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[in] their own words: past and present APMs
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“I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to start my career in the LinkedIn Associate Product Manager (APM) program. This program provided me with the skills and knowledge of what it takes to be a great product manager, as well as the experience of developing meaningful software for hundreds of millions of users. The APM program not only gave me invaluable experience but also enabled me to establish a powerful and supportive network that has become increasingly valuable to my career. There were many highlights during my time at LinkedIn, but the Hackdays were always the most anticipated. It was during one of these Hackdays that I actually met my future co-founder. In hindsight, the APM program was the perfect launching pad for my career, and I would make the same decision again in a heartbeat.”
Eric Brownrout
Class of 2016 -
“At the time, most PM roles were available only to people with many years of industry experience, and only a handful of companies offered opportunities for people who were new to product management. I am so grateful for LinkedIn's APM program because it gave me an opportunity to try something I had never done before and find my passion. I was able to connect with an amazing mentor (who is still my mentor to this day!) and learn critical PM skills through structured courses but also through observing and shadowing other great PMs at LinkedIn.”
Heidi Wang
Class of 2014 -
“I loved my time as an APM at Linkedin! Not only did the class consist of some of the smartest people I’ve known, they know how to do it all while having the most fun and supporting each other! The most special part of the program is truly the community because it brings together a group of people in very similar stages of their careers, facing very relatable challenges, and learning together.”
Vasudha Mithal
Class of 2014 -
“Product University and the Brown Bag series are two initiatives that have played a large role in my growth as an APM. During these sessions, some of LinkedIn's best product leaders drive discussions on a variety of topics ranging from product strategy to leading with empathy to building a strong roadmap. It’s always so great to have this time and space to learn from different PMs across LinkedIn's businesses.
Learning series aside, a lot of my growth has come from just jumping in and getting to work. My first mentor taught me the importance of failing fast and failing often. ‘Failures’ are simply opportunities to learn. Trying new things, iterating and trying again has been key to molding me into the product manager I am today."
Chika Okonkwo
Class of 2020 -
“This is an amazing opportunity to make a pivot or start your career in a first-class tech company. On my first rotation, I led a new team with the goal of increasing the number of creators on LinkedIn. I was able to learn about the creator economy, understand how our marketplace works, and lead a growth team, which is a highly valuable PM skill. In parallel, I worked on strategy docs to kick off new opportunities, small features to improve bad experiences, and vision decks to imagine the future of our app. On my second rotation, I'm leading Video ads and AI-related features on LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, one of LinkedIn's relevant revenue streams. As an MBA grad, I found that managers were able to adapt their roles to give you the opportunity to grow according to your experience and skills. This is why some of LinkedIn’s strongest product leaders were part of the program.”
Pablo Clark
Class of 2021
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Lauren Gilbert2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I've been to 17 different countries and planned 4 different international trips for my friends and classmates.
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Leonardo Jimenez2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I have three nationalities (USA, Peru, and Venezuela).
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Victor Oyare Oko2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I love to beatbox.
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Emma Brady2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I have a Varsity letter from Notre Dame even though I didn't play a sport there! (I was a team manager for the Men's Lacrosse team).
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Toussaint Webb2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I am currently learning to speak Spanish.
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Cindy Zhang2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I used to be a huuuge Puzzle and Dragons nerd. Also, I have an extremely irrational fear of fish (I love sushi though!)
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Dani Dawkins2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I started a podcast called Failing Forward in business school to normalize making failure a growth opportunity.
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Lauren Charney2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I am ambidextrous & love to bake desserts of all kind!
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Juvensen Jules2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I once camped for three days and three nights alone on a mountain with 3 gallons of water, a hammock, and a cutting knife. Why? Just to see if I could do it.
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Dilasha Shrestha2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: When I was 15, I completed an intense training course in mountaineering and allied adventure activities at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.
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Kevin Zhang2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I hated playing piano as a kid but love it now that no one’s forcing me.
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Milap Patel2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I played competitive soccer for 14 years.
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Ellen Xu2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I hike (almost) religiously, completed 30 hikes in the first 3 months of moving to SF.
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Amy Ru2022Not on my LinkedIn profile: I was a beta tester for Pokémon Go!
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Rachana Prasad2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I've hiked to one of the most scenic places in the Himalayas, but sadly I have no photos to show for it after the intense rain washed my phone away.
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Alexa Jan2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I was once featured on a local TV channel in Sondrio, Italy.
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Anny Song2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: In high school, I've taken a tractor, 4-wheeler, and horse-back to get to school (all modes of transportation).
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Thuy Tien Vu Tran2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I went through 3 years of military training in Vietnam.
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Amin Haririnia2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: Traveled to 5 countries in 24 hours by plane, train, ferry and bus.
