The Leap

Introduction

Imagine standing at the crossroads of marketing and operations, peering into the vast and dynamic terrain of product management. It’s a path unfamiliar to many marketers and operators, yet one brimming with immense opportunities to make an impact. This is where I found myself—a seasoned marketer and operations leader, captivated by the art of creating meaningful, customer-driven products. 

Over a two decade-long career, I repeatedly found myself leaning into roles that blurred the lines between sales, marketing, customer success, operations, revenue and finance, and product development. I was uniting teams, identifying customer pain points, and championing solutions that bridged business needs with user-centric innovation. At its core, this was product management. I had walked the path long before I had the official title. This is a story about turning that intuition into deliberate action—and ultimately a fulfilling career.

Throughout my career, I noticed a surprising gap in resources specifically supporting those transitioning from marketing and operations into product management. I'd made half-hearted attempts along the way to make a formal transition but they fizzled without the support I needed. What I've learned is both fields bring invaluable skills—empathy, customer focus, strategic insight, and attention to detail—but many of us are left navigating the transition on our own. To bridge this gap and empower others is the driving purpose behind The Leap.

This isn’t just a guidebook; it’s a companion full of helpful advice and methods from me - a multi-faceted technology veteran who now realizes that all along I was a product manager. Whether you’re questioning if your skills qualify for a product role, preparing for a new career opportunity, or already on the path and looking to refine your approach, this book is for you.