Product Administration Weblog | Trailblazing Ladies in Product Administration: Insights from Michelle Felice-Steele, VP at Experian 

On this version of our Ladies in Product Administration Collection, I had the pleasure of talking with Michelle Felice-Steele, Vice President of Product Administration at Experian Client Providers. Michelle shares her inspiring profession journey, insights on management, and recommendation for girls in tech seeking to break into product administration. 

Key Takeaways from Michelle Felice-Steele 

• Keep curious: At all times be studying and asking questions. 

• Search alternatives: Increase your hand and volunteer for brand new challenges. 

• Tailor communication: Know your viewers and adapt your message. 

• Discover mentors: Construct a community of supportive, skilled professionals. 
• Embrace innovation: Deal with fixing issues in new and impactful methods. 

From Journalism to Product Administration: Michelle’s Profession Journey 

Nicole: Michelle, welcome! Let’s dive proper in. How did you get into product administration? 

Michelle: Thanks, Nicole, I’m excited to be right here! My profession path wasn’t precisely conventional. It started within the late ’90s after I was taking journalism courses in faculty. One among my professors labored on the Las Vegas Solar, which was launching its on-line website—what later grew to become Vegas.com. 

I assumed, “This on-line factor is basically going to take off,” so I jumped on the likelihood to work on this area. I began on the inventive facet, working with content material, HTML, and imagery. From there, I moved to Los Angeles and landed a job in mission administration. Whereas it gave me a stable technical basis, I missed the inventive outlet. 

Product administration grew to become the proper match as a result of it’s in regards to the “what” and “why” of constructing a product, in addition to understanding the “how.” My background in mission administration helped me develop expertise like facilitation, technical aptitude, and solutioning—all important for product administration. Transitioning into this function felt pure as a result of it aligned my inventive passions with enterprise technique. 

Discovering Inspiration in Client Insights 

Nicole: That’s such a singular mix of creativity, enterprise, and tech. What conjures up you most in product administration at this time? 

Michelle: For me, it’s all about client insights. At Experian Client Providers, now we have an unimaginable staff devoted to understanding the wants of our customers. Listening to instantly from finish customers is all the time inspiring. 

Proper now, I oversee a B2B2C mannequin, which entails serving each companies and shoppers. It’s a difficult area but additionally rewarding as a result of it retains me always studying. As a product supervisor, being as shut as potential to your finish person is important. Whether or not it’s by means of interviews, suggestions from gross sales groups, or knowledge from consumer providers, these insights gasoline innovation. 

The Artwork of Managing Stakeholders by Affect 

Nicole: Product administration typically entails working with a variety of stakeholders. How do you navigate these relationships? 

Michelle: It’s all about customizing your message. At a management degree, particularly when working with executives, it’s essential to tailor your communication. Builders want detailed directions, however executives desire elevator pitches with clear takeaways. 

I all the time prepare my staff to know their viewers and regulate accordingly. It’s a key ability that helps construct belief and affect throughout groups. 

Elevating Your Hand: Recommendation for Aspiring Leaders 

Nicole: You’ve superior by means of management roles in product administration. What recommendation do you’ve got for others seeking to develop their management expertise? 

Michelle: Increase your hand and search alternatives. In case you see a niche or envision a brand new mission, communicate up. You don’t need to be an knowledgeable—simply present a need to study. 

At all times be curious. Ask questions with sincerity and authenticity. If you join the dots, you’ll uncover alternatives to make an affect. And don’t neglect mentorship—each being a mentor and searching for one. At Experian, now we have a Ladies in Experian Mentorship Program, and it’s been probably the most fulfilling elements of my profession. 

What Makes a Nice Product Supervisor? 

Nicole: When hiring for product administration roles, what qualities or expertise do you prioritize? 

Michelle: The flexibility to clear up advanced issues and perceive your person is vital. I search for candidates who can articulate how they’ve taken a product by means of its total lifecycle, not only one section. 

There are such a lot of forms of product roles—business-focused, technical, design-driven, or marketing-oriented. Every requires completely different expertise, however throughout the board, the flexibility to stability market demand, technical feasibility, and enterprise viability is important. 

Ardour for Innovation 

Nicole: What excites you most about product administration? 

Michelle: Innovation. It’s what drives me. I like fixing issues for shoppers and creating options that make their lives simpler. One of the vital rewarding initiatives I labored on was Experian Enhance—a product that broke new floor in credit score reporting. It was difficult to construct, however that’s what made it so impactful. If it had been simple, anybody may do it. 

Breaking Into Product Administration: Recommendation for Ladies 

Nicole: For girls seeking to enter product administration, what recommendation would you supply? 

Michelle: Begin by constructing a robust basis. There are such a lot of nice books and sources on the market. Two must-reads are Impressed and Reworked by Marty Cagan. The Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen can also be incredible, and in the event you’re thinking about innovation, take a look at Hooked: Find out how to Construct Behavior-Forming Merchandise by Nir Eyal. 

Develop primary technical expertise. You don’t must be a developer, however understanding know-how and asking the suitable questions is vital. 

Lastly, community and search mentorship. Don’t be afraid to place your self on the market and join with others within the discipline. Confidence and steady studying will take you far. 

Nicole: That’s unimaginable recommendation. Thanks, Michelle, for sharing your journey and insights. 

Michelle: Thanks for having me!