Big Organizations versus Start-ups, Which Should I Choose?

Q: Should I start my product career with a startup or an established organization?

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As with everything else, there are pros & cons to each.

Big organizations

Assuming a larger setup has a product focus, you can find:

• Structured product development process
• Streamlined onboarding
• Mature engineering culture
• Access to paid tools
• Potential mentorship
• Opportunities to work across multiple products

The goals are relatively clearer & there is financial stability. Every day isn't an existential crisis.

Startups

The challenges & chaos a startup throws at you really builds your mettle as a PM:

1- It shapes you into a generalist

The team is leaner, so the PM is expected to fill the whitespace & put on a wide variety of hats. They're thrown in the deep end to learn skills quickly.

Ex: in my early years, I had to learn things like blog writing, image editing, email marketing, presentations etc.

2- It sharpens your creativity

Funds are limited so growth PMs are stretched to come up with creative but cheap strategies to fuel acquisition.

Ex: at Pakwheels, we laser focused on SEO, community building & conversion optimization than Google Ads.

3- It teaches you rapid adaptability

The PM has to react quickly to changes & pivots as the startup progresses to find product-market fit.

4- You get more ownership

You have more control over making changes. There are lesser areas guarded by hierarchy and red tape.

5- Access to Customers

You're empowered to conduct product discovery directly with customers rather than going through relationship managers.

6- Ability to modify processes

You have more flexibility in shaping product development process e.g. Spec templates, artefacts, daily rituals.

7- You become a prioritization champ

Decisions need to made faster & with limited resources, hence, your prioritization skills get polished. It becomes second nature to do the mental math in your head.

8- More visibility

You have a seat at the table from the start. Moreover, if you stay for the long haul, your "pioneer" status pays off big.

As far as financials are concerned, startups nowadays pay comparable ballparks to large orgs. They're willing to dish out generous shares too which isn't always the case in bigger orgs.

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I personally began with a startup. Because of the breadth I gained there, I was later able to contribute in several cross-functional areas when I joined Bayt/vFairs, leading to my product marketing role.

There is one drawback with startups though.

The product role can be very lonely there as there's a lack of mentorship. No sounding boards. A mentor could have fast-tracked my learning.

Having said that, I still lean towards kicking off with a startup, at least for a year or two.

The limitations & rapid pace will necessitate knowledge gain & sharp prioritization - skills that will accelerate your career later on.