Career Path of a Senior Product Owner at Pacific Gas and Electric

When I went back to college, I was at UCLA, studying sociology and psychology. I had always been interested in tech, but I wasn't very focused on it in college. I didn't have a long-term plan.

During college, I worked seasonally with friends at Abercrombie & Fitch. It wasn't something I was passionate about, but there were some fun people I hung out with, which is how I got involved. This ended up being my first real career job.

There was a time when I wasn't working and felt like I was just getting by. My parents were paying for school, so I didn't have loans, but I questioned why I was only doing school when my friends, who had fewer opportunities, were also working and studying.

So, I got a job through a friend at the UCLA athletics office, doing facility maintenance. I had no idea what I was doing; they just needed someone. They'd ask what I knew how to do, and it would be something like fixing a light on the roof of the basketball arena.

I had no experience in either of these jobs, but I always showed up with a good attitude and a willingness to do anything asked. I wouldn't complain, make excuses, or call out sick because I was tired. I'd just go. These jobs were mainly for spending money, but they taught me that you always have to start somewhere.

We all have dreams and aspirations, but it's important to push past the initial fear. When I was in college, YouTube and Facebook were just taking off. Facebook was exclusive to college students. Tech was really exciting, and I wished I had started a YouTube channel, but I doubted myself, thinking I didn't know how to code or didn't have anything interesting to talk about.

I always regretted not trying things when I had the chance. If I could tell my younger self anything about careers, it would be to overcome the feeling of not knowing anything or anyone, and the voice in your head saying you can't do it. Everyone starts there. As you meet people and get further into something, you realize everyone felt the same way. If you don't push past that initial doubt, you'll never reach your dreams.

After finishing my sociology degree, I didn't know what I wanted to do. It felt like I was randomly picking a job, and I believed I couldn't get a career in a field if I didn't major in it, which I now know isn't true. Connections are key, not just the ones you have, but the ones you can make by being friendly, joining clubs, or doing internships. Building a network is the most important thing for getting a job, unless you're in a highly technical field like surgery.

When I finished school, many friends were either working or going to grad school. I didn't want to go to grad school without knowing what I wanted to do, as it's a lot of money, time, and effort. I went back home to New York. I worked odd jobs, including at a gym.

About a year after graduating, my parents were tired of me not having a clear direction, so I moved back to California, this time to the Bay Area, looking for a change. I started looking for any job. Abercrombie was hiring managers. I interviewed, and having had some experience there in college, I knew the culture. Looking back, the culture was wild, as seen in a Netflix documentary, but it was fun at the time.

Again, the principle was the same. I didn't tell them I wanted to be a manager; I just said I needed a job, that it would be fun, and that I'd show up with the best attitude and energy. I'd do whatever they asked without causing problems. It was fun, I met many people, made friendships, and even met my future wife there.

As I've always been interested in tech and learning new things, working at Abercrombie was enjoyable, but I could see my entire career path laid out. There was no mystery to it, and I realized it wasn't a long-term fit for me.

A high school friend who went to Stanford reached out about his startup company. They had developed a tech app related to trade shows. The idea was to be an application that handled scanning and sharing information for attendees at huge trade shows, like who they met, what they were interested in, and their budget.

It was a lot of work and very fast-paced. At a startup, you get your hands on everything – front end, back end, sales, marketing, customer service – and have input on the company's direction. I was young, around 24, and it involved a lot of late nights, travel, and meeting people, which was really fun.

However, I wasn't quite ready for the responsibility and difficulty. I got burnt out, and the company eventually didn't work out, though it was an awesome group of people.

After that startup, I met people and gained new skills like sales, talking to people, and understanding customer needs. Through a friend, I got another job at a startup selling vodka with LED labels that could be programmed via an app for parties and club events. I was in sales, which was tough, requiring in-person interactions to get people to stop, see the bottle, and buy it.

Almost every day I didn't want to go to that job. It was draining, but pushing through day after day led to significant growth over six months to a year. Sticking with something, even when you don't like it, is important. You can't just give in to those negative thoughts.

Through another family friend, I heard about an IT computer support job at PG&E. On paper, I didn't have experience, but I'd always been interested in computers and tech, so I knew a good amount. They interviewed me through a connection, but I faced questions about why they should hire me without experience.

My philosophy has always been that while you can hire someone with existing skills, those skills can be taught. The harder-to-teach traits, like people skills, energy, friendliness, and a willingness to do whatever is asked, are more valuable. Volunteering for extra opportunities to learn and gain experience is crucial.

At PG&E, a 40,000-person company, I met people from various departments, like finance and marketing, while fixing their laptops. I'd pick their brains about their work and ask about hiring opportunities. This allowed me to learn a lot about the company and make connections.

The most important commonalities in my journey have been energy and effort. Always show up with a smile. There were many times I didn't feel like being there or would have rather done something else, but I had committed to something. I realized nothing external prevents me from having a good attitude or being positive; it's all internal. Even if I can't give 100%, I'll strive for a seven.

Every interaction builds something, whether it's your own skills or your ability to connect with different people. A positive impression can lead to a job opportunity years later through a referral. There are no dead-end jobs or situations; it's about making the most of what's in front of you.

While working in computer support, I volunteered for a project that was more technical than my current abilities. I dedicated my free time to reading and watching videos to learn. The people I worked with on that project were on another team looking for someone for product management/ownership with technical knowledge. They took a chance on me. They said one of the main reasons they hired me was because of my work on that project, my good attitude, and positivity.

It's been a long and winding road, but I've finally arrived. The more you struggle and don't give up, the stronger you become, able to handle any situation.