Navigating my career as a product manager in a new industry

90–180 days are over; what lies ahead? Here are my thoughts.

Entering a new industry as a product manager can be both exhilarating and daunting. When I embarked on this journey, I knew it would test my skills, adaptability, and willingness to embrace the unknown with the hope of doing a good job. Having recently completed my probation period and now at the 180-day mark, I wanted to share my experiences, lessons learned, and my plans moving forward.

For most of my career, I’ve had some practice being the new starter at startups within the Nigerian tech ecosystem, but not with an enterprise or corporation. To be fair, I wanted that change. And to that, I joined a B2B2C sports ticketing specialist technology company in the “Payments, Reports, and DataFeeds” stream—read the announcement here.

Surviving and Thriving Through the Probation Period

The first 90 days in any new role are critical, and my probation period was no exception. It was a whirlwind of learning, adjusting, and proving myself. Here's what I took away from this intense phase:

1. Embrace the Learning Curve

Starting in a new industry meant there was a steep learning curve. I had to familiarise myself with industry-specific terminology, client dynamics, and understanding information around the stream I am handling, for example, “Reports and DataFeeds.” This required an open mind and a lot of proactive learning. I read a lot of documentation handed to me during the onboarding period, leaned on my team lead, and sought colleagues for insights as well. The key was to absorb as much information as possible without feeling overwhelmed. However, I must admit that in my second month, the sheer volume of information initially overwhelmed me. Yet, I faced this challenge authentically, without pretense of perfection.

2. Deliver Quick Wins

In those first 90 days, I focused on identifying and delivering quick wins. I immersed myself in enhancement tasks and projects, drafted documentation to support client teams on upcoming or developing projects, and shadowed conversations and meetings where my team lead was involved.

I understood that larger responsibilities might not come right away, so these early wins were crucial in establishing credibility and it demonstrated that I was a proactive problem-solver, reliable with time delivery, and capable of adding value. To my delight, when it became clear that I could handle tasks and consistently show up when needed, I was granted the non-mandatory privilege of working from the office twice a week instead of thrice.

3. Give grace to yourself

If you are reading this right now, you are likely not an AI—though you might be. But if you are human, I urge you to learn to show yourself grace. This idea struck me when I was struggling to understand how to measure impact in an environment with larger teams, unlike in the past when there were just one or two product managers on a team, and the agile methodology we practiced was different.

4. Seek Feedback and Iterate

Continuous improvement was my mantra during probation. I actively sought feedback from my manager during my 1:1 and documented them. I ensured that I was receptive to feedback and showing that I could adapt based on it was essential in establishing myself as a valuable team member.

Navigating a New Industry: Challenges and Reflections

Transitioning into a new industry posed significant challenges. As I reflected on my journey, I pondered whether sticking to a familiar industry would have been easier. For more context, most of my career trajectory has been within the Fintech and SaaS space, even more so in the African market. So, here are some key reflections:

1. The Challenge of the Unknown

Moving into a new industry meant leaving my comfort zone. The unfamiliarity was intimidating, but it also presented a unique opportunity to broaden my horizons and develop new skills. I had to constantly remind myself that growth happens outside the comfort zone.

2. Transferable Skills Are Gold

One reassuring realization was that many of the skills of a product manager are transferable. Skills such as communication, stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and problem-solving are valuable in any industry. Leveraging these core competencies helped ease the transition and provided a solid foundation upon which to build industry-specific knowledge.

3. New Perspectives, New Ideas

Coming from a different industry allowed me to bring fresh perspectives and energy to the table and team. Sometimes, an outsider’s view can spark innovative ideas that industry veterans might overlook. My team leader was open to embracing this outsider status, which helped me contribute unique insights and lead projects independently.

4. Should I Have Stuck to What’s Familiar?

This question crossed my mind more than once. There were moments when I wondered if the challenges of the new industry were worth the effort. As well as moving from working remotely for the past two years to working in a hybrid system. It was a mental and physical life-shifting experience.

However, the open-mindedness, growth, and learning I experienced reaffirmed that stepping into the unknown was the right decision.

180 Days In: Lessons and the Road Ahead

As I marked my 180th day, I found myself reflecting on what I've achieved and what lies ahead. Here’s what I’ve learned and my plans for the future:

1. Build Relationships Early

When I look back at how I went about this from my probationary period till date, I probably should have done stuff like scheduling 1:1 with everyone in my team to get to know them better. I am still adapting to interactions when there are lots of threads of conversation going on, though privately, I do reach out to someone who is crucial or could provide me with the clarity that I need to navigate the new environment and the projects I have been on.

2. Deepening my Knowledge

Currently, I am immersing myself in industry trends, and understanding the business and clients’ needs. Continuous learning will ensure I remain relevant and can contribute effectively.

3. Focusing on Long-Term Impact

With the initial phase behind me, it’s time to shift focus to long-term impact. This involves working on strategic initiatives that can drive substantial growth and innovation. I aim to be more involved in being a driver of the product vision and roadmap, ensuring we are aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.

4. Ownership

Taking ownership has made me a reliable presence within my team. By consistently following through on my commitments and proactively resolving prospective blockers, I've earned the trust and confidence of my teammates.

5. Be seen

By talking about projects to the wider team globally and conducting demos, I've increased my visibility and recognition within the organization. These efforts have not only showcased our team's accomplishments but have also highlighted my contributions, leading to greater acknowledgment and opportunities.

6. Personal Development

Lastly, my personal development remains a priority. I’ll continue seeking mentorship, honing my leadership skills by owning projects with little or no assistance from my team leader, and taking courses to remain relevant. Staying committed to personal growth will not only benefit my career but also enable me to be a better team player.

Conclusion

Navigating a career as a product manager in a new industry has been a challenging yet rewarding journey. The first 180 days have been a blend of intense learning, building relationships, and proving my worth. As I look ahead, I am excited about the opportunities to deepen my impact, continue learning, and drive meaningful change. If you’re considering a similar move, remember that the challenges are part of the growth process, and stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to incredible personal and professional development.