Product Management or Product Marketing? Why not both? Welcome to my life as a Product Marketing Manager for Pragma. People often ask me what I like most about my new role. Apart from the fact that every day is so varied, and different, it’s the creative aspect. As a frustrated (failed some would say) musician and amateur artist outside of work it is natural that I would seek a creative outlet in the day job. There are of course those who would hold to the notion that Product Management is all about the operational – believe me I have been there. Day after day of monotonous operational drudgery. Buried in the next exciting report, the daily grind of inventory management. For sure I must indulge the operational stuff still – it’s a necessary evil. But the opportunity to spread my creative wings daily is something I embrace with a passion. The Product Marketing aspect to my role is immensely gratifying and something I am very precious about. From redesigning customer price books to a drains-up refresh of web sales and customer portals to customer literature, the creative stuff gives me the most immediate satisfaction as this is what our customers interface with daily. Yes sure, the operational stuff has to be right but with an amazing team of people around you to ensure that things run like clockwork, I get a chance to ensure that the way things look, and feel is just as slick. I am not perfect, and I don’t have all the answers. I try to stay humble and if I have learnt anything from 20 years in the world of communications it is that you never stop learning from those around you. But one thing I do know, and this applies to life in general – when you find your place in the greater picture and it feels right then grab it with both hands. You spend a big chunk of your life at work…… Be happy doing it! I took a walk on the creative side and it feels my journey has only just begun……