Episode 2: From MBA to Google PM
In this episode of Paths to Product, I interviewed Elena Chen and learned how she went from getting her MBA at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business to becoming a Product Manager at Google.
Listen to Elena’s episode on anchor.fm here.
Background
Elena completed her undergraduate degree in Hong Kong and majored in Economics and Finance. She spent five years working in Investment Banking before attending Stanford’s Graduate School of Business for her Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Elena went into her MBA program with the plan of transitioning into Product Management. She spent her MBA summer working at IDEO as a Business Designer and then at an e-commerce startup as a Product Manager.
Upon graduating, joined Google as a Product Manager through their MBA Product Manager track.
At Google, Elena works on Google Pay, where she is responsible for a loyalty program that was recently launched in the US.
Top Three Takeaways
1. Believe in Yourself
The transition to Product Management is hard and the process is competitive. Proposing creative solutions is a challenging part of PM interviews and Elena emphasizes the importance of believing in yourself and taking interview prep one day at a time. She also states the importance of confidence in being creative. Humans are inherently creative creatures, but if you don’t believe in yourself and give yourself permission to unleash your creativity, then you’ll struggle to come up with creative answers in interviews.
2. Mock Interview Early and Often
Practicing interviewing with others is the only way to get better at PM interviews. Mock interviews, even with friends, can be intimidating, but the more you do the more confidence you’ll develop and the better you’ll do in the future. Start mock interviews early and use each one as an opportunity to improve.
3. Research the Industry
Frameworks are an important part of succeeding in PM interviews, but knowing more about the industry will help you truly shine. Learn about the market and competitors and weave that knowledge into your interviews. Elena recommends TechCrunch, Acquired, The Verge, ProductHunt, and The Information as resources to help gain industry insights.
