🔥 7 steps I took to pivot to Program Management

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It’s scary to change careers.

Many believe they need the job to get experience.

But you can pivot without starting over.

Here are 7 steps I took to go from a Customer Success Manager to Program Manager at LinkedIn

1/ Know my why

I got clear on my strengths + what sparked me joy

What were my nonnegotiables?

My superpowers were bringing clarity to chaos

And owning projects end to end

I optimized for growth + experience > title and pay

This was a critical first step.

2/ Spot the opportunity

Next, I took note of what projects had the biggest impact I asked myself these questions:

What did leaders care about?

What was critical to the business?

What projects were coming down the pipe?

3/ Raise my hand

Now, I recognized an important project to lead.

I asked my manager for his blessing to own it.

He did. All eyes were on me.

And I bet on myself.

4/ Learn the basics

Next, I learned about project management.

I googled the project lifecycle.

I indexed on creating processes + systems. I documented everything and trained my team.

5/ Create measurable impact

I tracked and measured my work.

I shared weekly progress reports to leadership.

What went well? What are risks? What’s next?

I logged feedback, created a source of truth and iterated weekly.

I built trust with proactive communication.

Ultimately, I gained real world experience on the job.

6/ Articulate wins

As I gained experience, my confidence grew.

I created a narrative to articulate my impact.

I used metrics that mattered to the company.

This helped me think and act more strategically.

7/ Seek my next play

I explored internal opportunities for Program Manager roles.

I connected with hiring managers before jobs were posted.

Unfortunately, opportunities were slim to none.

It forced me to look externally.

I used LinkedIn for job search and found my dream role.

It was a Go-To-Market Enablement Program Manager role.

This role was a culmination of my experience in CS, Enablement, and GTM strategy.

I applied within 48 hours of being posted.

8/ Surprise + Delight

I spent 100+ hours to prepare for my interviews.

I created a script of common questions + relevant examples

I created a business case.

I sent thank you notes in < 24 hours.

Within 2 days, I landed my dream job at LinkedIn. The rest is history.

What are you doing now to get 1% closer to your dream job?

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Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. 🎁 Grab your Pivot to Program Management guide (loved by 600+) Unlock the secrets of Program Management with my 20+ page guide

2. 🚀 Join my 10/10 live Maven cohort, where I teach you PgM fundamentals and equip you with confidence to translate your value and launch your career

3. 💬 Ready to see how I can help you? Schedule an intro call

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