Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Succeeding as an introvert, building zero-to-one, and why you should PM your career like you PM your product | Deb Liu (CEO of Ancestry, ex-Facebook, PayPal, eBay)

445 snips

Aug 22, 2024

Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry and former VP at Facebook, shares her journey from product management to leadership. She emphasizes the importance of managing your career like a product—focusing on continuous learning and resilience. Liu discusses the challenges introverts face in the workplace, advocating for self-promotion and inclusivity. Listeners will appreciate her insights on creating effective 30-60-90-day plans and overcoming perfectionism, as well as her encouragement to embrace failures as stepping stones to success.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Continuous Learning

Always be learning, even if you're an expert.
Continuous learning makes you adaptable and increases your impact over time.

ANECDOTE

Accidental PM

Deb Liu accidentally fell into product management at PayPal despite lacking experience.
Her passion for the product and user feedback helped her succeed.

ADVICE

Passion over pedigree

Lean into your passion for the product or company in interviews.
Focus on the problem you want to solve, not just the job title.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Quiet

The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Susan Cain

In 'Quiet', Susan Cain presents a comprehensive argument that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people. She charts the rise of the 'Extrovert Ideal' and explores how it permeates various aspects of society, including workplaces, schools, and social interactions. Cain draws on research from biology, psychology, neuroscience, and evolution to demonstrate that introversion is common, normal, and valuable. The book offers advice for introverts on functioning in an extrovert-dominated culture and advocates for changes to support and recognize the contributions of introverts. It also distinguishes between introversion, shyness, and anti-social behavior, and highlights the unique strengths of introverts, such as deep thinking, persistence, and excellent negotiation skills.

Power

Why Some People Have It—and Others Don’t

Jeffrey Pfeffer

In this book, Jeffrey Pfeffer provides insightful and often counterintuitive advice on how power is successfully built and maintained in organizations. Drawing from his extensive experience in consulting and teaching, Pfeffer argues that power is not just for a select few but can be harnessed by anyone. The book dispels the myth that power is only for those in charge and instead reveals the true paths to career success, emphasizing the importance of personal networks, reputation, and effective social interactions. Pfeffer uses numerous examples from various countries and industries to illustrate his points, making the book an essential organizational survival manual and a new standard in the field of leadership and management.

The Next Conversation

Argue Less, Talk More

Jefferson Fisher

From communication expert Jefferson Fisher, this book provides immediately actionable strategies and phrases to transform your life and relationships by improving your communication. Fisher, a trial lawyer and leading voice on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true three-part communication system (Say it with control, Say it with confidence, Say it to connect) that can be applied to any situation. The book teaches how to assert yourself, set boundaries, frame conversations, and overcome conflict with connection, ensuring that your every word has a positive impact on your relationships.