Leveraging mentors to uplevel your career | Jules Walter (YouTube, Slack)

In this episode, Lenny hosts Jules Walter, a product leader at YouTube and a former growth PM at Slack. The conversation dives into the essential skills needed for product managers, categorizing them into intellectual (IQ) and emotional (EQ) skills. Jules stresses the necessity of both types of skills for career success, sharing his journey through various roles and the importance of mentorship in honing these skills. He highlights that early in his career, he focused more on IQ skills like execution and product sense, and as he advanced, he recognized the need to enhance his EQ skills such as communication and leadership. The episode also explores methods of obtaining feedback and the value of sharing experiences with mentors. Jules emphasizes an iterative process of learning, setting outcomes, and finding ways to apply knowledge practically. He provides actionable advice on networking and how to approach potential mentors by making minimal initial requests for help. Reflecting on his experiences, Jules notes that community engagement and the formation of nonprofit organizations aimed at increasing diversity in tech have also enriched his professional journey. As the discussion wraps up, he underscores the importance of continuous learning and self-awareness in becoming a successful product manager.