Micro-Interview: Krassi Eneva | Sr. Product Manager | Sitecore
💬"Seeking mentorship from my manager, collaborating with colleagues possessing diverse skills, and embracing constructive feedback have accelerated my learning curve."
INTRO NOTE:
Krassi Eneva is a Sr. Product Manager at Sitecore, a leading digital experience platform that seamlessly integrates content, experience, and commerce solutions.
In under 500 words, she shares:
How she got into product management…
How she starts her mornings for maximum productivity…
Some of her sources of learning…
And more…
Enjoy!
“How did you get into product management?”
I entered the digital marketing and web industry over a decade ago, initially convinced it was my lifelong path. However, the exposure to entrepreneurship programs and projects and the opportunity to work on various client solutions in the technology industry shifted my perspective.
Engaging in user interviews and building customer journeys made me develop a passion for empathizing with users and changed my mindset to want to solve our customers' problems. An opportunity at Sitecore to join the Product Management team arose, and I seized it.
“How do you start your mornings at work?”
My mornings kick off with a quick check of Teams for urgent matters, followed by dedicated focus time. It includes research, competitive analysis, and ideation on specific areas we want to improve within the product.
Despite being located in different parts of the world, I feel fortunate to work with an amazing team. Our firm bond allows us to work effectively asynchronously and trust each other highly.
Later, my day revolves around refining the quarterly priorities and ad hoc meetings regarding the short—and long-term goals. This can include checking for new user feedback or insights, reviewing the ideas in our Jira Product Discovery board, and examining the user behavior data reports.
“What do you know about product management now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”
A key lesson was to stop rushing into solution development. Initially inclined towards fast feature implementation, I realized the importance of prioritizing the understanding of the user paint points and market dynamics. The shift from a feature-centric to a problem-solving approach has significantly enhanced my product management approach.
“What did your biggest product failure teach you?”
Rather than viewing it as a failure, I consider it a crucial lesson. When tackling something new, engaging with users is the key. Drawing inspiration from "Continuous Discovery Habits” and amazing colleagues and managers, I learned the value of frequent customer interactions. The insights gained from such interviews provide an invaluable understanding of the users and their usage patterns and help build a better relationship with your users.
“What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your product management learning curve?”
Access to exceptional individuals within Sitecore and my circle of friends has been instrumental.
Seeking mentorship from my manager, collaborating with colleagues possessing diverse skills, and embracing constructive feedback have accelerated my learning curve.
Asking questions and actively seeking mentorship have proven to be one of the most effective ways to grow and improve in product management, especially when you are the only product manager in your location.
“How do you stay updated on the best practices in product management?”
Staying informed involves a mix of books, podcasts, and newsletters. I return to these books often: The Design of Everyday Things, Continuous Discovery Habits, and Escaping the Build Trap.
Podcasts, both product management and entrepreneurship-focused, offer diverse perspectives. Some of my favorites right now are Lenny’s podcast and How I Built This with Guy Raz.
Additionally, subscribing to relevant newsletters like this keeps me in the loop on emerging trends and best practices. :)
