Jonathan Awad

Become invaluable at your firm and they will want to keep you around. If they don’t, go elsewhere where your skills / knowledge / resources / effort & CARE are appreciated Don’t want to be noticed. It will be obvious after year one if you are truly doing your best and have clear impact, whether or not people will care no matter what you do / accomplish / contribute Wake up and take care of yourself. Always play for the front of the jersey (I.e ramp) but always be aware of core values and principles of the founders / top executives as well Should be easy and obvious (if you are trying your best) if people will care / if you are a good fit. If it’s confusing, there’s your answer - leave :)

The best way to build your network is to: - build a valuable knowledge pool of industry players, domain knowledge of products & processes, and understand as many problems in as many spaces as possible (i.e Jason Mikula) - become a go to person for good resources & articles (I.e Bruno Werneck) - be helpful to as many startups as possible (I.e Charley Ma) The main theme here is to focus on preparing yourself to help & finding as many ways as possible to be helpful to as many people as possible The opportunities will arise - you need to be prepared for them! Give first & be patient, the network builds itself naturally over time If you’re not knowledgeable or helpful, you won’t be memorable. Can’t build a network without that

The number one best way to follow-up with someone you met at a networking event is by introducing them to someone in your network that they would love to know. Network building is 1+1. The fastest way to solidify someone into your network is by genuinely providing value to them via an introduction or opening a door. It does multiple things - - it makes them feel very positively towards you and evokes a need to reciprocate that favor - it also ensures that the person you connect them with provides social proof that you are a trustworthy and hardworking person It helps all 3 involved - you, them, and the person you connect them with. It also certainly leaves a lasting impression. Do this and your network will 10x in a year.

I’ve worked at many fintech startups, from series A to multi billion unicorns. I’ve also started two fintechs and worked closely on product at both. Being a PM at a startup can range from fun & exhilarating to quite boring & tedious - it all depends on the team! At an org that moves fast - it is one of the most fun jobs at the entire company. There’s an element of strategy that counterbalances the long writing aspects / tasks that are required. Being highly organized, big picture oriented, and extremely methodical is critical. Having an understanding of data (SQL) and design (Figma) can be a requirement or can turbocharge your career. Boring PM jobs usually entail no autonomy, no strategy, no change, and no innovation. Avoid those.

Sharing stories is one of the best ways that people learn! One of the easiest to hit home with as well. Often folks don't see what they're missing because they can't imagine it happening to them. Painting pictures of different economic realities via stories is one of the best ways to learn from the history of others. An easy example is the USA learning from some of the missteps that led to Egypt's current rampant inflation. A lack of resource development, a slowly decreasing output from their central source of revenue, and a lack of intensity on finding other ways to produce revenue (focusing on tourism, technology, etc.) has led to the current 25-32 to 1 ratio of the Pound to US Dollar. We can share stories and learn from each other.