David Mulqueen’s Post

✨ I’ve been quiet on LinkedIn and it’s because I’ve been heads down working on new opportunities since the layoff in January – it’s been tough.  Throughout my career as a product manager, I’ve had the privilege of scaling startups and launching new products at massive companies. I’m most passionate about leading teams through the exhilarating process of turning bold visions into strategies and tangible solutions. From building alignment on strategy and roadmaps to hands-on implementation with engineers, I’m driven to bring customer and business value to life. 💪 Now, I’m seeking a new challenge. My goal? To land a pivotal role as a Senior Product Manager or Director of Product Management with a company that’s at an inflection point and wants to accelerate growth.   I thrive in teams where I can lead the charge in product strategy alongside the C-suite, sales, and engineers, to create products that resonate with customers and drive growth. 🙏 How can I help? If you know of a company looking for someone to steer their product vision, strategy and roadmap towards success, let’s connect! Any opportunities, insights, or referrals are greatly appreciated.

As summer winds down, I am a crossroads: With more than 20 years in the nonprofit sector and then an industry move (due to covid) to tech as a Project / Product / Senior Product Manager (role eliminated in April) I am considering an array of options. I have found I love new ventures and learning new things. With my love of sailing, I am considering maritime opportunities, but also open to continuing to develop leadership skills in the nonprofit or tech space. What's the most important aspect of what I do next? The people - hands down. I want to work for a company that cares for and respects its people and values what I bring in those places. I want to utilize my experiences leading teams and orgs to raise the bar, not simply achieve the status quo. At the end of the day, I want to know I am making the world a better place, not simply collecting a paycheck and achieving financial security. I am also realistic that it takes a personal connection to get an interview, and so I am putting this out to the LinkedIn universe. I am ready for my next adventure, anything come to mind?

Life Update 🚀 Today marks a bittersweet moment for me as I bid farewell to a chapter of my journey. I've decided to part ways with a toxic workplace, and while working in fast food always had its challenges, I've come to the realization that my passion lies elsewhere. Leaving my part-time role opens up a new space in my life to focus wholeheartedly on securing a full-time opportunity. The job market is undeniably saturated, and the struggle is real. It's disheartening to see entry-level positions demanding 2-3 years of experience, and even after numerous final-round interviews, receiving that familiar message about someone with more experience snagging the role can be tough. But let me assure you, I'm not throwing in the towel. This transition provides me with the time and motivation to channel maximum effort into finding the right company where I can leverage my marketing skills to the fullest, and, in return, grow alongside the organization. While the road ahead might seem uncertain, I reflect on the fact that my part-time gig, despite its toxicity, has been a lifeline for the past two years in Canada. It put food on my table and paid my bills. For that, I am eternally grateful. As I navigate this new chapter, I'm open to new opportunities and connections. If you know of any companies looking for a dedicated marketing professional, or if you have insights to share, feel free to reach out. Your support means the world to me, and I'm excited for what the future holds. Cheers to growth, resilience, and the journey ahead!

🚀 Struggling to Communicate Achievements as a CTO? Defining productivity in tech is a challenge, and it's even more difficult without clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs can be: - Straightforward goals like setting a deadline to reach a milestone. - More complex measures such as evaluating the impact of a new feature on customer retention. At the beginning of my career, I thought the only KPI I needed was the number of tickets resolved. That seemed sufficient until I found myself unable to communicate my team's contributions. This challenging experience taught me the real value of well-defined KPIs. In tech, it's crucial to justify our return on investment (ROI). KPIs do more than quantify success—they narrate the impact of our work and its value to the company. Let’s not underestimate the power of clear and effective KPIs. They're not just about tracking progress; they're about defining and demonstrating success to your team and the company. —— I'm currently exploring new opportunities and am always open to a chat. If you're looking for a Head of Engineering, Product Manager, or Project Manager with over 15 years of experience, feel free to DM me or reach out for a conversation!

As a team member or a leader, Yann earns my highest recommendation.

