A Day In The Life of a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Adobe
A day for a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Adobe involves analyzing product performance data, collaborating with engineering and product teams in daily stand-ups ("a quick conversation of what are you working on this week? What are you blocked on?"), and tackling various challenges through problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration. This role offers a broad perspective, with interactions ranging from engineers to executive-level management, providing a "great altitude and a great viewpoint of a portfolio of products."
Data Analysis, Problem-Solving, Communication, Cross-functional Teamwork, Executive Presentation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Khademi
Senior Product Marketing Manager
Adobe
University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business, 2013
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Marketing
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
None Applicable, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The day-to-day tasks of a Product Marketing Manager (PMM) involve analyzing product performance data, attending stand-up meetings to coordinate with product and engineering teams, and addressing various challenges throughout the week.
2. PMMs work cross-functionally with various teams and stakeholders, including executive management, presenting proposals and strategies related to product improvement and market expansion.
3. A career as a PMM provides a broad perspective on the business, working with different levels of management, from general managers to VPs, and offers opportunities for problem-solving and strategic thinking.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a PMM, or product marketing manager, look like?
A typical day for a Product Marketing Manager (PMM) can vary. You'll likely start by checking data analytics to see how the product is performing. This includes understanding customer usage, performance in different countries, and the overall health of the business and product.
If you focus on inbound, you'll probably spend time in daily stand-up meetings, especially early in the week. These are short meetings, often held standing up in a team setting, where you discuss what you're working on, any roadblocks, and how you can help each other.
These stand-ups are crucial for aligning with the product and engineering teams. You'll get updates on what's happening, what the engineering team is working on, and identify any major hurdles or tasks for the week.
PMMs are essentially professional problem solvers. A good product marketer has a variety of tools and knows which ones to use in different situations. The week often starts with addressing multiple challenges, analyzing data, collaborating with engineering, and working with business counterparts.
There are also frequent meetings and challenges to navigate throughout the week. At companies like Adobe, executive-driven meetings occur every two to three weeks. These require preparation, presentations, analysis, or strategy proposals.
Throughout the week, you might have smaller meetings to discuss proposals. These could be about expanding into new markets, suggesting product features, adjusting the roadmap, or focusing on research.
Research is vital for product marketing managers to identify what you don't know about your customers or product that isn't evident in the daily data. If you're seeking a job that's constantly changing, exciting, and challenging, product marketing management is definitely a good fit.