My Journey to Product Management (explained via Mean Girls)
Stop trying to make “design thinking” happen. It’s not going to happen.
A month ago, I left the world of management consulting at a global consultancy to embark into product management at TWG, a digital studio headquartered in Toronto. I definitely took the scenic route, but after months of coffee chats, industry events, books and blogs, and interview prep, I’m excited to finally operate in the world of product and tech!
Something I found valuable during my exploration phase was learning why and how product people entered the field. What better way to pay it forward than by sharing my own story — through Mean Girls references?! 😻💁🏻
Why Product?
TLDR: cool work, tough problems, brilliant people, real impact
I first encountered product when my good friend and ex-colleague left to join a startup as an Associate Product Manager (APM). In management consulting lingo, “PM” refers to project management — so I was curious about how it differed from product management (this is how). It didn’t take long to realize that I was speaking another language.
I quickly got sold on the idea of solving real problems through purposeful technology with brilliant people. Ever since university, I craved a career that would fully leverage my creativity, business acumen, and interest in technology to make a real impact. I yearned to be constantly challenged in a fast-paced, innovative environment that exposed me to all types of industries, people, and problems.
So of course… I became a management consultant.
Then why did you leave consulting?
(Technically I’m still in a consulting role, but as a product manager.)
I knew it was time for a change when I grew dissatisfied with my day-to-day routine and couldn’t see a fulfilling future with the firm. Although the outcomes of my engagements were worth celebrating, the processes were often frustrating, inefficient, and erroneous. There were aspects of staffing, selling, and managing people and projects that I wanted to change, but could not due to a variety of reasons (saving those for another day).
On a cultural level, I discovered that large corporations just aren’t a good fit for me. I wanted to have a close-knit community at work instead of walking into a sea of new faces every month. I yearned to collaborate with bright designers, developers, and product managers who could motivate me to learn and grow. I dreamt of a world where skills, interests, and projects could align. And I wanted my own desk, dammit!
On a personal level, I was no longer interested in travel projects, the prestige of consulting, and solving “rich corporation problems”. I wanted to get my hands dirty in the world of startups, emerging technology, and impactful problems. I wanted to be the cool tech hipster at parties. For those reasons, I bid farewell to complex IT implementations, Microsoft Office, and the constant war between charge-ability and job satisfaction.
How did you decide where to apply to?
After consulting many PMs, their general advice was to find an organization that could benefit from my expertise in their industry in exchange for taking a chance on me as a PM. Coming from a variety of projects in consulting, I didn’t qualify as a subject matter expert in anything specific. However, I had built transferable soft skills like people management, communication, and adaptability that would be valuable in a client-facing environment. Plus, I couldn’t commit to a sole sector during my exploration phase, which confirmed that I still wanted to work across industries and opportunities.
I decided to play to my strengths and focus on the best product agencies in Toronto. I chatted with interesting people to get their thoughts on the culture, work, and compensation at their workplaces. Eventually I was introduced to the Toronto Associate Product Management program started by TWG, and I just knew I would be a great fit. After doing extensive due diligence (thanks business school), I took the plunge and have had NO RAGRATS ever since. #wrongmovie
When are you going to move to SF?
I have no plans to migrate south — I love Toronto. Not only is our tech market booming (we beat the Bay), our quality of life (and people) are way better up here. Plus, Toronto is gaining traction on the international stage as proven by the surge in venture capital and global interest. I’m going long on Toronto, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next decade.
Any final advice to aspiring PMs?
Listen to this underrated nugget of truth from Kevin Gnapoor, and just go for it. I kept delaying my first job application because I thought I wasn’t ready for interviews, but honestly you will never be 100% prepared. A key trait of product managers is resourcefulness, so flex that muscle in your job search and learn fast by aiming high and prioritizing your efforts. Become a “minimal viable product manager” and keep iterating until you find your own product-market fit. Good luck!
Like what you read? I’d love it if you left a comment or gave me a clap :)
Happy to connect and continue the conversation.
