My path to product marketing was untraditional. After serving as a Naval Officer for six years, I was intentional about finding the best resources to accelerate my growth in this new field. 

In speaking with numerous senior PMMs, they consistently recommended Product Marketing Alliance, and specifically the Pro+ membership, as the most valuable way to level up my craft and learn from the best in the industry.

My motivation for joining the Pro+ membership?

My main motivation was to find the most effective way to translate my skills. I had a strong foundation in leadership and strategic planning from my six years in the Navy, but I knew I needed to apply those abilities through the specific lens of product marketing. 

I was looking for proven frameworks and a deep understanding of the craft that went beyond on-the-job training. 

The Pro+ membership offered a structured path to adopt the language and methodologies of world-class PMMs, allowing me to bridge that gap and make an impact more quickly.

What I’ve enjoyed most since joining the Pro+ membership 

What I’ve enjoyed most is the immediate applicability of the content. It’s one thing to talk about strategy, but the Pro+ membership provides concrete frameworks and real-world examples that I can apply directly to my work at Intuit. 

Whether it’s refining our go-to-market process or building out new messaging, having access to proven, actionable resources has been invaluable. It helps close the gap between theory and execution.

The type of presentations I found the most insightful and useful

Hands down, the presentations at the PMA Summits have been the most insightful. The ability to listen to some of the smartest minds in PMM break down topics that are directly relevant to my work is invaluable. 

But what I find most useful is the interactivity. Being able to ask the speakers specific questions after their talks and seeing how willing they are to share their expertise really stands out. It just speaks to how supportive and collaborative the entire PMA community is, which is something I really value.

The type of resources I found the most helpful 

The templates have been the most helpful resource for me by far. In the military, we had a saying that "plagiarism is the greatest form of flattery."  While I'm not looking to copy anything directly, the PMA templates provide a really strong starting point for any new initiative.

Instead of starting from a blank page, I can begin with a proven, industry-vetted structure. This allows me to move with speed and focus my energy on the strategic thinking and customization required for my specific project, rather than reinventing the wheel on the foundational layout. It’s an incredible accelerator.

How the Pro+ membership has helped me to network

Absolutely, the networking has been a huge benefit. For me, it happens most organically after the virtual summits and workshops. The community is so supportive; I’ve made it a practice to reach out to instructors or other participants after a session that I find particularly insightful.

Almost every time, people are more than willing to connect and talk through challenges. It becomes a collaborative problem-solving session. I’ve built several new connections that way. 

They’re not just names on a list, but peers I can genuinely reach out to for a "vibe check" on a new idea or to get a different perspective. It reinforces how willing people in this community are to help each other succeed.

How this membership has impacted my professional growth

It has had a significant impact. When I first transitioned into product marketing, my focus was on the "zero-to-one" phase of my own development, mastering the core fundamentals of the role. 

This membership has given me the confidence and the tools to move beyond that initial learning curve and find new ways to expand my craft.

Instead of just asking "What's the right way to do this?", I now have the frameworks and community insights to ask, "How can we do this better?" It has equipped me to think more strategically, challenge the status quo on my team, and take on more complex, innovative projects with the assurance that my approach is grounded in industry best practices.

When this membership helped me overcome a professional challenge

A top priority for me this year has been improving the data migration process for new firms switching to our software. It’s a huge friction point for customers and a complex challenge to solve.

When I started leading this initiative, I immediately turned to the PMA resources. I began with a go-to-market template to structure my project plan, which gave me a strong starting point instead of a blank page.

Then, I tapped into the community. I was able to connect with other PMMs who had tackled similar technical onboarding or data migration challenges in other SaaS businesses. 

The ability to ask specific questions and learn from their experience was incredibly helpful for pressure-testing my own strategy. It gave me the confidence that our approach was grounded in proven methods, which was critical for driving the project forward internally.

The value of this membership in comparison to other professional memberships I’m part of 

While I've been part of some outstanding veteran-focused fellowships that were crucial for my career transition, I see the value of the PMA Pro+ membership as unique and ongoing. 

Those programs were invaluable for helping me navigate the shift from the military to the corporate world. However, the PMA membership is different because it's focused entirely on the continuous mastery and expansion of the product marketing craft itself.

The value is in its specificity and action-oriented nature. It provides a direct line to a community of expert practitioners, along with templates and frameworks that are immediately applicable to my day-to-day work. While other groups helped me get my foot in the door, PMA is the resource I rely on to excel now that I'm in the room.

Advice for fellow PMMs considering joining a PMA membership

I would tell them to do it. The value it provides is immediate, regardless of where you are in your career.

If you’re new to product marketing or transitioning from an untraditional background as I did, it’s the single best accelerator you’ll find. It provides the foundational frameworks and a common language that allows you to be credible and effective from day one. It’s the fastest way to get up to speed.

If you’re an experienced PMM, it’s the perfect tool for expanding your craft. It’s easy to get siloed in your own company’s way of doing things.

PMA gives you access to a massive community of smart peers to pressure-test ideas, plus templates and case studies that provide a strong starting point for any new, complex initiative, allowing you to move with speed.

Essentially, it gives you both the tools to build with and a community of experts to build with. It’s an investment that pays for itself very quickly in both confidence and impact.

A little about Langley

Lang is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Intuit, where he develops go-to-market strategies and transforms deep customer insights into compelling messaging and positioning for the professional tax software portfolio. 

A decorated Navy veteran, Lang is passionate about helping fellow service members navigate the transition to civilian life. He dedicates significant time to mentoring veterans, applying a structured, empathetic framework he developed to help them build successful post-military careers. 

Driven by a relentless curiosity to understand the "why" behind customer behavior, Lang combines his people-first approach with a data-driven mindset to solve complex challenges and drive growth.

Become a Pro+ member

Our Pro+ membership plan is the ultimate certifications and membership subscription for PMMs looking to fast-track their learning journey and soar to success.

With expert-led training, cutting-edge resources, and a supportive community of like-minded PMMs, you'll have everything you need to launch your career and tackle everyday PMM challenges with confidence.

What’s in the membership?

🔖 20+ certifications. Cutting-edge curriculums created with leading PMM experts. Positioning, pricing, storytelling, PMM leadership skills, and much more.

🛠 100+ templates. Save time, and work off industry-standard frameworks. Battle-tested and community-vetted templates.

🎟️ In-person events. A free ticket (RRP $1,295) to a Product Marketing Summit of your choice - the #1 way to stay up-to-date with the latest product marketing trends and grow your network overnight.

🔥 #1 PMM community. Solve challenges by leaning on the largest PMM community in the world. Share best practices, make life-long connections, and bounce ideas around with 50,000+ of your peers.

… And a whole lot more. 

So, what are you waiting for? 

Become a Pro+ member