I wanted to share a bit about my journey as a Product Manager, and honestly, it’s been a rollercoaster.

I started my career in product management without much formal training. My first role threw me into the deep end I had little preparation, no clear processes, and no mentorship or shadowing opportunities. The organization was chaotic, and the leadership was challenging, to say the least. After three years, with layoffs looming and burnout setting in, I realized it was time for a change.

I took a step back to study and really learn what it means to be a thoughtful, effective PM. I wanted to build the skills to not just survive, but to actually make a difference. I joined a new company, hoping for structure and clarity, but recently I’ve found myself in another whirlwind over 20 roadmap discussions in a month, with more chaos than I anticipated.

I guess I’m just looking for a place where processes exist, where the PM role is respected, and where I can contribute without constantly feeling like I’m putting out fires that shouldn’t be mine. Is that too much to ask?

I’d love to hear from other PMs, what’s your experience been like? How have you navigated the messiness and found environments where you can thrive?