Nov 28 2018
How two startup founders are bringing their ideas to life as product leaders at Facebook
By Meta Careers
Maryanna Q. and Nikila S. have something in common besides being product management leaders at Facebook: they're both entrepreneurs at heart. We sat down with them to chat about their career paths, what surprised them about working at Facebook, and what keeps their entrepreneurial spirits inspired.
I hear you both started your own companies before joining Facebook. What led you here?
Maryanna: I didn’t think I would ever work for a large company like Facebook, but it truly feels smaller than it is. Before I was referred to Facebook by one of my advisors, I founded and ran a workflow automation app for independent professionals. We ran out of cash and closed it down, but I realized I loved the product side of the business. Now that I'm at Facebook, I love knowing that the work I do here is meaningful. For example, my sister has been able to grow her tutoring business through Facebook advertising, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see my impact firsthand.
Nikila: Growing up in South India, I’ve always been passionate about improving technology for the developing world. I helped start a magazine in India that is now a media company. Working at Facebook was on my bucket list, and I joined five years ago as part of the Android team. Now I am working on the small business team for ads, helping to give SMBs around the world a voice on the platform and be successful.
Were there any surprises when you joined?
Nikila: Two things stand out to me. First, that the 'move fast' mentality is real, even as Facebook has scaled. We have the resources and autonomy to bring ideas to life quickly, and reach billions of people around the world. At a startup, you don’t always have that luxury or level of impact.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how passionate my colleagues are about our mission, but at the same time are willing to respectfully challenge each other and ask the tough questions. Everyone in the room has the opportunity to share their opinions and voice their concerns. As leaders, we're constantly thinking about how our work will impact the people using our platforms and we're willing to go down the harder path when it's the right thing to do, even if it impacts ROI.
Maryanna: Before joining Facebook, I imagined it was top-down, that VPs must be driving every product decision. But actually, product managers are entrusted to lead teams and make key product decisions. It’s very empowering to lead my domain without feeling micromanaged.
What are some of the ways you’ve found Facebook encourages your entrepreneurial spirit?
Maryanna: On product teams at Facebook, people (no matter the level) are empowered to take initiative and drive their own work forward. As a result, a lot of decision-making authority rests with individual team members. As a leader, this allows my teams to move faster and with a greater diversity of perspectives represented.
Nikila: The magnitude of the impact you can have in the world when working at Facebook is unlike anywhere else. We are provided a degree of autonomy that means we don’t need to be prescriptive about how to do things. All leaders have goals they have to meet but they're given flexibility in figuring out how to meet them. As a result, we’re able to really focus on growth, and people are given the freedom and space to do what they do best.
What keeps you inspired?
Maryanna: One thing that really inspires me is that we have really strong female leadership. Both my Director and VP are women. I can see myself in them, and that makes my potential career trajectory feel more real. Also, I’m surrounded by really smart, humble people who are truly the best in their respective fields, and I learn a lot from their different perspectives. This helps us all make better, more informed decisions and we can make a greater impact together.
Nikila: The real world effect we’re having inspires me when I come into work every day. I recently met a woman in Mexico who grew her entire business using Facebook ads. Small businesses are the backbone of every economy and are such great contributors to their communities. I’ve been here for five years, and if I wasn’t here, I would be working at my own startup working on the same problems. Instead, I’m able to do similar work and bring my ideas to life at Facebook at a larger scale, with a strong internal support network of industry leaders. It's the best of both worlds.
Any advice for people interested in a career at Facebook?
Nikila: As a leader, you have to have the humility to know when you’re wrong, and the ability to learn and move fast to act on it. Additionally, it’s important to truly understand the people who use your product and really get to know their challenges and what’s important to them. Lastly, be yourself - be authentic. That matters more than anything else. I joined Facebook not as the most experienced person, but was given a seat at the table because I brought my own unique experience and perspective. Always remember you have a diverse perspective that no one else can bring to the table. This is especially critical when building for a community of over 2+ billion people around the world.
Maryanna: Keep delivering and pushing the extra mile to always do the right thing. We’re looking for people who act with integrity, have self-awareness, are willing to make tough calls, and speak out if they disagree with a decision or have concerns with the product direction. Above all else, be excellent at whatever you’re doing, wherever you are.
Would you like to bring your ideas to life at a much bigger scale? Learn more about product management opportunities at Facebook:
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