Hi. I'm Amy.

What am I looking for in a new opportunity/role?

A chance to improve, progress in seniority, and make a positive impact on something that is meaningful. A chance to be myself, be trusted and understood/appreciated. Easy, right? :D

What makes me different?

Too much. I don't really fit in a box or the norm in my industry. I've never really worked with anyone like me. I'd say that it's rare to find someone with a good technical background/sense that is a good storyteller, strategy thinker, and is courageous enough to take risks and embrace change.

When should someone not hire me?

If the organisational power structure is very hierarchial, or heavily based on unwritten social dynamics (like politics or in-groups), instead of outcomes or collaborative relationship building, I'm unlikely to navigate the environment well. Additionally, if the executives are too busy, not available or not able to set a clear strategic direction, I'd also not do so well. If you want people to stay in their lane, do as they are told, or sleepwalk as Seth Godin puts it in the book Tribes, I'm likely to cause you stress. If the environment is slow to change, embrace new ideas, people or ways of doing things, also I'm unlikely to be compatible and it will cause tension as I am a changemaker.

Why have I had short tenures in previous roles?

I'm going to give a very honest answer here; I'm not going to give the "interview safe" version. Apart from some bad luck/randomness in the fates of the companies I was working for or my ability to make my position look redundant/easy (as I've not been replaced in the last 5+ roles I've left), there's a general volatility working for companies pre-PMF or with shifting PMF. The only personably attributable thing I can think of, is autism. Or more specifically, undiagnosed, misunderstood autistic behaviours. It's a common pattern for undiagnosed autistic people to go through the world, feeling like we don't belong so I have chosen to move on from places because I felt I didn't belong, always trying to be optimistic that I just had to find the right place. I think, also because I'm autistic, I can get the measure of somewhere fast and I don't have an ability to ignore things once I've realised them. I'm also not as great as others claim to be at spotting problems in interviews. Or maybe I am but I am often looking for roles in a state of desperation that I feel I have to ignore them or at least give the company the benefit of the doubt. I'm still not sure how anyone knows what it's like to work somewhere until they actually do?! My particular personality and autistic traits also mean that I don't keep my head down, I try to make an impact quickly and I'm vocal and confident. This doesn't go down well in low trust or hierarchial environments. It can put a target on my back too in low psychological safety zones where people are competitive or insecure, and I am too trusting/open. I've also seemingly gone into a lot of environments as a PM, where the company or people above or around just didn't really understand what Product Managers were. Most seemed to think that the primary marker of a PM's success was people being "happy" with them. As most seasoned PMs know, this is often the sign of a bad PM who never says no or a very tactical operator! I've only worked in a role for 1 month with a manager that was also a Product person. I've also just had some bad luck/timing. Not one of the Product roles I've held was backfilled after I left. I've worked in environments going through a lot of change or taking big risks, which so often don't pan out. Despite short tenures however, I've been able to have standout impacts because I am a fast learner and executor. I don't seem to need as long as other people to ramp up, or at least I can't pretend to need as long as to not upset anyone or to just coast through probationary periods.

And it shouldn't matter that I'm non-binary, female-presenting and queer but tech is a sexist place, we cannot deny it (50% of women leave by 35). I, like many other people from under-represented groups do have more of a spotlight on me; I am judged by stricter standards. It's basic psychology: I'm basically othered by most people I meet so when I do something they don't expect, I don't have the benefit of affinity or in-group biases to be easily forgiven or understood or even given the benefit of the doubt. It's also a competitive environment generally, and whilst not everyone will actively try to make you fail, they certainly don't help you succeed. At least, that has been my experience.

In a nutshell, why should someone hire me?

I'm a generalist. I can do a lot of things pretty well, at least to a good enough standard to get things going or to help others out. I'm an executor. I'll swallow frogs on behalf of the team. I get things done. I'm efficient and quick but I also care about quality. I care about what I do and I don't just dial it in. I care about people and I can easily imagine what it's like to be in other's shoes. I've worked with many businesses, in different businesses and industries so I have a breadth of experience. I study and I learn fast. I'm creative. I'm technically competent and can bridge the gaps between different teams. I've been around the block enough to have learnt major lessons and to have honed a decent instinct on what and how to do things. And I love tech and I love Product, because it's different every day (I like the variety of different tasks and types of work), it's strategic, it allows me to use a lot of my skills and I think companies with strong Product people and cultures, build better products.

Hybrid, remote, or in-office?

I've only ever worked as a PM in remote or remote-hybrid setups. I have a strong preference for remote but I recognise that in-person collaboration, or at least knowing colleagues as people is important for most people. So my preference is remote, with quarterly or ad-hoc meetups. I could potentially do hybrid 2 days a week in office, but on those days I'm likely not to be at my best, especially if a commute on public transport or longer than an hour is involved (it's an autism sensory thing). I would not appreciate going into an empty office or an office so busy there's nowhere to have a meeting. In office 100% is a no-go for me. I live in Reading, UK. Ideally, I'd love to be able to work from anywhere in the world for short stints as I have family abroad and a partner who travels for work a lot. Office socials/parties are not really a plus for me. Alcohol and work especially are something I try to avoid due to past experiences and because I don't believe that intoxicating substances have a place in a workplace.

What's with all the animals and the rainbows?

I love animals. I love rainbows (I am queer after all). I love drawing. And, well I needed something so that this didn't just look like any other portfolio site. Love it or hate it, hopefully you'll remember it.