What a Senior Product Owner at Pacific Gas and Electric Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Technology Industry
Jake, a Senior Product Owner at Pacific Gas & Electric, advises that the technical knowledge requirements are less demanding than initially perceived; "you can and will gain it if you're asking the right questions," emphasizing the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving technological landscape where "two, three years later, it's a completely different product."
Technology, Rapid Technological Change, Problem-Solving, Adaptability, Continuous Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jake Carlisle
Senior Product Owner
Pacific Gas & Electric
UCLA
N/A
Anthropology, Sociology
Energy & Utilities
Cyber Security and IT
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. The technical requirements for a Senior Product Owner role are not as high as expected; on-the-job learning and additional effort are sufficient.
2. The field of product ownership involves rapid technological change, requiring adaptability and a willingness to continuously learn.
3. A career in product ownership is not suitable for those seeking a predictable daily schedule or mastery over a static skillset.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
Here's the cleaned transcript:
I think what I wish I would have known is that the upfront technical requirements of what you think you need aren't as lofty as maybe what you're expecting. Yes, you need to have technical knowledge, but you can and will gain it if you're asking the right questions. If you're willing to put in a little bit of extra work on the outside, you will gain it.
The big one for me, and again, it's a mindset thing, is the rapid state of things and how fast technology changes. It can overwhelm you, it can frustrate you, but it can also be exciting.
For example, maybe I get hired to support one product, and I'm trying to learn everything there is about it. Then, two or three years later, it's a completely different product, or there have been so many updates.
It's not a career for people who want a predictable day-to-day schedule and want to be able to have forever mastery over something. It's a very rapidly changing field. I think those are the two things that I wish I would have known.
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