How Hagar Sened got into Product Management

Hagar Sened

Product Manager

First product job

🐣 Transitioned to PM in the same company in 2018

Before becoming a PM

💼 Customer Success Manager

💻 5 years of exp. in tech companies

🎓 Economics

The Story

How did you land your first job as a product manager?

I joined company right when it became a SAAS product and was very close to the product in the different customer facing roles that I had. First, as the first support agent for the company, given that it was a small company back then, I got a front row seat to the product. I was taught by the senior developer and the senior product manager how exactly the product worked and why. It was at their interest to teach me so I would need them all the time.

Then, I moved to a customer success manager position, in the same company. It was a switch from resolving technical issues to creating solutions through work arounds and really understanding their needs. That is when I really got familiar with the market I was working for and the personas that worked in that marked. It also helped that I had close friends in the sales department to give me the sales team perspective that is very important when you build a product that you intend to sell. And, since I was there from the start I also had a close relationship with the CEO that taught me a lot about the business and was an incredible salesman himself.

He was the one that finally gave me the opportunity to move to the product department. It was either that or moving to a management position in the customer success department, but I felt I could benefit the company as a product manager and I was excited for the challenge.

The challenge

What was the biggest challenge in your first year as a PM?

Switching focus.

Since I worked for the company for a very long time, I was used to answering every one’s questions about anything. It was obviously a great feeling to be the one everyone came to, knowing that I will be able to help. But my manager at the time said that the company needs to mature and that if things stayed the same, I will be holding the product team back and I will never master the domain I now owned as a PM.

I let go and started to minding my own business and the providing my feedback and suggestions to my colleagues only when asked.

It wasn’t a quick process, but in the end it allowed me to make my mark on my domain and gain credibility and trust from both my teammates and the rest of the company.

Connect with Hagar Sened on Linkedin

How Hagar Sened Got Into Product Management

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