Goodbye Microsoft, Hello MongoDB!

> db.career.update({name:"marypowathil"},{$set:{company:"mongodb"}})

Today marks the start of a new chapter in my career at MongoDB as a Product Manager on the Database Experience team! I am so incredibly excited about the new team, product, and learning opportunities I have ahead of me and I am also beyond grateful for my (almost) five years at Microsoft. I have learned so much about what it means to be a PM, a leader, and an "adult" in these formative post-grad years. Looking back, there were countless defining moments and key lessons that I've learned that have shaped my career and I wanted to share just a few:

1. Start with why: A great read by Simon Sinek and a phrase that has really stuck with me throughout my time as a PM. Whether it be pitching a new feature, championing a new business process, or simply building a new relationship with coworkers or customers; understanding and communicating motivations/intentions is crucial. Getting everyone aligned on the "why" makes it that much easier to let developers, designers, partners, etc. deliver on the "how."
2. Lead with empathy: One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou that I've definitely witnessed first-hand in the past few years is "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." And empathy is what gets you there. Demonstrating love and care for each and every individual by being self-giving, authentic, humble, and curious is a solid foundation for any relationship. Working with people with diverse perspectives and life experiences comes with so many learning opportunities-and learning begins by listening. Building a culture of trust begins with cultivating this genuine desire to learn and succeed as individuals and as a team.
3. Lean into your "5-8": Dona Sarkar, an incredible role model and fellow Power Platform advocate, really emphasized the importance of investing in your life outside of work and cultivating passion projects. Being lifelong "learn-it-alls" and being mindful of how we spend our time after work while finding ways to relax, grow, and challenge ourselves is so important! It was a blessing to be able to focus on finding new hobbies during COVID as priorities shifted and we were given this unprecedented opportunity to focus on our personal growth and relationships. I've personally loved volunteering as a youth minister, painting watercolor pet portraits, wood carving, cake decorating, running, and hiking but the options are truly endless!

So these are just some of the key takeaways from my career at Microsoft. I can easily say that I would not have learned this much or be the PM I am today if it weren't for the countless mentors, friends, leads, and partners that I've had the pleasure of meeting during my time there. I'm looking forward to continuing to learn and grow in the years to come so here's to new adventures and new opportunities at MongoDB!

Additional resources I've found helpful or have come highly recommended:

Books/Podcasts: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Happiness in this Life, Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works, Made to Stick, The Customer-Driven Playbook, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z.com), The Knowledge Project Podcast

Tools: Canva, Kusto/ADE, Figma

Misc: PM Daisy Framework, Women in Product