OMGPOP, I’m in like with you.
A couple Fridays ago was my last day at Razorfish. I’ve already moved along to my new role as the Product Manager at OMGPOP, a NYC-based social gaming startup, and it’s been quite a busy yet exciting time so far. Now that I’m more settled in, I thought I’d reflect a bit.
Working at Razorfish was a great experience, and my departure is bittersweet. I got to work alongside some of the brightest and most creative minds I’ve ever met. Razorfish is undoubtedly at the forefront of the exciting and increasingly growing industry of online advertising. As part of the Technology team there, I had the opportunity to work with both back-end and front-end technologies for some pretty big brands — Ford, Mercedes Benz, and NFL, to name a few. In addition, I also had the chance to design and implement strategic solutions in the areas of Analytics and Social Media. It has been both a great learning experience, and one that I’m proud of.
After helping to create engaging online user experiences and being exposed to various aspects of this business, I’ve always felt the itch to switch perspectives from the consulting-side to the client-side. When you are the “client,” you are ultimately responsible for the vision and strategy behind the project. In fact, the project becomes your own product, your own creation. And in this mindset comes the passion and near-obsession to make each and every little detail of your product to be near-perfect. From the initial brainstorming and design phases in the beginning to the analytics research and constant optimization post-launch, you are one with the product every step of the way.
Not to say we didn’t provide the same quality of effort to our client work, but it’s simply a different look at things. When I look at a product from that perspective, I feel like I’m on another level. And this is what excites me most about product management and development. It’s especially true in a startup environment and in being surrounded by other similarly ambitious, self-motivated entrepreneurs.
So far, my experience at OMGPOP has been challenging, exciting, and fast-paced as I absorb as much information and domain knowledge as I possibly could. I’m working with a great team, and look forward to this new and exciting opportunity!
