It’s a Sunday morning at 8:30am and I’m here journaling my current status because the incredible rain storm in California has woken me up. My anxiety about our world has heightened my feelings about how we are living through our current times. What the hell are you philosophizing about now, woman?
Several people I personally know have been laid off during this tech cycle. My company has an impending acquisition that has injected a lot of uncertainty that is affecting the moral of the staff. This is all causing many of us to look at external environment, business, and future “things” that bring us down. We forget to focus on ourselves. What are you doing for your career irrespective of what’s happening around you?
I recently pivoted to a Product Management gig and I began to reflect on the different skill sets I’ve had to use in contrast to past roles. This is what growth looks and feels like for me.
I jokingly tell colleague’s that I’m currently in the washing machine of career cycles. For the fourth time in less than a year, I transitioned to another role in November 2022 and became the next VMware Cloud on AWS Product Line Manager. It was a completely unexpected move and I’m not joking. I was not looking for it and I was not planning on it. I’m still figuring out what functions Product Marketing and Product Management do! This is what I call learning on the job. What am I doing and why did I chose it?
First why – well, it’s a cool title on put on a resume, no? I don’t actually know because I never paid attention to what a Product Manager is and why it’s cool. I’m totally serious. I know zip about Product Management. Instead, I felt, in this opportunity, I could possibly make a greater impact for our customers and the business. When I turned this opportunity over in my head, I also decided to reject the idea that I would conform to what the industry and company expected of a Product Manager. What? You can’t do that! You have to learn the ropes of what product management is and follow the path that others have walked. Why? That takes time and I don’t have that luxury. In fact, I’m experimenting with this role this year first. I believe my current position is a unique intersection of where VMware’s past software and cloud journey connect. It’s where our past IT virtualization world meets the current modern cloud world. This is new ground. We have a chance to define what VMware’s customers experience will be going forward. During this year, I will do whatever it takes to get the job done. So let’s talk about the job.
What are you working on? My first responsibility is to bring Cloud Flex Compute to market. In our current business atmosphere where tech business is reeling from the overall economy dialing down due to FED rate hikes, the war in Ukraine, the ensuing energy crisis, the unwinding of COVID and whatnot, a VMware Cloud product with a lower starting point is dearly needed for our clients and for VMware. VMware has been working on this product for the greater of two years. Many people don’t know this. Internally, we’ve been very divided on what this product could be and what it should be. I sarcastically call this product the fly looking for a windshield. If we are not careful, the product may end up just like the punchline to the joke “What is the last thing that goes through a fly’s head right before they hit the windshield?” Their ass.
It still might.
High risk? Yes, m’aam.
High effort? Check.
Let me be clear – I saw what needed to be done and I understood it was going to require an insane lift. I’m not convinced anyone knew what that lift looked like and what exact skillset would be needed. So let me outline what it has and is currently requiring of me so y’all know what I’m having to handle.
First, business sense and I mean, do you know how to make money? I’ve been in business and investing for more than 15 years. This is to say that I’ve faced some ugly realities of life and lived through them enough to know that making money is not simple. However, nothing can happen and nothing should happen until you know how you will pay your bills. Money in = money out + profit. (Or I like to say Cu$tomer = Expenses + my paycheck) Folks, be an adult and balance your checkbook.
Second, vision. Can you paint how the product will enhance, improve, and serve your customer’s life? Can you swim in what you imagine for them? Do you know what they are fighting day to day? Do you know what their knife fights look like? Do you feel their pain? Do you know what they anguish over? I was once that admin. I’ve done big companies and small companies. You gotta be like an artist. Like Michelangelo, you must paint the world you are trying to breathe life into.
Third, communication skills. This is SO important in tech. In the 10 weeks on the job, I have learned to absolutely adore the engineers I work with. They are so passionate, clever, and dedicated. But they chose their field of expertise and it did not emphasize sales, marketing, speaking and communication skills. I do not fault them for this. We all make choices in life. Some are intentional and others are not. We cannot be all things to all people. It’s also the reason we have the roles and jobs that we all have. In addition, product management is a role that must influence other people without direct authority. Collaboration and debate are required. You must do it with empathy and an open mind. How do you show that? Communication. Oh and by the way, communication includes listening skills.
