In this edition of our 'Ask Me Anything' series, we’re excited to introduce Daisy Sherwood-King, our dedicated Product Manager.
Daisy’s journey at Leadzai is a testament to her adaptability, passion, and commitment to both her team and personal growth. From launching impactful projects to balancing the demands of family life, she truly embodies what it means to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Dive into Daisy’s journey and explore the insights she’s gained along the way!
1 - Looking back at your start on the October 1st 2022, what was it about Leadzai that made you want to join the team?
I’d just had a baby and really wanted a change. Leadzai offered me a new role (I was a project manager before) in Product, and that felt like the type of challenge I was looking for. When I met people from the organisation, I got really excited to work in a dynamic place where everyone was hungry to push the company forward.
2 - With a background in Film and Theatre Studies, what inspired you to transition into product management, and how do your academic experiences influence your approach to this role?
Ooo interesting question!
Product management seemed to give me a nice balance of project type work but with the creativity that I was seeking after my degree. I also think doing loads of group work at uni, creating something out of nothing, really helped me learn how to work with all different types of characters, and when you work in Product, you’re constantly switching up who you’re talking to and about many different topics. I always try to communicate with people the way I want to be communicated with and so far, that seems to have helped me in this role.
3 - What does a typical day look like for you as a Product Manager focusing on the direct customer flow?
Typically, I’ll get online and check out the performance from the previous day to ensure everything is working as it should. I normally have a few people to reply to or things that I need to discuss with people, so I try to get that all ticked off in the morning. We usually have a standup each morning to discuss how overall project tasks are going, and then in the afternoon, I meet with tech teams to discuss upcoming features or with Design to talk through some mockups. Throughout the week, I’ll ensure I sync up with the other various people who work on Direct to make sure we’re all aligned.
4 - What do you enjoy most about your work? Can you highlight some key learnings or experiences that have shaped your journey at Leadzai?
It sounds like a total cliché, but I love how different each day is. I also kind of love when something goes wrong and you need to act fast to figure out how to resolve it. Luckily Leadzai is a very fast paced organisation where things change rapidly, so it’s great.
Being responsible for starting up the Direct initiative was a really great opportunity for me to learn how (also how not..) to start building something new. One of my biggest learnings has been to not assume things based on the quantitative data we get. It’s so easy to use your biases to think you know what the customer is thinking, and numbers can only take you so far, so I learned very quickly that speaking to customers directly is truly invaluable.
I’ve also really benefited from working with some class acts here at Leadzai and feel like I learn something from basically everyone I interact with, whether that’s my peers in Product, the devs in Tech, our amazing Support team, or the Ops department.
5 - Is there a particular project or accomplishment that you’re especially proud of?
We’re currently working on a redesign of the current dashboard, and I’m really excited about the direction we’re heading for our customers. I think I’ll feel the most pride when we reach great heights in the coming year with our Direct channel, and I can tell people that I was a part of that.
6 - What stands out to you about the team's dynamic?
When we want to get something over the line, we really band together to get it done. I love that comradery, and it really doesn’t happen in every company.
7 - What advice would you give to someone new to a role in product management?
Try and find a mentor, someone you look up to that has experience. I’ve learned so much from people around me and when I implemented some of those lessons, those real life examples then went on to teach me so much! Also, don’t be scared to fail. This is something I think we all struggle with because we want to get it right every time but you learn the most from failing and learning (fast!).
8 - How do you balance having kids, work, and life in general while still excelling and demonstrating such expertise in your field? What strategies or mindset help you maintain this balance and perform at such a high level?
This is such a lovely question wow! Truthful answer is getting the balance right is pretty tough. As my colleagues will know, sometimes sickness or emergencies mean I have to juggle having my daughter on my lap whilst on a call but luckily I’m supported by the best team here at Leadzai. Everyone is understanding which really, really helps. And I think if you have that support and appreciation around you, it makes it so much easier to perform at your best!
Of course there have also been moments where I feel like I’ve been on my laptop a bit too much when I should’ve been concentrating on family life but that’s the great thing about the flexibility offered - the scales don’t have to be 50/50 one hundred percent of the time because it all evens out.
9 - If you had to choose between never watching Love Island UK again or never going to the beach again, which would you choose?
Would you judge me if I couldn’t choose one….
No, I’m kidding I’d have to give up Love Island. Nothing beats a beach on a sunny day (not in the UK though!).
Daisy’s Favourites
A film: I watched Goodwill Hunting recently, and I think that has to now be up there, but I’m a sucker for Crazy, Stupid Love…
A book: Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class by Owen Jones - great book!
A song: Man this is hard - “Flying without Wings” by Westlife if I want to sing or “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire if I want to dance.
A place to visit: Anywhere in Greece
A pizza: Salami, mozzarella, maybe some chilli…
An ice cream flavour: Pistachio yuuum
Thank you, Daisy, for sharing your insights and experiences with such openness!
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