Jean Kang

Path to PM

"Jean isn’t a program manager coach solely because she’s done the role. She’s a coach because she’s done both the role AND gone the extra mile to document what she’s researched and learned masterfully. 

“Jean’s the real deal, and I couldn’t recommend her more to someone questioning how to take the next step in their career."

Founder & CEO

LinkedIn

Instructor profile: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/jean-kang

LinkedIn Learning Instructor 

Business Insider

Contributing Writer

Figma

Focus on leadership strategy and helping Product Support operate with even greater agility, clarity and cohesion

Strategic Program Manager

First Program Manager on Product Support, leading some of our most strategic organizational and company initiatives in partnership with cross-functional leaders across Legal, Product and Eng, Marketing, Comm, and Security

Senior Program Manager

CX GTM program manager responsible for how CS goes to market with Product through scaled enablement such as training, communication, and playbooks for 200+ CSMs globally across 11 offices.

Global GTM Enablement Program Manager

Chief of Staff, Women at Linkedin

UN Women

Board Member

Pinterest

Advertiser Ops & Strategy

Facebook

Client Solutions Manager

Intuit

SMB Sales

✨ PM Career Coach, x7 pivoter, helping other pivoters land amazing Program Manager roles and 🔥 thrive on the job | Founder of 🚀 Path to PM | Senior Program Manager @ Figma • Ex-Linkedin, Meta, Pinterest, Intuit

Over the last decade, I led impactful programs at companies like LinkedIn, Pinterest, & Figma.

But here’s the part that surprises people:

- I didn’t have a PMP certification.
- I’m a proud career pivoter. 
- I didn’t check every box.

What I did have was strategy, storytelling, and a clear sense of how to articulate my value.

That’s how I landed multiple 6-figure Program Manager roles at top tech companies not by following the “traditional” path, but by leaning into my superpowers. 

Eventually, I had a spark to do something different..

What if I used the same skills that helped me thrive in Big Tech… to build something of my own?

So I left to bet on myself (again). 

And what served me well in my career also helped me as a solopreneur.

I owned my story, built with intention and shared learnings in public.

I started creating content in 2023 and in 2 years, built a community of 350K+ across LinkedIn, Instagram, and my newsletter.

Today, I’m the founder of the PM Accelerator, a career transformation program where I help senior professionals land high-paying PM roles without another certification or starting over. 

My mission is to democratize access to tech careers + empower folks to design a career, business & life they love especially in this era of AI.

The Results:

→ Partnered with Google, Hubspot, NVIDIA, Adobe, Kajabi, Notion, & more
→ LinkedIn Learning Instructor with 200K+ learners
→ 100M+ impressions over the last year
→ 230K+ follow my journey on LinkedIn
→ Built a $200K+ business in 1 year 
→ 32K+ read my newsletter 
→ (soon TEDx speaker 😱)

If you want to learn the exact framework I used to land dream PM roles + help others do the same… 

📌 APPLY TO THE PM ACCELERATOR (link in bio)

In this 5-week career acceleration program, I teach you how to get interviews, land dream offers and literally thrive on the job.  

I helped 100+ students land PM roles at Microsoft, SoFi, Scale.AI, Adidas, Workday and more (many in under 4–7 weeks)

→ GO HERE: pm-accelerator.com 

📧 jean@jean-kang.com for partnerships, collaborations, and speaking opportunities

📌 Media kit: jean-kang.com

Imposter syndrome is a silent killer.

5 tips to beat it (and change your life 🔥)

—
☝🏼 Step 1: Recognize Your Fixed Mindset

Negative self-talk sounds like:

↳ “I’m not good enough.”
↳ “I always mess up.”
↳ “I’m too quiet.”

These aren’t facts—they are negative thoughts. Recognizing them is the first step.

—
✌🏼 Step 2: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Growth lives outside your comfort zone.

↳ Want to improve public speaking? Say yes to that presentation.
↳ Want to become a program manager? Raise your hand to lead that project.
↳ Want to create content? Start posting 3x a week.

The more you stretch, the more you grow.

—
🤟🏼 Step 3: Seek Meaningful Feedback

Feedback starts with you.

↳ Do a weekly retro: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?
↳ Ask colleagues or friends: What should I do more of? Less of?

