What are your strategies for helping your team develop their product marketing career?

Product Marketing is great for growth because there are always new problem spaces to learn and GTM strategies to challenge us. I love building teams that are curious and eager to try something new. Here's how I do my best to facilitate growth:

• Hire well and bring on PMMs of different skill levels and experiences to round out your team

• Create a culture of mentorship where your more senior PMMs are teaching and delegating to junior team members; don't allow silos to form on your team

• Align work with everyone’s areas of interests and growth to the extent that you can, partnering those with experience with those who want it when possible

• Stretch your PMMs outside their core areas of responsibility with a new challenge or project when you can (I’ll often do this when balancing workload across the team, if I can take something off the plate of an overstretched PMM that aligns with the interests or career goals of another team member, regardless of whether the project is within their typical day-to-day scope.)

• Support your team’s success by finding opportunities to make them and their work visible internally and externally so that they earn the trust of partners and leaders

• Invest in their professional growth (Product Marketing Alliance provides great resources and opportunities here)

• Celebrate learning moments and big swings, even when they don't work out

Supporting my team’s career growth revolves around clarity, feedback, and opportunities. Here’s my approach:

• Growth Framework: Simplify the company’s job leveling guide to ensure everyone understands what it takes to progress. Match each team member with projects that leverage their strengths and help them develop the skills needed for the next level.

• Candid Feedback: Timely, constructive feedback is essential. Providing specific examples and actionable suggestions allows them to implement improvements immediately, rather than waiting for formal reviews.

• Prioritization: Help the team focus on what matters most each week to ensure high-impact work takes precedence over distractions. We use a Top-of-week standup format to align on this.

• Celebrate Wins: Recognize and celebrate achievements to keep the team motivated and engaged.

• Learning Opportunities: Encourage using the company’s learning budget for books, courses, or industry resources to foster continuous skill development.