Earlier last year, I had the privilege of sharing my journey in a PMA feature about my experience as a PMM Scholar. You can check it here.

Fast forward now, I completed the program, turned its coursework into a portfolio that opened doors, landed interviews with multiple companies, helped me network with product marketing leaders, and completed my first eight-week product marketing internship in the U.S.

This is the story of how the Tech Scholar Program became the bridge between my technical past and my product marketing future, and how you can leverage it to do the same.

A niche shift in a competitive market

When I came to the U.S. on August 1, I knew the odds weren’t in my favor with layoffs and what's going on in the tech industry with immense competition.

Breaking into a new field is challenging enough; doing it in one of the most competitive job markets, without a traditional product marketing background, is even harder.

My career up until then had been built in a different world of electronics engineering, R&D software development, and product management in tech and climate startups.

I had worked on zero-to-one products to 1 million users, led cross-functional teams, and understood the technical side deeply. But product marketing? That was uncharted territory. 

I also knew internships in the U.S. are often secured months, sometimes a full year in advance. That meant I had no time to waste. I had to find a way to stand out fast.

The PMA Scholar Program was already on my radar from my earlier community interactions. In Part 1 of my journey, I talked about how I discovered PMA through The Alliance network, joined the Slack community, and immediately saw the value in the conversations and resources.

When I was accepted into the Scholar Program, I decided to treat it as more than a course. I approached every module as a project that could double as a portfolio piece.

My thinking was simple: if I could showcase my ability to apply product marketing concepts in real contexts, employers would see past my niche shift and discuss my doubts with my mentor, Div.

Turning coursework into a marketing portfolio

One of the program's biggest advantages is that the assignments are practical, not hypothetical.

For example, the writing module pushed me to create a 2,000+ word article exploring PMM communities, mentorship opportunities, and mock interview platforms. That was my first PMM article.

I then repurposed that research into a series of Medium articles and LinkedIn posts, which not only demonstrated my communication skills but also positioned me as someone who understands the PMM ecosystem.

I even went a step further and launched MockMeister, a small community for mock interviews and peer learning.

By the end of the program, I had a portfolio of work that showcased positioning and messaging, market research, and community engagement, all skills employers want in a PMM. 

The job hunt: timing, targeting, and community

One thing I learned quickly: timing matters. I made sure I was ready to apply for internships as soon as I arrived in the U.S. That meant polishing my portfolio, aligning my résumé with PMM expectations, and using PMA’s network to understand which companies were hiring and when.

I have been a member of the PMA internal community, but the best part is that we have a Raleigh community with others.

That means it's just a 30-minute drive from my place, which means it gave me an opportunity to be a part of in-person events and dinners. I am fortunate that I was able to do that after I came to the US.

The Scholar Program’s Slack community was invaluable here. I could see job postings, get insider tips from other PMMs, and ask for feedback on my application strategy.

I also attended PMA events and leveraged LinkedIn to connect with leaders I had met during the program. 4 out of 5 product marketing leaders I interacted with knew about PMA, which helped me break the ice and learn from their experiences, and really connect about product marketing.

It's like we both knew we were a part of a community that uplifts each other in the product marketing career.

The interview pipeline

By combining my technical background with my new PMM skills, I was able to secure interviews with several companies, including:

  • Contentstack
  • ABC Fitness (Trainerize)
  • Red Hat
  • …and a few others in the SaaS and product-led growth space.

What stood out to me during these interviews was how often my PMA experience came up. Hiring managers wanted to know what I learned, what projects I worked on, and how I was applying those skills now. The PMA name carried weight; it signaled that I was serious about mastering this craft.

Landing my PMM internship

Ultimately, I accepted an offer to join ABC Fitness as a Product Marketing Intern in their product-led growth team, working on the Trainerize product.

Over the course of eight weeks, I:

  • Supported feature launches from planning to customer communication.
  • Worked on positioning and messaging for different audience segments.
  • Conducted competitive research to identify gaps and opportunities.
  • Helped design community engagement strategies and a newsletter for coaches on Trainerize Academy.

It was a fast-paced, high-impact role, exactly what I had hoped for. When I asked my manager what made them confident in hiring me, they shared that it was my mix of technical expertise, creativity, and proven PMM learning through PMA that set me apart.

I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to work under such incredible product marketing leaders like Jennifer, Paula, and the entire team.

I learned so much from them, and when I layered those lessons on top of my PMA experience, I saw immense growth in myself both in skills and in my understanding of product marketing as a discipline.

PMA’s role beyond skills

The Scholar Program gave me knowledge, but it also gave me something equally important: credibility and community.

  • Credibility: Having the PMA Scholar designation on my résumé and LinkedIn profile sparked interest in interviews and showed I was committed to becoming a PMM.
  • Community: By the end of the program, I had built relationships with PMMs across industries. Some became accountability partners, others became ongoing mentors. Today, I can confidently say that I know and regularly interact with more PMMs than I ever imagined when I started.

Lessons for future PMA Scholars

If you’re considering applying for the Scholar Program  or if you’re already in it  , here are a few things I’d recommend:

  1. Treat every assignment like a portfolio piece. Employers want to see how you think, not just what you know.
  2. Show up consistently. Attend every mentorship session, even when you’re busy. The insights compound over time.
  3. Leverage the network. Ask questions, share your own resources, and connect with your cohort beyond the program.
  4. Apply the skills immediately. Whether in your current role, a side project, or a simulated case study using what you learn makes it stick.
  5. Stay visible. Share your progress on LinkedIn or in PMA channels. Visibility builds credibility.

A personal note of thanks

Looking back, the PMA Scholar Program was a turning point for me. It helped me translate my technical background into a marketing-ready skill set, build a portfolio that spoke louder than my résumé, and connect with a network that continues to support me.

To the PMA team, my program mentor, Div Manickam, during the 12 weeks, and my cohort peers  thank you for making this journey not only educational but truly transformative.

If you’re on the fence about applying, my advice is simple: go for it. You never know which assignment, conversation, or connection might open the door to your next big opportunity.

For me, it led to interviews with top companies and an internship that has set the stage for the next chapter of my PMM career.

If you’d like to connect, discuss product marketing, or share experiences about career transitions, feel free to reach out. I’m always up for a conversation and, just like PMA, I believe the best growth happens when we learn together. Here is my LinkedIn.