Breaking into Product w/ Laura (Hotjar), Mafalda (Personio), Aljosha (Personio)

Hi Product People,
breaking into product is notoriously hard and obscure. There is no formal education (yet?) and even entry-level job ads list “PM experience” as criteria - so how do you get your first product role? Whom better to ask then Product Managers itself!

We’re excited to hear from Laura Wong, Growth PM at Hotjar, how she transitioned from marketing to product. Mafalda Prisco, PM at Personio, will share tips and stories from herself and PM friends and Aljosha Klein, PM at Personio, will share how he applied PM ways of thinking to his own career - eventually landing him his first PM role.

After the talks we’ll have a Q&A with all speakers and then plenty of time to mingle and talk product over drinks.
This will be an in-person event at the event space of the Dauphine Restaurant close to Amstelstation - thanks to our sponsor Adevinta.

We hope to see you all there!

ABOUT THE TALKS
“How I pivoted from Marketing to Product” by Laura Wong
Want to transition into product but have no technical background? That was me - and I was determined to do it without any MBA programs, courses, or bootcamps. In my talk, I'll share the 6 things I did to make it happen, and how established PMs can help aspiring PMs.

“The road to product management: tips and stories” by Mafalda Prisco
Product management is notoriously hard to break into, competition is fierce, and opportunities are limited. But fear not! It is not impossible. If you're just starting out in the industry or you’re an experienced professional looking to switch. I’ll share a series of real-life stories, tips, and tricks from my PM friends and colleagues to help you succeed.

“Breaking into product by thinking like a PM” by Aljosha Klein
Learn how to apply basic Product Management ways of thinking to your own career, before even becoming a PM. This will inspire you to determine if Product Management is the right thing for you in the first place, prepare for the transition regardless of your current role, and create a game plan for achieving it.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Laura Wong is a Growth PM at Hotjar. Originally from Canada, she started her career in marketing, working for brands like Booking.com and the Vancouver Canucks. Now, she’s based in Amsterdam and travels as much as possible thanks to her remote job. She’s passionate about mentorship, social media, and always thinking about her next side project.

Hi! I’m Mafalda, I am a Product Manager, women empowerment activist, music lover, and stationery addict (not in this order). I come from Italy, was adopted by Germans and I live in Berlin. I’ve worked in fintech, insurance and HR software. I’m into designing solutions to optimise operations in tech, as well as joining and fostering PM communities across Europe.

Aljosha's journey into SaaS Product Management started at Personio 1.5 years ago after working in customer-facing roles previously. I am originally from Germany and come from a business background, but my passion for innovation and intercultural exchange has taken me to various cities around the world and finally to Amsterdam. I’m in love with music and the creative process and oftentimes find myself discovering parallels to software product development in it.

SCHEDULE
from 5:30: Arrive, grab a bite to eat & something to drink (with and without alcohol)
6:00 Welcome & Updates
Talk by Laura Wong “How I pivoted from Marketing to Product”
Talk by Mafalda Prisco “The road to product management: tips and stories”
Talk by Aljosha Klein “Breaking into product by thinking like a PM”
Q&A with Laura, Mafalda & Aljosha
from ca 7.15 pm onwards: Mingle with your product peers over drinks

Location, Food & Drinks are sponsored by Adevinta - thank you very much for supporting ProductTank Amsterdam!
The event will be held in English.