AMA: Okta Director, Product Marketing, Mallory Sword Glenn on Product Marketing Skills

There’s a lot of AI hype but there’s also a lot that’s real. I firmly believe we’re approaching a dividing line in product marketing: those who know how to use AI effectively, and those who don’t. The PMMs who become power users won’t just be faster, they’ll be sharper, more strategic, and ultimately more valuable to the business. Here's how I've been using AI lately (and this is just scratching the surface): 1. Research in hours, not weeksI use AI to generate early signals on things like TAM, p ...Read More

I moved into a Senior PMM role without any direct PMM experience, so I’m happy to share some things I learned along the way. The key is to leverage your existing skills, build relevant experience where you are, and make your interest known internally. Try to move into PMM within your current company. It’s so much easier when you already have a reputation for being smart, reliable, and great to work with. PMM leaders are more likely to take a chance on someone they know and trust because it feels ...Read More

The mindset I have around promotions is this: If I want to get promoted, I need to make the business successful. Everyone out there is asking their manager, “How can I get promoted?” Almost no one is asking, “I know that if I want to get promoted, I need to make the business successful. So, what can I do to make the business more successful?” Ask that question and you’ll find your path to promotion. For me, that’s looked like a few key things: 1. Deliver immediate value, then build long-term imp ...Read More

One of the simplest but most effective ways to build consistent, collaborative relationships with Product is to over-communicate and follow through. Sounds basic but when done well, it builds trust fast. Here are a few specific strategies that have worked for me: 1. Respond quickly to the easy stuff If something comes in that you can answer in under 10 minutes, do it right away. It’s a low-effort, high-impact way to show that you're responsive and reliable. 2. Take clear ownershipMake it obvious ...Read More

Assuming we’re defining "technical skills" as hard skills, here are the top three I believe every PMM should develop, and how to talk about them in interviews: Writing Writing is still one of the most important technical skills for a PMM. Whether you’re drafting a blog post, a keynote script, a sales deck, or a GTM plan, you need to communicate complex ideas in a clear, concise, and compelling way, and adjust the altitude depending on your audience. In interviews, this is an easy one to highligh ...Read More