Feedback is a gift for growth.

—
🖖🏼 Step 4: Detach Your Self-Worth From Work

You are more than your job.

Grow in areas that align with your values:

↳ Nurture relationships.
↳ Pursue passion projects.
↳ Volunteer or give back.
↳ Prioritize hobbies that bring joy.

—
🖐🏼 Step 5: Add “…Yet” to Reframe

Turn self-doubt into self-belief with one word: “Yet.”

↳ “I’m not a great leader…yet.”
↳ “I’m not in my dream job…yet.”
↳ “I’m not a skilled writer…yet.”

If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared. If not you, then who?

What’s ONE step you can take today? 👇🏼

📌 P.S. And if you're into actionable tips, try out my newsletter.

I talk about leveling up your 9-to-5, building a fulfilling side hustle, and designing a life on your terms.

https://lnkd.in/gc2mu4yK

Repost to inspire someone who needs to hear it & follow Jean Kang for more 🙏🏼

Tech Creator (400k+) with 8M+ monthly views | Ex-LinkedIn, Meta, Figma | Solopreneur, TEDx Speaker & Angel Investor helping you thrive at work using AI

Stop telling yourself you’re not qualified, good enough, or worthy.

Growth happens when you start 
doing the things you’re not qualified 
to do.

Remote work changed my life.

More rest. Less stress.

And it works for most people:

Individuals, parents, caretakers, pet owners 🐶, or anyone in between.

WFH doesn’t just stand for:

Work. From. Home.

It also means:

- Work 💻
- Family 🙏🏼
- Health 🧘🏻‍♀️

It’s about flexibility and choice.

And with tools like Tango I’ve never been more productive.

Love how easy they made it to learn new processes and train employees efficiently (without being in the office).

Don’t believe me?

I made this quick tutorial on how to find 6-figure REMOTE jobs on LinkedIn

(it took 2 minutes)

The goal is to teach it once and never explain again 😱

👀 Find 6-Figure Remote Jobs on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e7SxhFdX

What’s your favorite part about remote work?

Repost if you love remote work 🙌🏼

I can’t stop thinking about this…

Never underestimate the quiet ones.

The ones who are quietly studying after work / on weekends.

Sending DMs to people they admire.

Choosing podcasts / books > Netflix.

Focused on being just 1% better every single day.

Self-education is what separates the goods from the GREATS.

Because when you choose to learn in your free time...

You’re building something no one can take away

That’s exactly how my “little” side hustle of posting on LinkedIn turned into a 6-fig business.

Allowing me to quit my dream tech job and replace my income in < 1 year.

Here’s how I approach learning something new:

1/ Get ridiculously clear on your learning goal

↳ What exactly am I trying to learn, and why does it matter right now?
↳ Write it down down: “I’m learning [X] so I can [Y] by [Z date].”

2/ Do a brutally honest skill audit

↳ Where am I truly starting from? Beginner? Intermediate?
↳ I rate myself on a 1–5 scale, then identify 1–2 focus areas for the week.

3/ Source high-quality content (not just what's trending)

↳ I follow 2–3 trusted experts who are 5 steps ahead (not 10).
↳ I choose one main format to learn from (podcast, YouTube, course, etc.).

4/ Build a non-negotiable learning routine

↳ I block 10–30 minutes daily on my calendar like it’s a real meeting.
↳ Write down key learnings every time + 1 action you can commit to.

5/ Create social accountability

↳ I tell a friend (or post publicly) what I’m working on.
↳ I set a tiny consequence if I fall off (like buying them lunch or sending $20).

If you’re not learning, you’re not growing.

What’s 1 thing you’re learning in 2025?

Drop it in the comments - I’d love to cheer you on!

PS. If you've been quietly putting in the work and you're ready for the next big leap…

I launched a 5-week program to help you land your next Program Manager role so you can be richer, happier, and thrive on the job (no PMP required)

✅ Apply now & chat with my team!
https://lnkd.in/eN_pc9rX

♻️ Repost to help more people stop waiting and start learning.

Never underestimate a person who practices self education in their free time.

What I learned about life.

It’s not meant to be easy.

It’s hard, uncomfortable, even painful at times.

