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Josh, Program Manager at Meta: Advize Career Interview
A Meta Program Manager's journey, from Naval Flight Officer to a high-impact role in Advertiser Trust and Safety, offers a unique perspective on career transitions.
This unconventional path, marked by strong time management and communication skills, highlights the importance of transferable skills and adaptability.
The role itself is described as dynamic and impactful, offering significant autonomy, diverse projects across teams, and the chance to influence products used by billions daily.
Challenges include navigating ambiguity and influencing without direct authority, but the rewards include broad experience and the satisfaction of working on a massive scale.
Advice for aspiring professionals includes embracing personal ownership, developing strong communication skills, and learning to underreact.
A background in International Relations unexpectedly provided valuable teamwork and presentation skills, showcasing the unexpected transferability of seemingly disparate experiences.
The interview emphasizes the need for both hard and soft skills, self-motivation, and navigating the competitive tech landscape—a journey worth exploring for ambitious students.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Josh Dalva
Program Manager
Meta
Boston University, 2015
UCLA Anderson, MBA
International Relations & Affairs
Technology
Operations and Project Management
Greek Life Member, Veteran
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Career Path Of A Program Manager At Meta
Josh's career path is notably unconventional, transitioning from a Boston University International Relations degree funded by a Naval ROTC scholarship to a seven-and-a-half-year stint as a naval flight officer before joining Meta as a Program Manager in 2022; this illustrates a journey from military service to the tech industry, with "no internships" and a career that's "a bit of a non-traditional path."
Main Responsibilities Of A Program Manager At Meta
Josh, a Program Manager at Meta in Advertiser Trust and Safety, focuses on strategic initiatives, ensuring "commonality and strong processes" across various departments. This involves improving operational efficiency, leading annual planning sessions, and aligning the "lots of moving parts" within a large organization.
A Day In The Life Of A Program Manager At Meta
A Program Manager at Meta enjoys "choose your own destiny" autonomy in scheduling, balancing independent work with stakeholder meetings to ensure program delivery. The role prioritizes end-to-end ownership of objectives, requiring proactive management of time and communication to achieve goals.
Most Important Skills for a Program Manager at Meta
Josh, a Meta Program Manager, emphasizes "time management," setting an "effective schedule" and prioritizing tasks as crucial. Equally vital are strong communication skills, encompassing both team interaction and concise "executive communication" to distill information for leadership.
Favorite Parts of Being a Program Manager at Meta
Josh, a Program Manager at Meta, most enjoys the diverse range of projects and exposure to different company areas, describing the role as a "choose your own adventure" where interest and a strong business case allow for significant latitude in project selection, working across teams focused on areas such as product design, AI, and ad review. This variety allows Josh to "wear a lot of different hats" and gain broad experience.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Program Manager at Meta
Josh's biggest challenge as a Program Manager at Meta is "influencing without authority," a stark contrast to the direct leadership experience in the military. This requires navigating the ambiguous nature of tech work and skillfully gaining "buy-in from people around" to achieve project goals despite competing priorities.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Tech Industry As A Program Manager
Josh, a Program Manager at Meta, enjoys the impact of working on products used by billions daily, stating that it's "cool to be able to have influence on scale." This allows Josh to influence products like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, which are "important in somebody's life."
What Type of Person Thrives in the Technology Industry, According to a Program Manager at Meta
Success in the tech industry requires a "strong degree of personal ownership and personal integrity," coupled with intrinsic motivation and collaboration; individuals who are self-starters and care deeply about their work, while also valuing teamwork, are most likely to thrive in this fast-paced environment where "if you get caught behind, you're gonna get left behind."
What a Program Manager at Meta Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Technology Industry
Josh, a Program Manager at Meta, found the significant ambiguity inherent in the role unexpectedly challenging, contrasting sharply with the clear structure of their military background. This "choose your own adventure" aspect requires navigating "what's important work" versus "throwaway work," demanding a level of independent decision-making and ownership that was more extensive than initially anticipated.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Program Managers At Meta
Entry-level tech roles for undergraduates include software engineering, marketing, and product design, requiring "hard skills" and relevant project experience. Josh, a Meta Program Manager, also notes less common entry points like business or systems analyst roles, emphasizing the need for "thought skills" combined with data science knowledge and strong interviewing skills to navigate the competitive landscape.
Significant Career Lesson From A Program Manager At Meta
Josh, a Meta Program Manager, credits the advice "never miss an opportunity to underreact" as a significant career lesson, learned during his time as a military officer. This approach, emphasizing rational thought over impulsive action, has allowed for better decision-making and fostered a positive influence on colleagues by setting "a good stage and good tone for the group."
College Experiences That Helped A Program Manager At Meta Succeed
Josh, a Program Manager at Meta with an International Relations background, credits the "group papers, group projects, and presentations" required by the major for developing crucial public speaking and teamwork skills. This experience proved invaluable in the tech industry, where Josh notes many possess strong technical skills but lack the confidence to "get up and make their case," a deficit Josh did not face due to their undergraduate training.
How Identity Has Influenced a Program Manager at Meta's Career
Josh's military background presented a "really drastic career pivot" into the tech industry, requiring Josh to combat imposter syndrome. Josh leverages the transferable skills and "confidence to learn quickly and deliver impact" gained during eight years of military service to navigate this transition and succeed in a less-than-two-year tech career.
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