking back on your career thus far, what were the most important lessons you learned or professional experiences you had?
For starters, there may be times when projects that you’re working on start experiencing delays or a drop in priority. In those instances, it’s crucial to adapt and reprioritize quickly. In addition, with the breadth of different projects that you will be exposed to, utilizing the guidance and knowledge of your managers will be of utmost importance. Your managers are there to guide your talent, so dedicate some time to learning from them through one-on-one sessions and stretch assignments.
Also, you have to be able to communicate with individuals from different functional areas as this is directly related to the success of your products. Take time to listen and understand the needs of these cross-functional teams as they relate to your product. Finally, there’s no such thing as a “stupid” question. One thing you will come to understand is that most people have the same questions but are too shy to ask. Something that may be common knowledge to you may not be common to others. Take the initiative to ask questions and show your leadership characteristics.
Your managers are there to guide your talent, so dedicate some time to learning from them through one-on-one sessions and stretch assignments.”
How have PerkSpot’s learning and development programs or opportunities helped you to advance your career? And what role has your manager played in supporting your career growth?
During my graduate program, I had the opportunity to become a product manager intern at PerkSpot, which provided me with valuable experience and triggered my desire to become an associate product manager. Good leaders are crucial to the success of rising talent within any organization, and my managers were invaluable guides throughout the nuances of product management.
From writing my first Jira story all the way to managing multiple products, they each helped grow my overall skill set in diverse, individual ways. I was able to polish my presentation skills, navigate difficult conversations and analyze data to drive product features through the guidance and leadership of the managers I worked with. With all these opportunities and different learning experiences, I was promoted to product manager and I continue to strive for new heights, including becoming a senior product manager.
What’s one piece of advice you would offer to a product manager that’s looking to take the next step in their career?
As in any field, it is important to take a step back from daily operations and look at the bigger picture. To advance within the product management world you have to develop a strategic approach and focus on emerging innovations that may impact the product roadmap.
CoinFlip operates cryptocurrency ATMs in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. In 2022, the company was named to both the Inc. 5000 and the Deloitte 2022 Technology Fast 500.
Looking back on your career thus far, what were the most important lessons you learned or professional experiences you had?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there truly are no limits to your capabilities if you don’t impose them yourself. We often think we can’t do something or we’re not smart enough or not developed enough in our career to have an impact. I’m here to tell you that those types of thoughts are self-imposed, and once you let go of them and gain confidence in yourself you really can put your mind to anything you want.
How have CoinFlip’s learning and development programs or opportunities helped you to advance your career? And what role has your manager played in supporting your career growth?
I owe so much of my learning and development to my team. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and I’m grateful to get to work with a team who is constantly uplifting, motivating and supportive. Everyone is always open to any and all ideas, which really makes for a great work environment. I believe when you’re happy at work, the advancements in your career are a mere side effect. You want to truly do better and be better because you have the tools and people needed to grow.
My manager has been a great support in really believing and trusting me to make decisions and giving me the autonomy to run the plays I see fit and is there to see them through no matter the result.
Never be afraid to ask questions or to get involved with departments and roles that are not specific to your own.”
What’s one piece of advice you would offer to a product manager that’s looking to take the next step in their career?
Never be afraid to ask questions or to get involved with departments and roles that are not specific to your own. The answer is always “no” if you never ask, so you might as well put yourself out there to ultimately see that the opportunities truly are endless in this world, and especially in your career. You may have ideas and insight others hadn’t previously thought of, and it’s always beneficial to get a fresh pair of eyes on anything!
