My name is Kathryn Tirador — this is why I joined Aha!

Program vs. product management, product manager vs. product marketing manager — these Aha! blog posts cover topics I know well. I've had the chance to try all three roles in my career (spoiler alert: Product marketing is my favorite). Seeing product development from different angles taught me a lot, but no matter the role, what matters most to me is contributing to something innovative.

It is important to be inspired by what you are building. Then, it becomes that much more exciting to watch it grow.

Before I found my way to product, I went to school for chemistry. I started out working as a lab technician for a smaller company in the life sciences industry. I liked feeling connected to everyone on the team. But I learned quickly that the work itself was not for me — my tasks were repetitive with little room for creativity and exploration. I started to think about alternate career options.

I always had an interest in business, so I decided to pursue an MBA. As part of the program, we were encouraged to explore different roles in industries that were familiar to us. I tried an internship with a medical device company that involved developing the product marketing strategy and content for a niche customer group (heart surgeons). The work was so much more dynamic — for me, that meant more fun.

After completing my MBA, I was curious to join a larger company and open to a variety of roles. So, I took the opportunity to try a program management position at IBM and ended up really enjoying it. I got to support product managers, internal processes, and release plans across the portfolio.

Eventually, I shifted into product management myself. I started working on an emerging AI product with the R&D team. It was exciting to do discovery work and help ideas evolve into real features. Since the product was so new, I did a lot of product marketing too (helping to craft messaging, positioning, and go-to-market campaigns), which I loved.

I transitioned to another product team at IBM later on. The software we managed was very mature with customers in heavily regulated industries. That meant new product innovation was minimal. I soon missed that side of my work. And after nearly six years at a major enterprise, I was ready to be part of a tighter-knit, fast-moving team again.

I learned how much product development can vary between teams, lifecycle stages, and offerings. This helped me clarify what to look for next.

I applied for a product marketing position with the Aha! team. I realized how much I had loved those aspects of my past roles — exploring how to tell the product story, thinking big about launch plans — and I wanted to do more. Plus, I used Aha! Roadmaps when I was a product manager and already knew the product well. When I interviewed, I was sold. The conversations were purposeful, and no one tried to stump me with trick questions. It was clear that the team cared about getting to know me as a person, and not just bullet points on a resume.

Now, I focus on Aha! Roadmaps as a senior product marketing manager. I collaborate with the product team on release activities, write product launch posts, and help grow our live tutorial program. The product has been successful for over a decade, but we still constantly find new ways to improve our software for customers. As a bonus, my experience as an Aha! user means I can talk up the features I want everyone to know about, like our powerful integrations and roadmap reports.

It is fulfilling to be in a role at Aha! where I get to help my fellow product builders learn and achieve in their own careers.

It is also our team that makes the work so rewarding. Everyone is high-achieving and motivated, and we are also close-knit. We rely on one another and celebrate shared wins. And we have fun. Every time we meet up in person, I am reminded of how impactful all of this is and how much I enjoy being part of it.

That is why I joined Aha! — and why you should too.