Aaron transitioned from Senior Growth Engineer to Growth PM
Background:
Aaron Van Ruler works on growth at Boardable. AVR has a long track record as a successful engineer and was in the process of transitioning into a Growth PM role when we met. He had just finished taking Reforge and was looking for some guidance and mentorship and he applied the concepts and principles at Boardable.
What challenges were you facing when we met?
I wanted to learn more about the Growth role (PM or Director) and whether I could successfully transition from engineering into growth.
I had just finished taking Reforge and I was feeling out of my league coming from an engineering background. I wanted a more personal connection to make the learning practical.
Did you evaluate other alternatives?
Not really. I might have chatted to another coach who specialized in working with engineers if that was your recommendation. After meeting on our initial intake call, I felt a lot better about that. Then, I wasn't sure I could afford the cost on my own - but my company agreed to cover the cost...then it was a no-brainer.
What did we work on together?
We worked through a lot of the transition plan together! Some strategic things, some soft-skills, and some very practical "do x this week" type stuff.
My biggest takeaways were:
1. Simplify (I don't need to have perfect data to move forward)
2. Keep a trophy file
3. Stop asking for permission
During our engagement, my company laid off 1/2 of our employees, which impacted my resources and made execution tough. So we refocused our sessions and split our time discussing how I could continue to make a big impact in my role today while exploring “what’s next” for me personally.
What was the experience like?
I liked that you were able to flex to my changing circumstances. I sometimes felt like I was wasting your time - but felt like you always met me where I was at and what was going on. I definitely learned some very practical things, too, and have been looking back over my notes quite a bit. I never felt "dumb" or like I should be farther along. I also appreciated your honesty and willingness to share directly.
Any major results?
I definitely have more confidence in the things I've learned. I feel like I know what I'm talking about and can bring a lot to a new team or company. I also feel confident in the direction I want to go with my career - that I have the experience and mindset to shift from engineering to product.
There are still so many things I'll put in to practice moving forward...even if I haven't been able to execute in the last few months.
Any message to someone on the fence about working with Andrew?
Andrew has been an incredible coach and guide on my journey in growth. He was able to quickly understand my context, offer very practical next steps, and help me gain some clarity on what could be next. I've felt both challenged and understood as we've worked together. There are a lot of places to find growth resources - but the practical one-on-one conversations with Andrew helped me go further, faster.