What A Product Manager At ChargePoint Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Product Management Industry
Kevin, a Product Manager at ChargePoint, admits to initially experiencing "imposter syndrome," questioning if they possessed the necessary skills. The advice given is to proactively gain experience through personal projects employing "product management type approaches and thinking," emphasizing that securing a role isn't a prerequisite for building relevant experience.
Project Management, Career Development, Overcoming Challenges, Imposter Syndrome, Entrepreneurship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kevin Chung
Product Manager
ChargePoint
Cornell University 2011
UCLA MBA
Political Science, American Studies
Energy & Utilities, Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. It is possible to succeed in a PM role without having a traditional background (e.g., engineering).
2. Don't let imposter syndrome or negativity discourage you from pursuing a career in product management.
3. Gain practical experience through personal projects to build a strong portfolio and demonstrate your skills. You don't need formal employment to acquire this experience
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I hope many people listening to this video will gain great insight from my answer. Before I got into product management, I definitely experienced imposter syndrome.
I would ask myself if I had the skills needed for the role. You see many profiles where someone might be a former engineer, which allowed them to step into a technical PM role. Or you see people with skills you feel you lack.
Now that I'm in the role, I feel I've reassured my past self. I know I can succeed as a PM and shouldn't be distracted by naysayers or negativity.
This market is very hard to enter, and there are so many different pathways to a PM role. I would advise people listening to try their own entrepreneurial projects. Focus on projects that involve product management approaches and thinking.
Put those experiences in your background. You don't need to be hired in the role to gain that experience; you can create it for yourself. That's another piece of advice I want to share for those who are interested.