I didn't grow up knowing “product manager” was a real job. I came from a business background (accounting, specifically), and I only heard the term when I was interviewing for my first job out of school, where a recruiter told me I'd be better suited for product based on the way I talked through problems. It turned out to be one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten.

I've spent the past six years building AI and data products as a PM. The work pushed me to learn something new almost every day, but more importantly, it's where I found the parts of the work I really enjoy and care about: translating between technical and non-technical audiences, turning ambiguous problems into something we can deliver, and keeping the user at the center of what the team is solving for.

Something I've only recently put into words is that I like taking random, messy things and packaging them into something usable. That inclination is what led me to product and program management, and it's become part of who I am today :)