I’m curious about product management because I find the strategy side more interesting than just executing financial models all day. But I’m terrified that if I ask a banker about PM transitions during coffee chats, they’ll immediately think I’m one foot out the door and stop taking me seriously. Has anyone actually brought this up with senior people? What was the reaction? I’m trying to figure out if there are specific bankers who are more open to this conversation—like, are the ones who’ve been in banking forever going to shut you down, whereas someone who moved to tech would actually have useful insights? And is there a way to ask about it without sounding like you’re bailing on banking immediately? I feel like understanding the timing and positioning could be the difference between learning something valuable versus burning credibility.
ask anyone whos actually done it. seriously. bankers who moved to PM or VC are way more honest about what happened and what skills matter. ask them ‘what did tech actually want from your background’ and stop worrying about ‘credibility’—if youre good at your job people will take you seriously regardless. the whole gatekeeping thing is overblown.
ok so find ppl who left? that makes sense. theyd actually know what matters right?
Target individuals with demonstrated PM or tech experience specifically. This accomplishes two objectives: you access genuine transition insight rather than speculation, and you signal that you’re thoughtfully exploring opportunities rather than impulsively exiting. Frame inquiries around capability building: ‘What skills from banking actually translated to PM?’ and ‘Where did you need to develop new competencies?’ This positions you as strategically curious rather than dissatisfied. Senior bankers who’ve remained typically lack credible transition guidance anyway. Additionally, individuals who’ve successfully crossed domains often mentor candidates more actively because they understand the complexity of such transitions.
Absolutely bring this up! The right people will genuinely help. Seeking mentorship on career options shows you’re thinking strategically, which is awesome!
I asked this associate who went to Google about what he actually did differently in his resume and interviews. He broke down exactly how he translated banking projects into product language. Turns out he thought it was awesome that I was thinking ahead. The bankers who never left? Yeah they had no idea. So definitely find people who actually made the jump.
the reality is if you need a pm mentor a banker whos been here 15 years isnt gonna help much anyway. find someone who actually knows that world. way better use of your time.
so like linkedin search for ppl at banks who now work in tech? or how do u actually find them lol
Use your bank’s alumni network strategically. Most banks publish transition data or maintain alumni groups on LinkedIn. Filter for individuals who’ve moved into product roles at established tech firms. When reaching out, reference their specific transition journey: ‘I saw you moved from our team to product at [Company]—I’d value understanding your perspective on the skills that made the biggest impact.’ This personalization combined with targeted timing (typically approaching analysts or associates, not managing directors) yields higher response rates and more substantive conversations about credential translation and timeline considerations.