Last year, I considered moving from data science to product management. I wasn’t driven by a deep-seated desire to change roles—our team was building more products, and my manager supported the transition. My motivation was driven by the momentum around me, not by an intrinsic passion for the title of "product manager."
However, a recent conversation with a coworker made me rethink my career. While many view corporate life as a soul-sucking 9-to-5, my experience has been more nuanced. Yes, I’ve faced office politics and tasks that sometimes feel meaningless, but I’ve also enjoyed the flexibility to work on projects that excite me.
After a reorganization left me feeling lost, I discovered a project that changed my perspective. Noticing teams wasting countless hours on manual Excel and PowerPoint tasks, I built an MVP in under eight hours using AI—a fully automated React app that streamlined these processes.
That project did more than eliminate repetitive work; it reignited my passion for problem-solving. With data critical to our brands and colleagues leaving out of frustration, I realized my tool could deliver genuine business value.
Learning React with AI as my coding partner sparked a burst of energy and creativity. It reminded me of a previous personal project where I combined the Spotify API with OpenAI—a project that revealed my potential and showed me that I was ready to build something great when the opportunity knocked.
Ultimately, what drives me is the desire to create meaningful impact—whether that’s through a product, an automation tool, or a machine learning model. The concept of "product" is just one format among many. What truly matters to me is the opportunity to build, innovate, and deliver value. If I end up in a product management role, that’s a bonus, but the title itself is secondary to the impact I can create.
Reflecting on these experiences, I see that my entrepreneurial ambitions aren’t a rejection of corporate life. In fact, I’ve been fortunate to work in an environment that values autonomy and creativity, and exploring valuable ideas continues to fuel my passion.
So why start a startup? For me, it’s about healing from past setbacks, forming genuine connections with people, and proving to myself that I can take full ownership of something truly meaningful. Today, I’m opening my eyes—and my heart—to new opportunities, embracing this period of change, and committing to a journey where the real measure of success is the value I create along the way.