Episode 10: From Product Marketing to DocuSign PM
In this episode of Paths to Product, I interviewed Chandrika Maheshwari and learned how she went from being a Product Marketing Manager at Google to becoming a Product Manager at DocuSign.
Listen to Chandrika’s episode on anchor.fm here.
Background
Chandrika grew up in India and completed her undergraduate degree in Information Systems. Upon graduating, she worked as a Management Consultant at Bain & Company. She eventually moved to Google, where she worked as a Product Marketing Manager on YouTube Ads. Chandrika then moved to the United States for her MBA and during her time in business school she completed a summer internship in Product Management at Nike. After graduating, Chandrika joined DocuSign as a Product Manager, where she focuses on adoption and growth of DocuSign’s self-serve customers.
Top Three Takeaways
1. Talk to PMs
Chandrika talks about the importance of leveraging your network and reaching out to people to learn more about Product Management. Networking with PMs can help you learn more about the role and you can even use your network for referrals or to prepare for interviews. Even if a networking session doesn’t end in a job opportunity, the connection you built is invaluable and can help you sometime in the future.
2. Understand the Differences in PM Roles
The Product Manager role can vary greatly based on a range of factors including industry, product audience, and company size. Chandrika recommends connecting with Product Managers at the company you would like to work at, to understand how the PM role there may differ from the role at other companies. This will also help you better market yourself and your experiences for the position.
3. Breaking Into Your First PM Role is the Hardest
Breaking into Product Management is challenging because previous Product Management experience is almost always a perquisite. Chandrika points out that while getting that first PM job is hard, it definitely gets better when it comes to future PM roles. If you’re passionate about wanting to become a Product Manager, keep at it, and know that it gets easier.
