Becoming an IT Product Manager with Olivia V.
By: Beau H., Content Manager
In a continuation of our technology series, Olivia V., a Sr. Manager in IT Product Management, discusses her career journey at Schwab. Keep reading to learn about her experiences in tech and her advice to people starting out in the field.
Finding support, opportunity, and community at Schwab
As a Latina professional with a background in both finance and technology, Olivia has first-hand knowledge about the limited amount of women in these spaces. She believes this is due to a general lack of awareness about role availability at Schwab, and has a passion for talking about our diverse set of career paths that fit many different skills and experience levels.
“When most people think about “tech,” they assume we only have roles for developers or software engineers, and often don’t consider technology product management opportunities,” she explains.
For the majority of her 15 years with us, Olivia’s work in finance was typically overseen by male leaders. This did not, however, lessen her confidence or effectiveness – instead, she details how these managers consistently took the approach of “supporting and encouraging me to grow in my career or learn about other departments and roles.” Adding to this, Olivia mentions that the warm, human-centric atmosphere at Schwab made her feel valued – even if she was often one of the few women carrying out duties in client service or at the trading desk. “I’ve come across many male leaders and have never felt like I was being treated as ‘less than’.”
It wasn’t until Olivia made the major career transition to Technology Product Management that she felt she found her true calling. After bringing her talents and client-facing exposure over to the new role, she was happily surprised to find more women in leadership roles - for her, that experience was “very refreshing,” and further compelled her to continue chasing career advancement on the product team.
Olivia’s career journey
Olivia’s initial path didn’t lead directly into the tech sector. Instead, she began her career in Customer Service and Support (CS&S) and obtained her series 7 and series 63 licenses, which allowed her to work the trade desk and specialize in options trading.
Then, in 2017, plans were made to relocate the trade desk to Westlake. This change presented Olivia with a unique opportunity - she found herself with about 18 months to consider her next move and decided to take a risk by embarking on a total career shift. “Being fond of Schwab, I began looking internally and came across an associate role in Product Management in the schwab.com/research domain. Given my background on the trade desk, moving into a digital space that still had a direct impact on clients intrigued me.”
The product team turned out to be an excellent fit for Olivia. Her experience in a client-facing role helped ensure that updates to the /research domain were made with client in mind.
As the months passed, Olivia's career continued to progress at Schwab. In 2021, she was promoted into her current role as a Senior Manager in IT Product Management, and readily accepted the position. “Transitioning to a tech role has been instrumental in my growth, starting from entry-level jobs to my current senior manager role. In all, my journey has been shaped by networking, inquisitiveness, openness to change, and the perseverance to continually learn and evolve.”
Advice for people entering tech
For people looking to begin their career in tech or transition from another area of our firm, Olivia offers this advice: “For those aspiring to join the tech or finance sectors, especially within Schwab, I encourage you to expand your networks. Approach professionals for informational conversations, and for the chance to 'ghost' or observe their roles. For example, I engaged with individuals interested in my background during a panel. Initiating these conversations can spark thoughts about alternative roles you might not have initially considered.”
She continues: “Also, explore the openings listed on Schwab's job platforms. Embrace unfamiliar roles, and don't hesitate to reach out to hiring managers to gain insights into positions that pique your interest. Communicate your willingness to learn and adapt, even if it means entering a room as the least knowledgeable person. It's crucial to understand that not having all the answers doesn't imply you'll never find them.”
What has kept Olivia at Schwab for 15 years
Beyond the abundance of growth opportunities she’s encountered, Olivia has remained at Schwab because of the consistent appreciation her managers have shown and the genuine friendships she’s built. She explains that “these connections extend beyond the realm of colleagues into personal relationships. Trips, bachelorette parties, and ongoing conversations with friends who were once colleagues have fortified my attachment to the company. Schwab's commitment to its employees resonates with me.”
She adds that the famous adage, “People don't quit companies; they quit bad managers,” holds true, and that she’s still here because, “to this day, I have not had a single bad manager at Schwab.”
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