Hi! I’m Lucy and I am working as an Associate Product Manager (APM) at Atlassian. Only starting two months ago, I already have ownership over multiple projects, bonded and collaborated with my colleagues, and contributed to team goal setting. However, if you had asked me just a few months ago what I thought I would be doing right now, it could not be more different.
Where I started
This is me, October 2022:
About to complete a four-year Bachelor of Music Education, I was being assessed by my supervisor to get my teaching qualification.
During my four years of university, I was mainly working as a lifeguard to earn some money and stay fit along the way. Day-to-day, this wasn’t the most exciting job in the world, but within a few seconds, it could go from calm to chaos.
Questioning the path ahead
Throughout my life, I have always been someone who loves challenges and change while identifying exciting problems to solve. Even when following my creative passion for music, I would think about my craft from a problem-solving perspective. I started university doing a Bachelor of Performance. It was fun and I met a lot of exciting people, but I couldn’t stop asking myself the five ‘w’ questions.
Who wants to listen to my music?
What are the opportunities in this space?
When are the hours I am putting into practicing going to pay off?
Where is the data showing that classical music is still relevant in Australia?
Why am I doing this?
I saw more value in music in the education system, which is why I made the switch to music education. Making this change was extremely fulfilling, as I could see my efforts making a real impact in my students’ lives. However, I felt teaching in NSW schools at this current time wasn’t right for me (particularly in the wake of teacher strikes and shortages).
I was introduced to Atlassian by my brother, who’s completing a Bachelor of Computer Science at UNSW. Through him and my broader network of friends, I heard about product management and the APM program. Product management sounded like an awesome next step for me. It looked like a place where I could take advantage of the skills I already had and learn new ones along the way.
Applying for the job
The APM program opportunity was extremely exciting, but how would someone with a background in music education ever get hired at a tech company? This is where I feel like a lot of people (including myself) get stuck and disheartened. It is extremely easy to think “I know they’ll never hire me, so there is no point even trying.” However, if you take a step back and look at that statement, it is entirely false.
- Maybe they will hire you! You don’t know yet.
- There is a point in trying. You can’t finish the race if you never start.
I knew I could be a great product manager, but how could I prove that with no concrete experience? To do this, I needed to change how I viewed university. University does not need to be vocational. It is a place of higher learning and skill acquisition. With this change in perspective, I could draw on my experience as a student, musician, teacher, and lifeguard to demonstrate the relevant skills required for the APM program (even if they were a little unconventional). I could turn student assessment data into meaningful insights about their learning. In an emergency situation as a lifeguard, I could drive decisions and work as a team in the face of ambiguity and change. A lot of life’s experiences can be relevant work experiences if you think a little creatively.
Where I am now
That’s how I ended up at Atlassian. I have only been here four short months, but I am loving every minute of it. While there is a steep learning curve, the APM program and my colleagues have made the journey rewarding and fun.
Coming from an unusual background has been an asset so far. Since I don’t have a lot of tech-specific background knowledge, I can’t make assumptions about anything. As a teacher, I know the students who are constantly questioning are the ones who learn the best. As a result, I am constantly asking why, questioning the status quo, and trying to get to the root of the problem or context. Understanding our customers and finding the right problem is Product Managing 101, and my teaching experience has put me in a great place to do so.
Atlassian is a global company. With that comes a diverse set of customers with a diverse set of needs and problems. This is where ‘craft changers’ with unique experiences and world perspectives can help form a team to solve the right problems for the right customers at the right time with the best solution.
Key takeaways
- Apply for the job! You never know what might happen.
- Any life experience can be relevant work experience. The Product Manager role requires diversity in skills — demonstrate this through your unique experiences.
- Being different is a strength. Couple this with passion, curiosity, and drive and you can do anything.
P.S. I still love music
Working at a tech company doesn’t mean I have left my musical roots behind. Yesterday, a bunch of grads and I had a lot of fun jamming in the Sydney office music room.
Are you an aspiring PM coming from an artistic background? I hope you found this article helpful. I would love to hear about your journey in the comments below.
Additionally, if you are someone who has successfully made the transition, in the comments below please share your story. Would love to make the comments a space of inspiration and guidance to benefit those looking to make the pivot.
