Micro-Interview: Aurora Tomova, Sr. Product Manager | MobiSystems
💬 "Don't be afraid to try. If the initiative fails, admit it."
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Aurora Tomova is a Senior Product Manager at MobiSystems, a leading provider of mobile productivity and business applications such as OfficeSuite, PDF Extra, and Oxford Dictionaries.
In under 500 words, she shares:
How she got into product management…
How she starts her mornings for maximum productivity…
Some of her sources of learning…
And more…
Enjoy!

“How did you get into product management?”
The short version of the story is that my career initially started in trade marketing, but as time passed, I became more involved in strategic projects aimed at maximizing revenue, which led to the introduction of new products and diversification of the portfolio. Along the way, I realized my passion lies in product discovery and development, and I want to dive into the endless universe of technology. After careful consideration, preparation, and seizing the right opportunity, I decided to transition into Product Management, where I believe I can make a greater impact. While it wasn't easy initially, this challenge motivated me to work harder, learn faster, and elevate my performance.
“How do you start your mornings at work?”
Ideally, I start early by checking my calendar and screening emails for triggered alerts and emergencies. I mark important items for later detailed review. Then, I review my product's main performance indicators. If everything appears as expected, I list the tasks I must accomplish for the day or the week ahead. This routine allows me to structure my thoughts and set my priorities.
“What do you know about product management now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”
No matter how well you analyze the data, and regardless of how good you believe your hypothesis to be, surprises (and bugs :D) lurk everywhere.
You can't prepare for what you don't know or expect. So, stay curious and appreciate it when a certain hypothesis isn't confirmed. It means you're learning something new that you hadn't even thought of before.
“What did your biggest product failure teach you?”
Don't be afraid to try. If the initiative fails, admit it. Avoid seeking excuses and delaying the decision-making process. Stick to the facts.
Analyze with your team and the stakeholders what brought you there, elaborate together, and come up with clear insights and next steps. Try again! Only this way can you learn from your mistakes and become better.
“What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your product management learning curve?”
Most of our knowledge comes from practical experience. As a result, I actively seek out various situations and challenges that allow me to learn new things every day. Recently, I've discovered that preparing for knowledge-sharing sessions and presentations is also an effective way to capture my knowledge. Living it and then speaking about it seems to be a working formula.
“How do you stay updated on the best practices in product management?”
I’m following some groups and people like Product School, Mind the Product, Creative Product Managers, and Marty Cagan. The industry standards: The Product Podcast and Lenny’s podcast are also on my list. I also follow the Bulgarian product podcast called PRODcast. I am certified by ScrumAliance, so I also have access to their resources and community, and I often go back to some of my lectures from Telerik Academy. I also attend as many live community events as possible, such as ProductTank Sofia. They provide a great opportunity to exchange ideas and discover best practices.