Third, humility. I have to ask for help early and often. One of my greatest fears is letting go of the technical aspect of my historical career and product management requires that I leave the technical granularity to the very clever engineers. Being technical has been my security blanket for a long time. It’s my fallback plan. It’s what gave me the opportunities that I’ve had the fortune to take advantage of. But now, I must acknowledge and concede the technical superiority to others. I must place my trust in the engineers around me and trust that they will take care of me. I also eat dirt when it comes to using Confluence and Jira to an embarrassing degree.
Fourth, the psychological fortitude to take the potshots aimed at you. Admittedly, I needed my years of experience and maturity because I could not have taken this any earlier in my career. I believe this is different for others. I’ve been insulted in public forums/calls and mansplained to more than once. And no, I have no energy to call people out on it. It’s not my problem. It’s theirs. It’s a mark of their character, not mine. Don’t pick up other people’s garbage.
Fifth, how to be operationally efficient and point that out. When you see a gap in between lunch and dinner, what do you fill it with? Junk food! Ok, bad analogy. What I’m trying to say is you have to question why things are the way they are with the intent to improve. It’s not criticism. It’s revisiting processes and asking whether it now serves the outcome you desire. Every year, our world improves. Think ChatGPT. I’m always looking for ways to speed things up and save money to meet the first requirement – make money.
Sixth, influence others. I always try to understand what pressures other parties are working under and see if I can line up my objectives with theirs. Sometimes, I find commonality and sometimes I don’t. Then I need to find another type of currency to work with. I personally don’t like to default to going to someone’s boss and having their boss tell them what to do. That breeds resentment unless people straight up tell me to do that because their boss needs to hear it from me. I am not always successful but it won’t be for lack of trying and asking. I’m still learning how to influence others in a genuine fashion.
Seventh, no fear of the legal aspects of the job. One of the aspects of our lives (especially here in the US) is the legal liability of being in business. It is rightly feared if you do not do your due diligence. I have spent untold hours for many years on contracts both in the tech industry and out. The willingness to tackle the legal aspects of the job can be called the CYA of your product.
Eighth, keep the main thing the main thing(customers). I am bringing a product to market not just for VMware but, more importantly, for the smaller clients to have the chance to use VMware Cloud and alleviate their need for a cloud solution that fits them. And by the way, this is my very favorite part. I want to talk to you. I want to hear from you. I want to know what you need to work so the product serves your purposes. I don’t want your wish list. I want your base requirements. Only then can I use all the skills above to bring you the product that serves you.
I think many of you who are much more knowledgeable about Product Management find several of these aspects resonant. I chose to figure it out myself for myself because I did not want to learn things that would not be applicable. Sometimes, you can’t RTFM and you just have to get your hands dirty.
To end, there are a few things I feel are key to exercising the above skills.
#1 Trust
I believe all relationships are built on trust. Trust is built in all the small moments we have with each other. So I do what I say I will do in all the small moments to earn the opportunity to perform in the big moments. All of the above skills don’t get you very far if people don’t trust you.
#2 No Fear
Not every role will require this. Not every product management job will need this. Not every person can or should do this. Caveats out of the way – I will judiciously choose to “Go Rogue” if I find I’m stonewalled, boxed, or stopped in some way. I’m not afraid to try a new strategy. I’m not afraid to do something that others haven’t done or don’t know how to do. I’m not afraid to do the same thing and walk into a wall where I thought a door was. I’m not afraid to bitch about bad practices. I’m not afraid to go upstairs to tell them to fix things which takes me to ….
#3 Executive support
Yes, this is a luxury. I did not always have this luxury in past roles. I have worked to earn this support because I’ve aligned my goals to the company. My management knows and understand I want the company’s success. It’s not career moves. It’s not brown nosing. I don’t want my bosses job and they have all known this. My success benefits my entire company, not just my chain of command. I’ve learned sponsorship is not about what they can do for you but what you can accomplish with their support.
All of this is to serve. To have the greatest positive impact in my industry and business environment. I hope to do right by our customers and in doing so, VMware.
And so now I am on to my 9th title at one company.