Want to make your mark in tech? Consider a job as a product manager

Product Management is the intersection of business, technology and design. Often described as the “CEO of the Product,” we caught up with Loki Meyburg, Product Guy at Mobify and Educator at BrainStation, to find out everything you need to know about this exciting tech career.

Did you always want to pursue a career in tech?

I loved learning how to build little apps and websites while I was in high school. I would spend hours tinkering away learning the ins-and-outs of Visual Basic. I learned other programming languages and began to understand what was involved in building bug-free apps. I knew I wanted to go to University and study Computer Science, but there was one thing I struggled to master: getting other people to actually use my software.

How would you describe your career as a Product Manager?

Product Management is the art and science of building something people want to use. I was fascinated with this field from the very beginning. There was a human element to building software. It requires a broad but deep understanding of what people want, contrasted against what’s actually possible to engineer. A Product Manager is often described as the “CEO of the Product”, which is responsible for ensuring a product is successful and meets the user’s needs. My job is to make sure that what we’re building is for the user; we care deeply about why and how they use our product.

Why do companies needs Product Managers?

Product Management is about careful and precise market analysis to ensure that what you’re about to build is going to be useful and profitable. At Mobify, we have a Product Management team that spends about half of their time conducting market analysis and the other half making sure that what we build is useful to customers.

What new tech innovation are you most excited about?

One of the most exciting things happening in Vancouver right now is Brainstation, a progressive tech school that is the first to bring a part-time Product Management to the West Coast. Situated in the heart of Yaletown, it’s perfect for the many tech companies that inhabit the area such as Slack and Mobify, and offers those interested in entering the industry a hands-on learning experience. With the Province of British Columbia recently announcing a $100 million fund to help build the province’s tech sector, it’s clear that the tech sector is growing faster than ever. This January I’ll be the lead educator for Brainstation’s Product Management course. I’m excited to teach other students what I’ve learnt as a Product Manager and become their mentors to help them get ahead in their career.

Any advice for young tech enthusiasts?

Product Management is a great place to start to define yourself in the tech world. Definitely check out  BrainStation’s 10 week Product Management course. From my experience, the best way to learn is by doing, and I’m looking forward to offer students this real-world experience while teaching them key topics to be successful.

You can follow Loki on Twitter for more updates about startups and technology at @lokimeyburg.

Become a Creator at Brainstation today and sign up for their part time Winter courses.