#RealJob: Product Owner, The T-shaped Person in Tech

When graduating in 2009 with a degree in Informatics Engineering, Stevens Jethefer felt that becoming an engineer was not his cup of tea.

Now, Stevens is a Product Owner at Mekari, where he is in charge of managing software products to empower businesses and professionals. How did he find his calling as a Product Owner? This is his story.

Image Source: Photo by Product School on Unsplash

“After graduating, I don’t feel like working as an engineer. Well, I mean I could, but it wasn’t my passion.”

Stevens earned his undergraduate degree in Informatics Engineering from Bandung Institute of Technology. Even though he has a degree in Informatics, he found the thought of working as an engineer to be unappealing.

“At first, I was confused about what to do after graduating. I didn’t want to work as an engineer, I felt like it didn’t suit me,” Stevens explained during Tech it Forward event at his alma mater. When he graduated, it was more popular to work in the FMCG or Petroleum industry. Startup companies were rare at that time and the role of Product Owner hadn’t existed yet. He decided to work in a bank, joining a Management Trainee program, where he first learned about product management.

After working in the bank for 3 years, Stevens then decided to join a startup and learn more about product management as a Product Manager. He later decided to pursue a career in that role.

“I found out later that I really enjoy being a Product Owner/Product Manager. It’s my passion.” Now, he is a Senior Product Owner at Mekari, where he applies his expertise to develop the business strategies behind Mekari’s products.

The intersection of business, UX, and technology

Stevens explained that a Product Owner is responsible to find out which product is most valuable to the business, most useful for the users, and also most feasible with the current technology. That is why, in order to launch a single product, a Product Owner must be involved in activities ranging from doing customer research, UX design, product vision, marketing, project management, technology, to handling the business aspect. Due to the wide roles, a Product Owner needs to have various skills and knowledge.

Example of I-shaped person in tech industry.

Now, you need to be a T-shaped person to be more competitive

Stevens explained further about this, “Working in the tech industry, especially as a Product Owner, requires you to become more of a generalist. In the past, it was popular to become an I-shaped professional (an expert in one aspect or a single area). Now, you must become a T-shaped professional. Not only do you have expertise in one area, but also the ability and desire to collaborate across related disciplines.”

Stevens shared his career journey as Product Owner at his alma mater

The Key Takeaways

At the end of his talk, Steven shared the 3 key takeaways for aspiring product owners. “First, understand where you get your energy or passion from. Ask yourself what kind of things that keep making you energize or inspired. Secondly, changes keep happening and we need to stay relevant to the latest advancement or technology. Last but not least, prepare yourself for changes, embrace the hard problems that you face and keep innovating.”