Here’s what I mean:

↳ I was bullied growing up.
↳ I was fired from a job I loved.
↳ I lost my mom to cancer when I was 25.

I could’ve stayed angry but I chose to start over.

And by giving myself another ‘do over’:

✔️ I have amazing friends & mentors
✔️ I landed dream jobs at dream companies
✔️ I built a 6-figure business doing what I love
✔️ I found the love of my life (I made the first move)

It’s never too late to rewrite your story.

And know what else?

Your environment matters more than you know.

People thrive when things are clear.

Teams thrive when systems replace chaos.

Companies thrive when employees have tools to do their best work.

And I’m so grateful to partner with Jotform, an incredibly powerful and intuitive form builder to help teams operate faster and smarter (all driven by data).

With their updated Enterprise version (2.0), they're giving companies a clearer & more thoughtful way to organize/understand their data, and build systems that run quietly in the background.

I love their new admin console that centralizes literally everything (think assets and analytics), access to a curated help center + actionable guides, and ability to create visual dashboards to see what actually works (and doesn’t).

While it’s never too late to start over,
it can be too late to stay stuck.

A toxic partner costs your peace.
A bad process can cost thousands.
A role with no growth drains your potential.

If you’re looking for a solution that is truly tailored for your custom needs: better data, cleaner workflows, and a centralized source-of-truth,

I highly recommend you try out Jotform: https://lnkd.in/eQepb6wn

What’s 1 hard thing you can do today that your future self with thank you for?

Don’t be afraid to start over again. 
You may like your new story better.


Introverts love remote work.

I noticed I’m way more productive WFH.

No more dealing with:

- Office distractions
- Endless meetings
- Commuting

I’ve traded it for:

- Flexibility
- A quiet mind
- A healthier body

The truth is: people operate at their best in an environment that works for them.

It can be hybrid, in-office, or entirely remote.

For many introverts like me, it’s a dream lifestyle 🥹.

And with tools like Jotform, an incredibly powerful and intuitive form builder, I’ve never been more productive. 

I love how ridiculously simple they make online data and payment collection that enable me to build strong systems that operate in the background.

It’s no surprise that it’s literally trusted by 34M users worldwide including nonprofits, SMBs and enterprises that may need bespoke tools for gathering better data. 

Remote work isn’t just a new way of working.

It’s a new way of living. 

Did you know Jotform has AI-powered template creation that lets users generate server-wide forms from a single prompt and makes them available to everyone at work?

🔗 Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eNy3fNFP

Repost if you love remote work 🙌🏼

Leadership is not a title.

And not all bosses are leaders.

I’ve worked at some of the best companies in the world.

But you know what?

Great companies don’t = quality bosses.

If I were to go back to corporate, I would choose my boss over any paycheck.

Because no paycheck is worth your mental health 💙

__

7 Qualities of a Great Leader:

✅ Lead by example

✅ Values & respects you

✅ Have your best interests

✅ Be kind and constructive

✅ Care about you as a person

✅ Help you grow in your career

✅ Advocate for you in rooms you’re not in

A good boss is better than a good company.

Repost if you agree 🙏🏼 and follow Jean Kang for more.

a toxic boss will cost you more than any paycheck

What I used to care about (before accepting a job)

↳ Perks (Free food, swag, etc)
↳ Company name
↳ Location
↳ Title

What I care about now (after I got all the above)

★ Flexible time off (without the guilt)

★ A manager who has my back

★ Growth opportunities

★ Psychological safety

★ Exciting challenges

★ Supportive team

★ Remote-friendly

The superficial things are temporary bliss.

Prioritize your non-negotiables.

And assess your list regularly.

If you’re looking for a job, I hope you find the right role, culture and boss for you 💙.

What’s your non-negotiable? 👇🏼

Things employees don't care about
- title
- perks
- benefits
- company name
- nice office

What employees actually care about
- Flexible time off (without the guilt)
- A manager who has my back
- Growth opportunities
- Psychological safety
- Exciting challenges
- Supportive team
- Remote-friendly

Rule for life: Don’t get stuck in the wrong place

9 questions to ask to get UNSTUCK (and break free 🦋):

1. Am I learning and growing?

→ Do I feel challenged and stimulated in my current role?

