Sunset & What’s Next
I launched Austin Voice of Product five years ago to build community and serve as inspiration for product people in Austin. I have not shared new interviews since March 2022 because I had to focus on taking care of some family challenges in the midst of an intense (and rewarding) new job at Procore. In the intervening months I reflected on what I learned working on Austin Voice of Product and what I would like to focus on in the future. The most rewarding part of sharing stories of product leaders was when I heard from some of you that these stories helped build confidence in your career path and inspired you to reach for more. I also realized that as I tried to balance representing diversity in who I interviewed, there are too few women that are in product leadership roles. I want to change that - not just in Austin - but everywhere.
That is what I would like to work on next: how might I help get more women into product leadership roles. I have some ideas and hope to launch something new in 2023. I would love to hear from you, especially if you are a woman in the middle of your product career - no longer new to the role, not a product leader yet, but looking to grow your career.
Stay tuned!
Austin Voice of Product Highlights
I launched Austin VOP 5 years ago in July 2017. I have met so many great product folks and learned so much about our product community along the way. I am ever grateful for all you dedicated readers. I want to continue to build community - but more intentionally focus on growing our community of women product leaders - not just in Austin, but everywhere.
Here are a couple stats:
I interviewed one hundred and eleven Austin product leaders over the last 5 years
The average open rate for my newsletter has stayed consistently high - 49%
My 2023 Goals
2022 is not quite over yet - but it is a good time to reflect on my 2022 goals and set my intentions for 2023.
Reflecting on 2022
I had hoped to get some reps on product analytics, but they were few and far between. Much of my energy this year went into managing stakeholder dynamics for a complex initiative.
I got to do some of my best work this year with an amazing tripod (PM/UX Designer/Engineering Lead). There is nothing quite like the feeling of tight collaboration. I always imagine it to be like a playing in a great jazz band and that is what it felt like working with my colleagues Nick and John. (Ken Norton has written well about Jazz & Product Management.)
I have continued to coach and mentor women PMs this year. It is rewarding and I hope I can do more to help women get into product leadership roles in the coming years.
2023 Goals
📈Product discovery using analytics: This is the same goal I set last year and I will get more reps on it in 2023. I am changing roles at Procore to our Search product that is well instrumented for product behavior.
🔬Experimentation: I have not exercised this muscle enough in prior roles. There is a lot of opportunity to do that on our Search product and I am looking forward to it!
🎷Outside my comfort zone: I started lessons to play the saxophone a couple months ago. I have never played an instrument before, but have always wanted to learn. It is much harder than I expected but exactly what I want to do more of. I hope to build the courage to try more things that are uncomfortable, hard and challenging - both at work and outside work.
💪Coaching women PMs: I have some ideas brewing and will share more in 2023!
Thanks for being a part of Austin Voice of Product. 🫶
I hope to see many of you when I launch what’s next in 2023. 🚀
Yours in product,
Reza