It’s my birthday today. I turn 43. 🎉 My birthday always makes me think of a professional anecdote. In one of my first jobs, I was fired on my birthday. I remember it well because I told my boss, and he said, "Oh, sorry." I find it more comical than sad. I was ready to leave the job, so in a way, it was a present. But I always thought that I would never be the leader who fires someone on their birthday. It felt like a lack of empathy, and we mainly work with people. Being a leader means showing understanding and compassion. It’s about making tough decisions with a human touch. That experience taught me the importance of empathy in leadership. Let's lead with kindness and respect. So in case, it's not clear. Don't fire people on their birthday. Wait for a few days. 😉 —— I'm currently exploring new opportunities and am always open to a chat. If you're looking for a Head of Engineering, Product Manager, or Project Manager with over 15 years of experience, feel free to DM me or reach out for a conversation!

Some of my achievements are so powerful, I can't capture them numerically. Okay, that makes me sound like I have a massive head, doesn't it? But it's something I've been wondering about for a while. I always like the idea of putting hard numbers on a CV to show the quantifiable achievements while you were in a role. But something that has happened more than once for me is that I join teams that are not delivering anything (ie, working toward some future big bang release) and coach them toward incremental delivery. The problem is, when your cycle time goes from infinity to <infinity, the numbers don't really make sense. Has anyone come up with a good way of representing those sorts of achievements? (and yes, I am fully aware I didn't do these things alone, but that's not really an important detail for this conversation) Oh, and the reason I'm asking is because I'm currently looking for my next gig. If you're looking for a coach or leader for your product delivery organization, let's chat!

St. Matt and I worked on the same team for a couple of years as CSM's. A few ways to describe him: -He exuded our patch values and we could've used his picture to describe the higher possibility we strive for. -He started every week by messaging our Growth Organization to see how their weekend was & tell us it's going to be a great week. Using 5 minutes wisely can really benefit your culture. -He inherited numerous disengaged clients & turned them into renewals. (His attitude and positivity are infectious) -He was always the first person to offer help, an encouraging word, or fill me in on something I missed. -He volunteered to lead internal projects, attend trade shows, support other CSM's with his training background, etc. If he could help, he did. I could continue on, but you get the picture. Do yourself a favor & scoop this guy up!

One year ago today, I found myself unexpectedly thrust into a pivotal moment of personal and professional transformation, triggered by a challenging layoff. This shocking experience immediately stirred a whirlwind of emotions - grief, anger, sadness, and even shame. Company restructurings undoubtedly stand as some of the most formidable challenges that both affected and unaffected employees must confront within an organization. While I wish such situations were not a part of our professional landscape, they remain a stark reality that demands the strengthening of our resilience to navigate effectively. I could have never foreseen the journey that eventually led me to the career satisfaction I enjoy today. Through the trials of organizational contraction, we often unearth latent strengths and untapped skills, forging new paths beyond our immediate comprehension. Adapting to change and uncertainty has catalyzed personal transformation, nurturing invaluable traits for my career journey. I am immensely grateful for the new opportunities that have come my way, and I am acutely aware that each person encounters their unique set of trials throughout this process. To those who find themselves in a similar scenario, I want to extend my utmost strength and support. My thoughts are with you, and I am always open to any outreach from my LinkedIn community. If my insights or connections can assist you in finding a clear path forward, please don't hesitate to reach out. With love and respect, always.

🚀 Navigating the Job Hunt: Mission-Driven and Skill-Refined 🚀 Hello, LinkedIn community, As I continue my journey in product management and software development, I focus on staying mission-driven and constantly refining my skills. 🔍 Job Hunting with Purpose: Finding the right job means aligning my professional goals with a mission I'm passionate about. It's about making a meaningful impact and contributing to projects that resonate with my values. 💡 Continuous Skill Refinement: My recent role at LivestockCity has honed my design skills. While not a core requirement for a product manager, these skills allow me to work seamlessly with design and engineering teams. This experience, combined with my background in software engineering, makes me a more effective PM. 🌍 Mission-Driven Work: My time at Terra Watts, a sustainable energy startup, has not only deepened my understanding of sustainable energy but also ignited a stronger passion within me. I am committed to using my skills to support startups that are making a significant, positive impact on the environment and society. 💼 Looking Ahead: I'm excited to bring my expertise to a mission-driven organization. If you know of any opportunities, let's connect!