Nikhyl Singhal

Guest: Nikhyl Singhal - Product Leader at Meta. Nikhyl has led product teams at influential companies like Facebook, Credit Karma, Google Hangouts, and Google Photos, and is passionate about coaching and mentoring through his newsletter and podcast, The Skip. Key Takeaways: Think Long-Term: Avoid short-term career decisions focused solely on promotions or immediate challenges. Instead, plan your career like a product, considering your ultimate goals and working backward. Avoid Ex-Growth Companies: Be cautious of companies that have raised substantial funds but lack product-market fit, as they may not offer long-term career growth or equity value. Understand Promotion Barriers: Common reasons for not being promoted include lack of advocacy, absence of available roles, impatience, or unrecognized development areas. Seek real feedback to identify and address these issues. Embrace the IC Path: The rise of the senior IC path offers a viable alternative to management, allowing product managers to focus on building expertise without the need to manage people. Plan for Act Three: As careers lengthen, consider what will motivate you after achieving initial career goals. Focus on giving back and finding new challenges to maintain fulfillment. Topics Covered: Long-term career planning, ex-growth companies, promotion challenges, senior IC path, mental health in leadership, community building, feedback and development areas.