What You Don’t Change, You Accept
To live is to continue moving.
I briefly discussed my job search process in my initial post on Substack. Whenever someone asked how I landed my first role in product management and my pre-PM pursuits, my response often left them perplexed. The idea that I made such a drastic career change intrigued them, prompting me to explain the reasons behind their reaction below.
To provide context, I was made redundant from the oil and gas industry back in 2015. This Medium post details the immense impact it had on me and the lessons I gleaned from that event. Gradually, I regained my spirit and emerged more resilient than ever. This experience heightened my awareness of the global economic landscape, shifting my focus from the confines of my daily job to a broader perspective.
It's a realisation that every role is fleeting. To echo Eckhart Tolle, the only constant is impermanence. Recognising this, I accepted the possibility of facing another redundancy. That's life – lessons learned, and onwards we move.
The story of my career transition and self-discovery will unfold across two posts. This first one delves into the period before and up to mid-Edinburgh. The subsequent post, due next week, delves into the period from mid-Edinburgh until my return as a PM in the field I aspired to.
In September 2022, I relocated to Edinburgh to pursue a master's degree in Financial Technology and Policy at the University of Edinburgh. Despite my home country's government offering a fully-funded scholarship through the Ministry of Finance, I chose not to apply, even though the benefits were plentiful. Indonesian students studying abroad, in a broad sense, need not worry about their day-to-day living expenses, as the scholarship covers everything from flight tickets to daily expenditures.
However, I had a different objective in mind. This is why I refrained from applying for the Chevening scholarship offered by the British government as well.
The allure of the UK had always been present for me, dating back several years. I previously applied for a Data Science master's in 2017, assuming I'd enjoy the programme. However, after undertaking a paid online course to prepare for the degree education, I discovered I didn't relish studying machine learning.
Ironically, my MSc degree from Edinburgh incorporated twenty-credit worth of machine learning in the syllabus – an amusing twist. Nevertheless, despite securing admission to one of the universities I applied to for the data science master's, I didn't receive the Ministry of Finance scholarship, prompting me to defer. Subsequently, the following year, during my reflection period, the aforementioned online course affirmed that pursuing that field wouldn't have resonated with me.
My First Experience of Being True to My Calling
Then, in mid-2019, I requested a team switch to my previous manager because I found little enjoyment in his team. To cut a long story short, prior to joining that company, I was recruited for a B2B product, my area of expertise. However, due to an internal corporate strategy shift, this venture dissolved, and I was transferred to his team, let's dub it Team A.
As the products didn't align with my interests (they leaned more towards in-app games, something I've never fancied), my time in Team A felt devoid of purpose. After enduring weeks of inner turmoil, I caught wind of the revival of the initiative I was initially hired for, with the company forming a pioneer team. Initially hesitant, I pondered how my desire for a team transfer would be perceived by the Team A boss.
Perhaps, it marked the first instance my intuition nudged me strongly, and the first time I heeded its call. Realising that being stuck in an unwanted situation was more draining than voicing my concerns, I approached my manager and articulated my motivation to depart from his team in pursuit of this project.
Subsequently, much like the law of attraction, where inspired action initiates momentum, events cascaded into motion. I acquainted myself with the new team members, introductions led to more connections, culminating in my initial meeting with my future manager. From that moment, the rest became history. It was the job role and product that proved pivotal to my career success.
Initially daunting, the project involved shifting payment habits from cash and card-based methods to primarily QR-based systems. However, fast-forward a few years, the QR initiative was successfully implemented across various Southeast Asian countries, fostering unprecedented interoperability.
This pioneering experience also brought my essay to fruition, securing my admission to the MSc programme. The support from my managers and mentors who penned my recommendation letters played a significant role in reshaping my career trajectory.
The yearning for the UK didn't dissipate, only dimmed slightly. I relished my new role, absorbing extensive knowledge in payment systems like a sponge. I actively participated in the Central Bank working group, honing my communication skills with senior and regulatory stakeholders.
Mistakes were inevitable. I stumbled occasionally in my communication channels but learned how to enhance the efficacy of my messages. I developed a system for maintaining technical documentation and mentored new hires and less experienced PMs to meet high standards, ensuring the smooth functioning of this payment business with minimal friction.
When the pandemic hit, I entertained the idea of applying for a Master's degree in Creative Writing, given my passion for writing and the role of a PM as a storyteller. However, none of the universities I applied to accepted my application. In hindsight, it was for the best. Completing my studies in MSc in Fintech left me fulfilled, bridging the gap between my writing talent and hobby and my financial skills in product management.
Lesson learned
Always stay attuned to your intuition. The familiar saying, 'listen to your heart,' rings true.
As a manager, fostering your team members' growth proves more valuable than hoarding control. I played a significant role in shaping the product from its inception, witnessing the team's expansion from a solitary PM (alongside my manager as the Head of Product) to about 10 members spanning various business lines. I authored the initial PRDs and served as the go-to person for understanding the underlying payment system. But my managers played fair by allowing me to grow.
What remains unchanged, we implicitly accept.
The moment I laid eyes on The Shard in London, my past endeavours found their place. The call to the UK stood as the grand main event. However, the path leading there resembled a jigsaw puzzle with scattered pieces. Only by piecing one fragment into another did the trail unfold, eventually guiding me to the banks of the River Thames.
(The Shard pic I took from across the river)
It's the consistent, relentless steps forward that shape our journey. Stay tuned for the concluding part of this story next week!
Acknowledgements to a friend for inspiring this section ('foot in front of the other').
Until next time,
