(3 minute read)

The Story behind my TPM Journey

Hey there, thanks for joining!! 👋 

Welcome to this bonus edition of the newsletter. Ever wonder who’s behind this newsletter? Surprise, its me.

I never quite gave you a proper introduction of myself.

Let's dive in.

Building architecture, not tech career.

The title of 'Technical Program Manager' wasn't even on my radar while plotting my career. Yet, here we are—on this journey from career confusion to high-impact TPM! 🚀

🤣 And no, I definitely wasn't a tech prodigy.

In high school, I aimed to be a building architect. Loved the planning and design aspects but realized the career path was full of volatility, which was too much for my risk-averse mind at the time.

🤓 Enter: Information Systems Management.

Why Information Systems Management? It was practical: a 99% job placement rate for graduates spoke volumes. I not only secured a job but also found a subject compelling enough to obtain a Master's.

A Decade in Tech

Before becoming a TPM, I experimented with various roles: QA, engineering, project management—you name it. These experiences made me gain the valuable skills of driving complex technical initiatives, even without the TPM title.

2020 shook me.

😱 My "secure" job felt precarious after company layoffs. I made the cut, but my worldview didn't. My comfort zone crumbled; it was time for a reality check.

After a year of applying to various roles (and not landing any offers), I realized the problem wasn't the job market; it was me.

I was applying to jobs where I either (1) lacked depth of experience or (2) weren’t aligned with my natural strengths.

Thankfully, I discovered the TPM role. The job description fit my strengths like a glove.

And just like that, Twitter unexpectedly called back after a cold application to an online job posting. I landed my first formal role as a TPM at a place where hashtags were born.

My TPM career was really ready to take off.

Doubling Down on Technical Program Management

Something magic happened once I officially stepped into the TPM role: I did a complete swan-dive into becoming an expert.

My education and a decade of diverse tech roles had prepared me for this role.

But let’s be honest…

It hasn’t been a completely smooth ride; there have been plenty of bumps in the road and lessons learned. But it’s the type of bumps and lessons learned that get me pumped to improve.

For a while, I struggled to know how to focus on skill development because there are so many skills needed to be a high-impact TPM.

It is not an easy job.

To get that focus and accelerate my own TPM skill growth, I built what I call the 3-Pillar TPM Skills Framework:

• 🏆 Central Pillar: Program and Project Management Excellence - Master the art of planning, executing, and closing projects efficiently, ensuring that you not only meet but exceed expectations every time

• ⚙️ Supporting Pillar: Technical Versatility - Equip yourself with a diverse set of technical skills that make you an invaluable asset to your team, from understanding code to troubleshooting systems.

• 🧭 Supporting Pillar: Product Operations and Strategy - Align your efforts with the company’s top strategic priorities and standard product operations to drive meaningful change through the compan

• 🤝 Foundation: Leadership - Learn how to inspire your team, communicate effectively, and make strategic decisions that lead to successful initiative outcomes.

Gaining mastery in these 3 pillars is The TPM Craft. This is what the newsletter is all about.

And that brings us to today: me, writing this newsletter on the topics I wish I had years ago.

I’m grateful to have you here on this journey with me.

What do you want to learn about?

What do you want to hear about most? Let me know which pillar interests you!

Until next time, thanks for subscribing!