Communities

Profile

Holly Xiao

Director of Product Marketing, Salesloft

Content

Drift Director of Product Marketing, Holly Xiao on Product Launches

May 28 @ 10:00AM PST

View All AMA's

What are some good resources to practice for PMM interview questions and case studies?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

Product Marketing Alliance and Sharedbird have some great resources on this topic. Glassdoor is also helpful sometimes when folks share interview questions they were asked. So I’d take full advantage of them if you haven’t already. I’ve also googled phrases like “PMM interview questions” or “prep......Read More

1559 Views

How to develop product marketing skills while not in a PMM role (to prepare for a career switch)?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

I love this question! It’s so important to develop transferrable skills even if you aren’t in a PMM role. That proactive attitude goes a long way in interviews since it shows you're a go-getter. And that’s a quality that can’t really be taught. Here are six ways you can develop product marketi......Read More

1016 Views

If you were to hire a PMM today, what skills and attributes would you value most in a candidate?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

Go-to-market strategy and execution is probably one of the most sought-after hard skills for PMM. But a Product Marketing role varies from company to company. When hiring, I start by evaluating two things: 1. What are our business objectives? When writing a job description, I like to work b......Read More

980 Views

What is the best way to practice Product Marketing on your own project? And what online resources you recommend? Thank you!

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

I touched on this topic in one of the questions above. That said, I think it’s wise to take a deliberate approach. Otherwise, you're just creating work without getting the output you want. I'd recommend making a list of the core PMM skills hiring managers are looking for. You can find a lot of......Read More

972 Views

As a product marketer, is it important to have an online portfolio to showcase some of the work that you've done in the past?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

I don't think this is critical. But it doesn't hurt to have one if this is something that interests you! For most interview processes, we'll ask for work examples or have a homework assignment. So if you already have an online portfolio linked from your resume, that could save us a step. If......Read More

962 Views

What are your top 3 areas of importance when it comes to managing and growing your career as a PMM?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

In my experience, taking your career into your own hands is key. There will be managers who are great about having career conversations with you, and there will be managers who aren't. Be bold and bring it up on your own. Here’s what you can start doing today: 1. Know your strengths, gaps, ......Read More

881 Views

If you know that Product Marketing is your passion and you eventually want to be a leader of product marketing, how do you continue to grow in your role over time and take on the right experiences?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

This is a tough one because there’s no “correct” answer. Product Marketing varies depending on the industry, company size, and maturity. So evaluate the “right” experiences based on what you want to learn and what you want to accomplish. I’d challenge you to put the title aside and focus more on ......Read More

842 Views

When applying to pmm jobs, how important is it to align your past experiences with the new role? (For instance, if you worked in ecommerce, only apply to ecommerce roles.)

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

It's common for people to move from one industry to another. If you're in eCommerce right now, don't feel like you have to apply for only eCommerce jobs. At the end of the day, it’s really about how fast you can learn and hit the ground running in a new role. I'm a firm believer that you'll learn......Read More

828 Views

What are some tips for getting into the product marketing field?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

I answered a similar question below so copying my answer here. It’s so important to develop transferrable skills even if you aren’t in a PMM role. That proactive attitude goes a long way in interviews since it shows you're a go-getter. And that’s a quality that can’t really be taught. Here ......Read More

826 Views

What's the most important piece of advice you'd have for an undergrad student who wants to land an entry-level PMM job, despite the fact that a bulk of PMM jobs require an MBA?

Holly Xiao

Salesloft Director of Product Marketing • January 13

The most important thing I can tell you is that your first job out of college won't define your career forever. So don't be afraid to take risks! Several large companies have associate product marketing manager programs or rotational programs that you can apply for. Make sure you check when ap......Read More

817 Views

Credentials & Highlights

Director of Product Marketing at Salesloft