Question Page

What is your opinion on “role over company” vs “any seat on a rocketship” for a PMM early in their career?

Mike Berger
Ex-VP, Product Marketing @ ClickUp, SurveyMonkey, Gainsight, Marketo | Formerly Momentive, Gainsight, MarketoNovember 11

I can tell you based on quite a bit of experience that this is the easiest question I'll ever answer on the topic of building a successful PMM career. It isn't even close. When you are early on in your career, forget about the role, title, pay, etc. Instead, jump into any seat on a rocketship. 

When you are on a rocketship, if you perform well, there will be plenty of opportunities for growth as the company grows, and the experience you gain will be highly valued by other companies hoping to achieve similar growth. 

I know it can be hard to see this when you are early on in your career, but in hindsight it will be clear as day.

1527 Views
Steve Feyer
Eightfold Product Marketing DirectorNovember 5

Strong preference toward "any seat on a rocketship". It's much better to join a strong company, in any role, then to take a role in a company that's going into a ditch. All that said, identifying the best companies vs. the ditch-bound is challenging, especially for a startup company and extra-especially if you are early in your career.

307 Views
Developing Your Product Marketing Career
Thursday, January 23 • 12PM PT
Developing Your Product Marketing Career
Virtual Event
Martha Murillo
Karen L. Braswell
Bárbara Manarelli Vieira
+60
attendees
Julien Sauvage
Clari VP, Brand, Content and Product MarketingDecember 7

Early in your career, I'd totally go for the rocketship option to be honest.

Best way to learn a lot all the facets of GTM, get your hands dirty, influence key strategic initiatives, show impact, etc. - that'll follow you for the rest of your career!

Moving fast is the best way to learn fast, I'd say.

456 Views
Top Product Marketing Mentors
Mary Sheehan
Mary Sheehan
Adobe Head of Lightroom Product Marketing
Jeffrey Vocell
Jeffrey Vocell
Panorama Education Head of Product Marketing
Kevin Garcia
Kevin Garcia
Anthropic Product Marketing Leader
Jackie Palmer
Jackie Palmer
ActiveCampaign VP Product Marketing
Amanda Groves
Amanda Groves
Enable VP of Product Marketing
April Rassa
April Rassa
Clari VP, Solutions Marketing
Susan "Spark" Park
Susan "Spark" Park
Monzo Director of Product Marketing
Michele Nieberding 🚀
Michele Nieberding 🚀
MetaRouter Director of Product Marketing
Sahil Sethi
Sahil Sethi
Freshworks Vice President - Global Product Marketing
Leah Brite
Leah Brite
Gusto Head of Product Marketing, Employers