496: Navigating career changes and personal growth as a product manager – with Tom Leung

Product management and the tech industry Watch on YouTube TLDR In this episode, former Google product management director Tom Leung shares his experiences with recent tech industry layoffs and offers valuable advice for product managers facing career changes. Key takeaways include: * Seeing layoffs as chances for personal and professional growth * Embracing a “gap year” mindset to explore new experiences and skills * Focusing on solving big customer problems in product development * Adapting to the changing job market for product managers * Balancing innovation with practical value in the age of AI and new tech Product managers can use these insights to navigate career shifts, boost their skills, and approach product development with a fresh focus on customer needs and market demand. The Changing Landscape of Tech Employment The tech world has seen big changes lately, with even giants like Google facing restructuring and layoffs. Tom Leung, who used to be a director of product management at Google, shares his firsthand experience with the company’s 2023 layoffs. His story gives us a peek into how the tech job market is changing and what it means for product managers, along with tips for navigating smartly. Google’s Restructuring and Layoffs in 2023 In January 2023, Google started a series of layoffs. Leung remembers the strange experience of telling team members about the changes. He joined Google in 2006, and up until 2023 he saw very few layoffs. The first wave of layoffs in January was followed by more throughout the year, affecting top-performing employees. This change in how Google treated its workers showed how unstable the tech job market can be and why product managers need to be ready for unexpected career changes. Impact on Company Culture and Feeling Safe at Work The layoffs had a big effect on Google’s company culture, especially when it came to feeling safe at work. Leung explains that one of Google’s core values is psychological safety because if you have really strong psychological safety in the team, you can bring out the best performance. The layoffs pierced the veil of safety. This shift made many employees rethink how secure their jobs were and what their career paths might look like. It shows why it’s important for product managers to be flexible and keep learning new skills. Personal Stories of Career Changes Leung’s journey from Google to new opportunities offers valuable lessons for product managers facing career changes. His experience shows the importance of embracing change and seeing setbacks as potential opportunities to grow. From Google to New Adventures After working at Google for 10 years, Leung was already thinking about a career change. When he was affected by the layoffs in 2023, he chose to see it as an opportunity rather than a problem. Embracing the “Gap Year” Mindset Leung suggests looking at career changes as a “paid sabbatical” or “gap year.” He encourages product managers to use this time to grow personally and professionally. He shares his own experiences: * Working on a presidential primary campaign in New Hampshire * Teaching product management classes * Making angel investments in promising startups * Exploring potential startup ideas This approach allows product managers to learn new skills, explore different interests, and maybe even find new career paths. Advice for Product Managers Facing Career Changes Drawing from his experiences, Leung offers valuable tips for product managers navigating career transitions in today’s tech world. Seeing Layoffs as Opportunities Instead of viewing layoffs as purely negative, Leung encourages product managers to see them as chances for g...