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September 20, 2006

The Joys of Mentorship and SVPMA

by Sridhar Ramanathan

Just over five years ago we were turning out the lights in a startup called Firetalk Communications. Like so many startups we, the exec team, couldn't bring cash in faster than it was leaving the door. I only worked there a year after leaving HP but it was a rich learning experience and a place were I made lasting friendships. My partner, Elise, was an SVP and the key business leader there. I share this story because it was a place of mentorship for me--both receiving and providing mentorship. One of my product managers was Jasmine de Gaia, a gifted Stanford grad full of ambition and talent. Somehow she came to see me as a mentor and I enjoyed giving her the benefit of my career lessons. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of your team members flourish. She went on to join Lucent as a product manager and was one of the founding executives of the Silicon Valley Product Management Assocation (SVPMA). It's a huge privilege to be asked to speak there next month, and I owe it to Jasmine. I'm very proud of Jasmine and wish her well as her career continues to blossom. Next time, I'll write about one of my mentors, Lenny Alugas (now Symantec VP).

Posted September 20, 2006 | Permalink
Posted to Marketing Management