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Kell Golden2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I make keto sweets.
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Sriya Maram2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I got stung by jellyfish in Hawaii!
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Adriana Meza2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and golf.
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Jalon Daniels2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I intentionally influence/curate my Spotify wrapped, to match my yearly aesthetic/theme.
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Jiali Huang2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I follow Pamela's workout videos to do exercise every day.
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Vraj Vyas2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I once broke Usher's phone.
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Ayinde Castro2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: In my spare time I do photography and have had my work in museums such as the MET and the Whitney.
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Koji Alguacil2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I used to make videos reviewing different sparkling water brands.
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James Manganiello2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I'm in a DnD league with a bunch of friends and my character is essentially Gilderoy Lockhart. I cannot tell you how fun it is.
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Jiajing Dai2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I have been a content creator for 3 years, producing videos/blogs about product management and career.
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Lizzie Youshaei2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I have every vowel in my last name :)
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Aisling O'Reilly2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I'm fascinated by human behaviour and love listening to psycology podcasts.
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Zane Homsi2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: I love the outdoors - catch me SCUBA diving or road cycling on the weekends!
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Ahmed Abdelrahman2021Not on my LinkedIn profile: During my college years, I studied and lived in six different countries!
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Glenn Feit2020Not on my LinkedIn profile: I've driven across the country five times.
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Ishan Sinha2020Not on my LinkedIn profile: I play guitar!
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What is the APM Rotational Program?
The APM Rotational Program consists of two 12-month rotations on different product teams. This provides the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the role, while receiving strong mentorship from LinkedIn product leaders across the company. Each class of APMs also meets weekly with a cohort lead, who facilitates learning sessions and community-building events throughout the year.
What skills will I learn?
The APM program is a career rocket ship, teaching end-to-end product development through Product Bootcamp at the start of the program and through learning by doing during the rotations. This includes a wide variety of skills, such as driving product strategy and roadmaps, making data-driven decisions and prioritizations, and presenting to product leaders. You’ll also work closely with cross-functional partners across engineering, business operations, marketing, data science, and more.
What is the community aspect of the APM Program like?
One of LinkedIn’s core values is “Relationships matter,” which the APM Rotational Program embodies. We facilitate community-building both inside and outside of the office to help you build lifelong relationships.
What mentorship is available?
Each APM joins a team with a manager, in-team mentor, and meaningful product area that helps maximize learning and business impact. You’ll also receive a mentor through the APM program who is on a different team, helping to provide a different perspective from the day-to-day. Additionally, a second-year APM will be assigned as an “APM buddy” to help show you the ropes.
What are the responsibilities of an APM?
APM positions can vary from team to team, but all involve:
- Owning and developing a specific feature set, its roadmap, OKRs, and operational plans
- Setting principles to guide prioritization and maximize impact within product and business constraints
- Proactively identifying obstacles and seeking resolution with manager support
- Collaborating with cross-functional and/or cross-org teams to execute the roadmap
- Seeking out diverse ideas, perspectives, and experiences from the working team and partners
- Effectively communicating your product work and impact
- Actively participating in APM program events and development
What happens after the APM program?
The program sets up participants for success wherever their product journey takes them. After your second rotation, APMs continue to grow their product careers. They can remain on the team that they rotated on, or they can try something new. Previous APMs have grown their product careers at LinkedIn (PMs, Chiefs of Staff, and VPs), presented at Forbes 30 under 30, and founded their own companies.
Where are rotations based?
Rotations are based in the LinkedIn San Francisco or Sunnyvale Headquarters offices.
How is Product Management different at LinkedIn?
Our platform creates economic opportunity for the global workforce and helps our 875+ million professionals make meaningful connections and be more productive and successful. Our global reach means we get to make a direct impact on the world’s workforce. We’re much more than a digital resume – we transform lives through innovative products and technology. Our product management organization is at the core of this innovation.
Can I apply if I am a master’s student?
Yes.
What is the typical background of an APM?
There is no typical background for being a Product Manager. We generally seek candidates with a track record of entrepreneurship or leadership experience, in addition to technical and product expertise. Some ways candidates have demonstrated these skills are:
- Created a company or a product
- Founded or led a group
- Earned a major scholarship
- Completed a product management internship
- Completed a fellowship with a venture capital or entrepreneurial organization.
How is the APM intern program structured?
The APM intern program is a 3-month internship on a product team. Interns participate in an onboarding bootcamp to learn the basics of product management and complete a project to help hone their PM skills. They receive mentorship from their manager, in-team mentor, and an APM buddy. Through fireside chats, learning sessions, and networking events, APM interns learn and grow with each other, building a strong community.
What happens when an APM intern returns full-time?
We view the internship as a bonus third rotation, and interns join a new team if they return for a second internship or a full-time role.
