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Eileen, Product Marketing Manager at Walmart: Advize Career Interview
A career path marked by diverse experiences, from teaching English in Japan to business analytics and market management, led to a Product Marketing Manager position at Walmart's tech incubator.
This individual's journey highlights the value of continuous skill development and exploration.
The role blends internal customer research and external go-to-market strategies, demanding strong analytical, communication, and influencing abilities.
A typical day involves a mix of collaborative workshops, strategic planning, and relationship-building, all while navigating the challenges of establishing efficient processes within a new team.
The tech industry's focus on innovation and its inclusive culture are highlighted as significant rewards, underscoring the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and strong interpersonal skills.
Advice for aspiring professionals includes pursuing roles in consumer insights or management consulting, emphasizing the critical role of relationship management and the transferability of skills across various positions.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Eileen Wong
Product Marketing Manager
Walmart
Cornell
Columbia MBA
Hospitality Administration
Retail
Communication and Marketing
Immigrant
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Career Path of a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart
Eileen's career journey, beginning with a hospitality degree and early internships that revealed "I was not very good at the operations piece," evolved through diverse roles—teaching English in Japan, business analytics at a wine distributor, market management at Expedia, and revenue management at a boutique hotel—before culminating in their current Product Marketing Manager position at Walmart's tech incubator after business school and a stint at Adobe; this path reflects a continuous exploration and refinement of their skills and interests.
Main Responsibilities of a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart
Eileen's product marketing role at Walmart involves a "two major responsibilities": internal work focusing on customer research and advocacy, including "customer interviews" and "consumer insights research" leveraging their Adobe consulting experience, and external go-to-market strategies encompassing customer acquisition and engagement. This blend of internal customer understanding and external campaign execution showcases a well-rounded skillset.
A Day In The Life Of A Product Marketing Manager At Walmart
A typical day for this Product Marketing Manager at Walmart involves a mix of "meetings and heads-down time," including facilitating collaborative workshops—"like, mapping all of their product roadmap to the customer journey"—and working on side projects such as relationship-building strategies within the company, all while incorporating necessary mental breaks. This highlights the blend of strategic planning, team collaboration, and continuous learning crucial to the role.
Most Important Skills For a Product Marketing Manager At Walmart
For a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart, the ability to "analyze trends and tell a story," synthesizing insights from various sources into a compelling narrative, is crucial. Equally important is strong communication and influencing skills to ensure cross-functional teams adopt product marketing recommendations, demonstrating success through team alignment and execution.
Favorite Parts of Being a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart
Eileen, a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart, most enjoys "talking to customers and thinking about how we can really help them," specifically focusing on understanding core customer needs, such as the "busy mom who's really overwhelmed," and translating those needs into effective product strategies for Walmart's product team.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Product Marketing Manager At Walmart
Eileen's biggest challenge as a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart is the lack of established processes within the new team, leading to inefficient cross-functional collaboration; the team is currently working on defining leadership roles and meeting structures to improve efficiency and avoid "wasted time and a lot of like spinning around."
Favorite Parts of Working in the Tech Industry as a Product Marketing Manager
Eileen, a Product Marketing Manager with experience at Adobe and Walmart's tech incubator, appreciates the tech industry's "constantly trying to be better" nature and its inspiring products focused on customer needs. The open and accepting culture, where Eileen feels comfortable "bring[ing] myself or be[ing] myself at work," is another key aspect of the industry that Eileen finds rewarding.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Industry, According To A Product Marketing Manager At Walmart
To thrive in the product marketing industry, individuals must embrace "constant change" and possess a strategic mindset. A collaborative spirit and strong teamwork skills are also highly valued, highlighting the importance of adaptability and collaboration in a dynamic environment.
What a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Tech Industry
Eileen, a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart, wished someone had emphasized the transferability of skills between roles, stating it's "not that hard to sometimes switch titles," and provided a clearer understanding of the dynamics within tech organizations, including "how should product managers work with PMMs, how should they work with designers?"
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Product Marketing Managers
Entry-level roles in product marketing are competitive, with many companies favoring MBAs; however, a good starting point is in "consumer insights" or entry-level marketing roles like "email marketing manager." Alternatively, management consulting provides "a really great place to start" because of the strategic perspective it develops.
Significant Career Lesson From A Product Marketing Manager At Walmart
A significant career lesson for Eileen, a Product Marketing Manager at Walmart, is that success hinges on "how well you manage relationships," emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and communication with bosses and peers. This includes mutual support and encouragement, creating an environment where "it's just impossible to thrive if you don't have good relationships."
College Experiences That Helped A Product Marketing Manager At Walmart Succeed
Reflecting on their undergraduate experience, the Product Marketing Manager at Walmart wishes they had pursued consulting or market research earlier, but recognizes the importance of relationship-building in their career trajectory. The individual's current role resulted from maintaining a positive relationship with their hiring manager, illustrating the value of "focus[ing] on relationship skills," a strategy that proved instrumental in securing a long-term professional opportunity.
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