Go from Software Engineer at Nike to Product Manager at Tech Startup
I’ve been been a Software Engineer at Nike for over 5 years and have been promoted every 2-2.5 years. I’ve launched 3 consumer experiences as a frontend dev and have experience on the backend tuning services. My current role gives me responsibilities to expand in technical product management - analyzing a system diagram to identify and prioritize development requirements, managing an engineering backlog, creating a wiki for our services and infrastructure, and communicating with other technical teams to align on dependencies. I’ve been having conversations with a friend about an opportunity to join a budding Web3 startup backed by a16z and a stellar leadership team. Roles include a frontend developer and product manager. Im leaning towards pursuing Product Manager since that aligns with my career ambitions. However, I’m concerned I’m at odds given my lack the business skills needed for a PM role (finance, marketing, strategy). I’m willing to put in the extra effort to make a PM happen through a startup but don’t know the odds I’m up against. My manager is great, company culture is comfortable, but my gut tells me it would be a miss to not join the startup with a promising future. Can anyone provide insight? #startup #softwareengineer #productmanager
Tc or gtfo
TC high enough to buy premium 🧻
Startup PM is going to be really different from your current role. Like, really different. Ie - your job will be to find PMF, build hacky MVPs, etc.
there is no “web3” startup with a promising future. a16z is playing a different game than you are. the only reason to do this is if you want to transition to PM and are willing to accept poor WLB. which is a fine reason
Startups are a mixed bag. Sounds like you have it good already? Not sure why you'd give that up.
You can learn the basics of product management in a week. It will takes months to be good at it though. If you want to be a PM, take this role.
lol
I think if you dun have business background or PM experience, might be tough to be PM in a startup. I think it’s easier to be PM in big company where most of time you are just doing things engineers don’t want to do …
Herding people around to receive buy-in across multiple organizations is a headache when teams have differing visions for growing the company. Product management at big companies tend to have ideas flow top-down and the role becomes more project/program focused. I want to be in a position to learn the ropes of creating a product that goes from concept to market.
I don’t know if you can “learn” in startup though. But sounds like you already made up your mind, just go for it.
Are you the guy who fucked up the shoe laces?