Episode 1: From College to Uber APM
In this (first) episode of Paths to Product, I interviewed Andy Zhang and learned how he went from studying Software Engineering in college to becoming a Product Manager at Uber through their rotational PM program.
Listen to Andy’s episode on anchor.fm here.
Background
Andy studied Software Engineering at the University of Waterloo and completed 6 internships in a variety of roles in tech, including software development, product design, and product management.
Upon graduating from college, Andy joined Uber through their Associate Product Manager (APM) program.
In his three, six-month rotations, Andy worked on the Uber Movement, Marketplace and Driver Pricing, and Uber for Business teams. As part of the APM program, Andy also got to experience an international trip with his APM cohort. They went to Los Angeles, Mexico City, Amsterdam, and Cairo to learn how the different cities move and get their food, and what the local challenges are.
Top Three Takeaways
1. Build Things
Andy believes that building things is the best way to learn. Reading isn’t enough, you need to get your hands dirty and build things. Regardless of your background, work with others to apply product management skills like ideation and design to creating your own projects.
2. Practice Storytelling
Telling good stories is an integral part of the Product Manager role. PMs have to get a variety of stakeholders on board with the decisions they make. Learn how to pull your audiences into the story and really convince them of your belief.
3. Write More
From specs to emails, Product Managers do a lot of writing, so it’s important to learn how to understand your audience and communicate effectively. This means writing in a way that is thorough and comprehensive, yet not convoluted.