2. Do I feel like I can make an impact?

→ Am I contributing meaningfully to the team and organization?

3. Do I align with the values of the company?

→ Do our shared beliefs and goals resonate?

4. Am I being valued and recognized for my work?

→ Do I feel appreciated and rewarded for my contributions?

5. Do I enjoy working with my team and my boss?

→ Are there positive relationships and support at work?

6. Am I being underutilized or overextended?

→ Is my workload balanced and fulfilling?

7. Am I feeling burnt out or stressed?

→ Is my mental and emotional health being affected?

8. Am I aligned with the company's direction and goals?

→ Do I see a clear path for my career growth within the organization?

9. Am I considering alternative career paths or opportunities?

→ Do I feel hopeful about exploring new possibilities?

It's better to admit you walked through the wrong door than to spend your life in the wrong room. Repost if you agree 🙏🏼

P.S. Grab my worksheet for finding a job you love and the best-curated big tech interview guide from places like Meta, Pinterest & Apple

🎁 Just add your email and get it for free https://lnkd.in/ef2GJX5P

Better to admit you walked in the wrong
door than spend your life in the wrong room. 

I think I get the Formula 1 hype now ✨

F1 is one of the rare sports that brings together the human and the machine ⚙️🏎️

I spent all week in Vegas with Atlassian and Williams Racing and saw up close how world class collaboration really works.

They invest in people, hardware and software to keep thousands of team members operating at their best.

Everything moves in sync so parts get to the track faster, and the car gets faster too 💨

It was surreal to watch a high performance team move in true harmony.

Who else cheered for Atlassian Williams Racing? 🙌🏼🏎️

#ad #atlassianpartner #f1

Brand partnership • Tech Creator (400k+) with 8M+ monthly views | Ex-LinkedIn, Meta, Figma | Solopreneur, TEDx Speaker & Angel Investor helping you thrive at work using AI

Palo Alto Networks

Senior Project Manager

Project Success Academy℠

Course Instructor

Velvet Vision

Founder

Raytheon Technologies

IT Project Manager

Fulcrum Technology Solutions

IT Project Coordinator

University of Houston

Program Manager

Project Manager | Helping Women Land Tech PM Roles | your PM bff

In 2024, I noticed something: most mid-career project managers weren’t underqualified. They were under-positioned. They had the skills, experience, and drive, but weren’t landing six-figure project management roles because hiring managers couldn’t see their value.

That realization led me to build the Velvet Vision framework. It helps project professionals position themselves as the obvious hire before they ever apply.

This isn’t resume tweaking or chasing certifications. It’s about clarity, strategy, and execution. My clients stop blending in, start leading with confidence, and step into roles that pay them what they’re worth.

Who I Work Best With:
I work with project managers in the U.S. and Canada who:
• Have at least 3 years of project management experience
• Are ready to step into $100K+ roles
• Want to be seen as leaders, not task managers
• Value clarity, execution, and accountability

This program is not for people who are brand new to project management, unwilling to take ownership of their growth, or looking for a quick fix.

Results so far:
• Clients have collectively secured $313K in salary increases with an average uplift of $44K per person
• On average, clients land offers in 3.3 months (fastest in 68 days)
• ROI consistently exceeds 800%, with some clients covering their investment in the first paycheck

If you’re a project manager in the U.S. or Canada ready to earn more, lead more, and finally get seen, you don’t need luck or endless hustle. You need positioning.

No fluff. No guessing. Just strategy that gets results.

👉 Apply to work with me: https://calendly.com/d/cm7j-vb9-kvr

Yonelly G.

I walked into the interview knowing I didn’t meet half the requirements.

And I could feel the room had already met candidates who "looked better" on paper.

For a moment, I wondered if I was wasting everyone’s time 
(including my own)

So I redirected the conversation.

Instead of defending my gaps, I told them how I lead when things get messy.

And that’s when the interviewer leaned in.

She wanted someone who could steady the work when the plan stopped matching reality.

It became really obvious when I stepped into the role.

The biggest problems were alignment issues and broken communication loops.

Most people lose confidence when they see a job spec they can’t fully match.

But at senior levels, you’re rarely hired for a checklist.

