Jon, Sr Product Manager at Fortune 100 Entertainment Company: Advize Career Interview
A senior product manager at a Fortune 100 entertainment company shares a unique career journey, starting with a non-traditional path combining web development and social media skills.
This led to roles at Disney and TripAdvisor, culminating in a senior position at Warner Brothers Discovery, where the focus is leveraging analytics and A/B testing to drive Discovery+ subscriber acquisition.
A day involves meetings, writing requirements, and managing communications. Success requires strong persuasion, stakeholder management, analytical and creative skills, and the ability to navigate large organizational structures.
The most rewarding aspects are working on personally fulfilling projects and contributing to escapist entertainment.
Aspiring product managers should develop strong interpersonal skills, master storytelling, and be willing to ask questions, embrace patience, and consider entry-level roles like associate product manager or product coordinator.
The key takeaway is finding passion and advocating for one's beliefs.
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Jon Moze
Sr Product Manager
Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Ucla Anderson, MBA
Business Management & Admin
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
Jon's career path was non-traditional, involving a "unique career path" with a break for "soul searching" followed by combining web development and social media skills at a local hospital. This led to roles at Disney, where they transitioned from operations and publishing to product management, a field they "immediately knew" was a good fit, before moving to TripAdvisor and ultimately a senior product management position at Warner Brothers Discovery.
Main Responsibilities of a Senior Product Manager at Warner Brothers Discovery
Jon, a Senior Product Manager at Warner Brothers Discovery, focuses on Discovery+ subscriber acquisition by leveraging "analytics" and "experimentation"—specifically A/B testing—to inform strategic decisions and drive growth. This involves securing cross-functional buy-in and translating strategic thinking into detailed requirements and specifications for implementation.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Product Manager At A Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
A senior product manager's day is a blend of meetings, primarily with east coast and European teams, and focused work on "writing requirements, managing tickets," and ensuring clear specifications for product development. This involves a substantial amount of communication, as Jon notes, ending the day with "ketchup on emails" and addressing Slack messages.
Most Important Skills for a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
For a senior product manager at a Fortune 100 entertainment company, persuasion and stakeholder management are crucial, selling "your ideas and strategy," alongside creative and analytical skills—including data analysis to "back up your decisions"—are key. The evolution of the role highlights a growing need for analytical skills beyond the traditionally important creative and tactical abilities.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
Jon, a Senior Product Manager, most enjoys working on projects aligning with personal passions, stating, "I like being able to work on things that I am passionate about and find purpose." This allows Jon to creatively solve customer problems within the company, a key driver of their job satisfaction.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Product Manager At A Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
Jon's biggest challenge as a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 entertainment company is navigating the "silos" inherent in large organizations; the need to understand different "verticals" is crucial for effectiveness in their role.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Entertainment Industry as a Senior Product Manager
Jon, a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 Entertainment company, finds the most rewarding aspect of the industry is "the convergence with tech," enabling the creation of escapist entertainment through streaming products. This allows the company to provide viewers with relief from daily life, offering "escapes to people no matter what they're going through."
What Type of Person Thrives in the Entertainment and Tech Industry, According to a Senior Product Manager at an Entertainment Company
To thrive in the entertainment and tech industries, a senior product manager needs strong interpersonal skills—being "good at making friends"—to garner buy-in for ideas. Success also hinges on masterful storytelling to effectively communicate and champion those ideas.
What a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 Entertainment Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Entertainment Industry
A senior product manager at a Fortune 100 entertainment company advises aspiring professionals to "put your ego aside and be willing to ask questions," even if they seem "dumb." The manager also emphasizes the need for both rapid execution and patience, acknowledging that "in a large company...it might just take a little bit longer to have your voice heard."
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Managers
For undergraduate students interested in product management, Jon, a Senior Product Manager at a Fortune 100 Entertainment Company, suggests entry-level roles such as "associate product manager or a product coordinator," which offer valuable experience assisting program managers and serve as a "great foot in the door."
Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Product Manager At a Fortune 100 Entertainment Company
A significant career lesson learned is to "find the areas that you're passionate about and drive to work towards those areas," because professional success also requires finding one's voice and advocating for their beliefs.
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