Greatest hits on career advice with Peter Yang (Roblox, ex-Reddit)
Oct 1, 2023
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Peter Yang, Product Lead at Roblox, discusses advancing mid to late-stage product management careers. Topics include pursuing growth over promotion, optimizing for company stage, knowing when to leave a company, trade-offs between compensation and tenure, and why top companies offer high compensation.
Focusing on long-term goals and impact can lead to higher career success and fulfillment.
Building a strong 'builder story' and showcasing the ability to navigate challenges and drive impact are essential for advancing one's career.
Promotions in product management should not be the sole focus; instead, individuals should focus on building their 'builder story' and consider lateral moves or transitions to other companies for career growth.
Deep dives
Importance of Thinking Long-Term in Career
In this podcast episode, the importance of thinking long-term in one's career is emphasized. The host discusses the concept of focusing on the 'skip' job and skip promotion, rather than just the next job. It is suggested that considering long-term goals and the impact of one's decisions can lead to higher career success and fulfillment.
Transitioning to Leadership Role in Product Management
The podcast explores the shift from product management to managing a team in the middle stage of one's product career. It is noted that while people management was traditionally seen as a prerequisite for leadership roles, the industry's focus has shifted to navigating product-market fit and scalability. Building a strong 'builder story' and showcasing the ability to navigate challenges and drive impact are highlighted as essential for advancing one's career.
Promotions and Career Advancement
The episode delves into the topic of promotions in product management and highlights that the focus should not only be on getting a higher title or compensation. It is suggested that instead of solely pursuing promotion, individuals should focus on building their 'builder story' by showcasing their impact, learning experiences, and ability to navigate challenges. The concept of promotions being a personal decision and the possibility of career growth through lateral moves or transitions to other companies is also discussed.
Potential Career Paths for Product Managers
The podcast explores potential career paths for product managers beyond the role of VP or CPO. It suggests that individuals can aim to take on bigger scope at more consequential companies, pursue general executive or general manager roles, consider the founder journey in building new ventures, or explore opportunities in the investor or advisor space. The importance of understanding personal goals and interests is emphasized in choosing the right career path.
Understanding Compensation and Negotiating
The podcast delves into compensation in product management and the factors that determine salary ranges at different levels and companies. It highlights the significance of knowing one's market value and band, getting multiple offers for comparison, and considering the impact of tenure and overall career growth. The importance of balancing compensation with other factors such as culture, learning opportunities, and alignment with personal goals is also discussed.
Much of the career advice out there is for aspiring PMs. But what about those who have one foot on the ladder and are looking to climb the next rung? This episode is about advancing mid to late-stage product management careers. I'm joined by Peter Yang, Product Lead at Roblox, and product newsletter writer, to discuss how established PMs can avoid getting stuck. From pursuing growth over promotion to knowing when to change companies, we discuss a wide range of strategies to help you continue building the career you want based on your individual goals.
Today’s discussion covers: • Wisdom for mid and late-stage product managers looking to advance their careers • Why you should focus on growth, not promotion • Optimizing for company stage instead of company name • Signs you should leave a company • The under-discussed trade-offs between compensation and tenure • Why top companies offer such high compensation
Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:27) Advancing mid or late-stage careers (04:38) Promotions matter less than you think (08:36) The different end goals for PM careers (13:56) How to find the right company to elevate your career (19:07) The best and worst reasons to change companies (23:28) The impact of short tenures on someone’s resume (27:19) Why top companies offer such high compensation (31:31) The relationship between title and compensation (34:52) Advice for negotiating compensation (37:21) The under-discussed tradeoff between compensation and tenure (39:07) Recapping the "shadows of your superpowers" (41:55) Nikhyl’s advice for dealing with a common shadow (47:43) Conclusion