You’re hired for your ability to lead through uncertainty and make progress visible again.

--
If we haven’t met — I’m Yonelly Gutierrez.
I talk about the moments, setbacks, and wins that shaped my career, so you can grow with more confidence in yours.

Yonelly Gutierrez

Senior Program Manager | Helping Founders Stabilize Delivery Without Adding Headcount

I got fired for telling the truth.

Not for breaking policy.
Not for naming names.
For sharing one short post about my career.

I wrote that I interviewed internally, didn’t get the role, and was still proud I tried.

Two days later, my contract ended.
No warning.
No conversation.
Just gone.

It hurt.
It made me question if being honest online was worth it.

But I kept showing up.
Kept writing.
Kept building my voice.

Four months later, I landed a new role that valued honesty as much as performance.

That experience taught me something simple:
Your voice has power, but it also has a price.

Silence might feel safe.
But safety won’t move you forward.

Speak up.
Even when it shakes.

That’s where real growth starts.

Most leadership challenges happen with people who don’t report to you.

But few people are ever taught how to lead without authority.

“Can you get everyone aligned?” becomes the real test of leadership.

And many feel stuck because they’re relying on authority they don’t have.

I hear this concern from professionals across roles and seniority levels.

Here are 7 ways to lead without formal authority:

1. Lead with Clear Direction
 ↳ People follow clarity
 ↳ State the outcome before discussing tasks

2. Listen Longer Than You Speak
 ↳ Listening creates instant influence
 ↳ Ask: “What’s your view on this?” and give space

3. Remove Friction for the Team
 ↳ Support builds trust more than authority
 ↳ Spot blockers early and simplify the next step

4. Make Expectations Simple
 ↳ Confusion slows collaboration
 ↳ Keep instructions short and confirm understanding

5. Share Credit Generously
 ↳ Recognition motivates teams to work with you
 ↳ Highlight contributors in meetings and updates

6. Build Relationships Before You Need Them
 ↳ Influence grows through consistent touchpoints
 ↳ Check in without an agenda and offer help early

7. Stay Calm When Things Shift
 ↳ Composure reassures your team
 ↳ Take a breath, focus on solutions, and keep your tone steady

Leading without authority grows easiest when people trust your judgment and your consistency.

♻️ Repost to help your network
➕ Follow Yonelly Gutierrez for more leadership insights

7 Ways to Lead Without Authority

Strong PMs do not stay stuck because of skill.
They stay stuck because their system hides them.

Teams rely on delivery.
But they do not create visibility.

No shared framework.
No consistent feedback.
No common language for outcomes.

Strong PMs do the work.
Leaders never see the impact.

That is a system problem.
Not a talent problem.

When teams build visibility into how they work, everything changes.

Work becomes easier to read.
Communication becomes lighter.
Decisions become faster.

I build those systems.
If your PM team is strong but unseen, DM me.

The first call told me everything.
People talking over each other, frustration leaking through every answer, and a customer who’d clearly had enough.

I’ve walked into tough programs before, but this one felt heavy in a different way.

I stopped taking notes halfway through.
There was no point collecting “updates.”
The issues weren’t in the tasks.
They were in how people were working around each other.

After the call, I started checking in with folks one by one.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱? 
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘤𝘬? 
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨?

It took about a day to see the pattern.
A bunch of small things pulling in different directions...

-Different definitions of done.
-Priorities that didn’t match.
-Risks everyone recognized but no one wanted to own because it would start another round of blame.

It was drift left alone too long.

I pulled the whole thing onto a single page.
Then I walked teams through it.
(to ensure we're talking about the same thing)

The customer communication needed the same reset.
The tension eased a bit once they knew what to expect from us.

The following weeks weren’t exciting.
Most of it was clearing out old decisions that never really got made.

You don’t notice progress at first.
Then suddenly the calls feel lighter.
People stop hedging.
You hear less contradiction and more “okay, that makes sense.”

Around day 41, the project finally stabilized.

Finally steady enough to move without bracing for the next hit.

Most “red” projects are teams trying to do good work inside a setup that no longer supports them.

Once you fix the setup, the work finds its rhythm.
People do too.

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The Battle

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Engagements

Likes

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