INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Tim Hsia - Neil DevaniContributorMore posts by this contributorWelcome to this transcribed edition of The Operators
TechCrunch is beginning to publish podcasts from industry experts, with transcriptions available for Extra Crunch members so you can read
the conversation wherever you are.The Operators highlights the experts building the products and companies that drive the tech industry
Speaking from experience at companies like Google, Brex, Slack, Docsend, Facebook, Edmodo, WeWork, Mint, etc., these experts share insider
tips on how to break into fields like product management and enterprise sales
McCue, product manager at Slack, the fastest growing enterprise software company ever that recently skipped its IPO to do a direct listing
(like Spotify), andJamal Eason, a senior product manager at Google, a company recognized as a training ground for the best product managers
should think about product management as a discipline.Lorilyn and Jamal are also both West Point graduates and military veterans who have
They are experienced operators in not just Silicon Valley but also from their days serving in uniform.Neil Devani and Tim Hsia created The
Operators after seeing and hearing too many heady, philosophical podcasts about the future of the world and the tech industry, and not
enough attention on the practical day-to-day work that makes it all happen.Tim is the CEO - Founder of Media Mobilize, a media company and
ad network, and a Venture Partner at Digital Garage
Tim is an early-stage investor in Workflow (acquired by Apple), Lime, FabFitFun, Oh My Green, Morning Brew, Girls Night In, The Hustle,
Bright Cellars, and others
Neil is an early-stage investor based in San Francisco with a focus on companies solving serious problems, including Andela, Clearbit,
Devani and Tim Hsia, highlights the experts building the products and companies that drive the tech industry
Speaking from experience at companies like Google, Brex, Slack, Docsend, Facebook, Edmodo, WeWork, Mint, etc., these experts share insider
tips on how to break into fields like product management and enterprise sales
talking about product management
Neil interviews Lorilyn McCue, PM at Slack, andJamal Eason, a senior PM at Google.Neil Devani: Hi and welcome to the second episode of The
Operators where we learn about people building the companies of tomorrow
Digital Garage here in sunny San Francisco
Go to foursigmatic.com/operators-special to try out Four Sigmatic.Joining me today we have Jamal Eason, a senior product manager at Google
Google is one of the top companies in the world when it comes to product management.Also joining us is Lorilyn McCue, a product manager at
Slack is one of the fastest growing enterprise software companies ever and just recently filed for its IPO
Lorilyn and Jamal, thank you for joining us
where you went to school, and how you got into becoming a PM.Lorilyn McCue: Sure
This story will sound very similar in a little bit because Jamal and I have similar backgrounds.I went to West Point, the United States
Military Academy for undergrad
I studied computer science there
I served for 10 years in the Army
I flew Apache helicopters for six years and I taught back at West Point for three years.After that I really had no idea what to do
Jamal was actually helpful in that process
I guess a fun fact about that decision is I was thinking East Coast versus West Coast schools
Thank you.And then I did an internship at Google in product management
The summer between my first and second year I really loved product management
I started off as a product manager on the new user experience team and recently changed to platform.Devani: Awesome, great!Jamal Eason:
there though.Eason: No biking
Similar story, I also went to West Point for undergrad and studied computer science
Lorilyn and I shared multiple classes together there at West Point.But instead I actually went to the Signal Corps, basically the branch of
the military that does satellites and data communications.
