Beyond the Bubble: Finding My "Virtual Mentors”
For the first five years of my career, I existed happily in a bubble of familiar professional development resources. I relied solely on company-offered courses, observed the actions of leaders around me, and followed the content shared by my network on LinkedIn.
However, in the past decade, I've come to appreciate the immense value of seeking diverse perspectives to gain a broader understanding and make informed decisions about my career path. While venturing outside my comfort zone was initially daunting, it led me to discover incredible resources that have ultimately shaped my journey.
My initial exploration revealed a vast ocean of resources covering various professional topics like leadership, product management, and innovation. Sorting through this information overload became a challenge, as differentiating the truly authentic, practical, and actionable gems proved difficult.
In my quest to connect with leaders who could elevate my professional and personal growth, I stumbled upon three remarkable individuals whose blogs and newsletters have become invaluable resources:
Known for his unique and insightful perspectives on marketing and communication, Seth Godin ?? 's dedication to writing daily led me to his blog eight years ago and since then it’s been a weekday morning ritual. I'm consistently captivated by his ability to convey complex ideas in a simple, yet impactful way. He touches upon various aspects, from communication (Knock knock) and ideas management (Discernment in creativity) to even subtle product management concepts (Feature Creep). The admiration for his work was so evident on my LinkedIn that I even had my cousin gift me a diary modeled on his work!
Deborah Liu , a prominent technology leader and CEO of Ancestry.com, resonated deeply with me at the 2017 "Women in Product" conference. Her passion for empowering women in tech was evident, and I've followed her journey ever since.
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“Standing at the cusp of change, my objective for attending the ‘Women In Product’ conference was to network with other women in product management. I wanted to learn from their experiences to understand if I am headed in the right direction as I was working on a transitory path from Engineering.” - My blog on WIP'17
She launched her newsletter aiming to be a "personal career coach". I had the privilege of interviewing her for a "Salesforce Women in Product" event, further solidifying my admiration for her authenticity and storytelling prowess.
Two of her posts standout and remain particularly impactful for me. Make the first 90 days count provided an onboarding template that proved immensely helpful when I transitioned to a new role, and I've even shared it with colleagues. Consumers versus Producers resonated on a personal level, highlighting the importance of reflecting and capturing learnings from the information we consume. You can also say that my attempt at writing these blogs more regularly starting this year is stemming from this!
Finding thought leadership specific to B2B and enterprise product management is rare, making ibrahim bashir 's blogs truly valuable. He has extensive experience building product teams at companies like Amplitude, Box, Twitter, and Amazon.
His insights with blogs like Enterprise SaaS Truisms and Cultivating a Rev Mindset for B2B PMs are valuable, but his approach is equally impressive. He incorporates "5-minute Fridays" sections in some posts, offering quick audio summaries - a format I'm considering adapting for my own blog! Additionally, he utilizes visualizations like mind maps and Miro boards, making his content engaging and accessible.
I have been fortunate to find other leaders such as Shreyas Doshi (X posts), The Looking Glass by Julie Zhuo , and The Hard Parts of Growth by Ami Vora that have been instrumental in shaping my understanding of leadership, product management, and the nuances of professional growth.
I encourage you to embark on your own journey of seeking diverse perspectives. Look for learning sources that resonate with your role, principles, and learning style.
Online Fitness & Nutrition Coach for Business Owners & Executives ?? Helping data driven Execs over 40 lose 30# in 6 months, even while working 10-12+ hr days
1 年With the technology we have these days, it seems that many are missing out if they do not take advantage. I personally have had my business turned around with mentors in the virtual space.