My unconventional journey: From Marketing to Product Management

Hey there, friend! Let me take you on a trip down memory lane, back to the days when I was just a high schooler trying to figure out what on earth I wanted to do with my life. It all started with a burning question: why do people make the choices they do? That question led me straight into the intriguing world of human psychology and, eventually, into the exciting realm of marketing.

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The dreamer.

Back in high school, I wasn't content with just hitting the books. No, I wanted to get my hands dirty. So, I dabbled in graphic design, video editing, and web design – all the cool stuff that, little did I know, would be my golden ticket into the marketing world. Fast forward to college, and guess what? Those side projects paid off big time. I was juggling marketing gigs left and right while still trying to ace my exams. Learning by doing, they call it, and it truly is the best teacher.

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Dreams are worth chasing, and the path may not be straightforward, but every twist and turn is part of your unique story

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The doer.

But here's the plot twist. Somewhere in the middle of all that marketing hustle, I found myself not just satisfied with selling products – I wanted to have a say in how they were made. Turns out, I was thinking like a product manager without even realizing it. Funny how life works, right?

And then came the tech bug. I was always curious about how things worked, especially in the tech world. A savvy startup founder saw potential in me that I hadn't even glimpsed. "Transition into product management," he said. I nodded like I knew what he was talking about, but truth be told, I had to Google it later.

After a deep dive into the mysterious world of product management, a lightbulb moment happened. This wasn't just a job change; it was a calling. So, armed with newfound knowledge from online courses and countless YouTube videos, I was ready for the next adventure.

My first gig in the tech space was a bit of a mixed bag – project management with a hint of product ownership. It wasn't exactly what I envisioned, but it turned out to be the stepping stone I needed. Challenges were aplenty, but each stumble taught me something new. Failure was my sidekick, guiding me through the wild terrain of the tech world.

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The strategist.

Then came the big leagues – a leading job board enterprise. Complex systems, stakeholders everywhere, and a whole new set of challenges. It was like leveling up in a video game. The failures of the past became my secret weapons, especially in the art of user-centric thinking and UX/UI wizardry.

And here I am now, in a more senior role, steering products from scratch to launch. It's less about the nitty-gritty tactics and more about the big-picture strategy. The journey hasn't been easy, but it's been one heck of a ride.

So, why am I sharing all this with you? Because if my unconventional journey from a curious high schooler to a senior product manager teaches you anything, let it be this: dreams are worth chasing, and the path may not be straightforward, but every twist and turn is part of your unique story. Stay tuned for more tales from the trenches of product management – the adventure is only just beginning!