The journey into the tech industry can often be unconventional, as illustrated by my background. Growing up with parents who were Broadway performers, I was the first in my family to attend college. My interest in computer science sparked during high school, leading me to pursue a degree in the field at Columbia University.
After graduating, I entered the tech workforce in 2002 when I secured a position at Microsoft. Over nearly six years there, I primarily focused on security-related projects. My career continued to evolve through various roles at major tech companies: I worked at Amazon from 2011 to 2012, Facebook from 2012 to 2014, and Twitter from 2014 to 2015, alongside positions at several startups.
Having worked at some of the most iconic tech firms during pivotal times, I have accumulated valuable insights and skills that I now apply as the Head of Product at Deel, a payroll and HR platform. Despite my achievements, my parents' unconventional careers left me somewhat unprepared for corporate life. I lacked guidance in navigating corporate structures and understanding the nuances of workplace relationships.
With two decades of experience behind me, I've learned to avoid early career pitfalls and to plan my career with intention. Here are three critical mistakes I've identified:
## Mistake 1: Short-Term Thinking
Many early-career professionals focus too narrowly on their current dissatisfaction, thinking only one job ahead. My advice is to consider your next two roles. For instance, after leaving Microsoft, I returned to New York and took a position at NBCUniversal to build their video streaming service. While I performed well, it didn’t significantly advance my career trajectory. Later, I chased a title at a startup without considering whether it aligned with my long-term goals, leading to an early departure.
Instead of prioritizing titles or immediate satisfaction, focus on acquiring skills that will benefit your future roles. My experience at Kiva in 2018 was instrumental; I took that position not as a permanent role but as an opportunity to diversify my skill set beyond product and engineering.
## Mistake 2: Neglecting Relationships
In the early stages of my career, I mistakenly believed that everyone in a company shared the same goals and perspectives. While working on Twitter's growth team during challenging times, I often prioritized hitting targets over maintaining relationships with other teams. This approach led to friction that required subsequent repair.
Investing in relationships is crucial; it allows for clearer communication and alignment across teams. Understanding that not everyone approaches their work similarly can foster respect and collaboration.
## Mistake 3: Over-Emulating Leaders
Without clear role models in the corporate world early in my career, I often tried to emulate senior leaders without fully understanding their paths or the context of their success. Early-career professionals may struggle to differentiate between effective behaviors and detrimental habits of those they admire.
As a senior leader now, I'm mindful of how my actions may influence those earlier in their careers. In meetings, I strive to model constructive behaviors rather than inadvertently passing on negative traits.
By reflecting on these experiences and mistakes, I've cultivated a more strategic approach to career development—recognizing that success is a marathon rather than a sprint.