Interested in starting your own social-impact-driven entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Moriya Kassis, Founder of Product League, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Product League is a unique mentoring program designed to help experienced Product Managers enhance their skills and achieve their career goals. Our mentors and mentees, whom we call "Leaguers," come from over 30 countries worldwide and are united in their pursuit of becoming the best Product Managers and Leaders they can be.
Our program offers a comprehensive 1:1 mentoring experience with a proprietary eLearning platform and a thriving community of like-minded individuals. We understand that Product Managers need to grow both their practical and emotional skills to succeed, and we're committed to providing the tools and support you need to achieve that growth.
We run two four-month-long batches per year, providing a personalized mentoring experience for our Leaguers to help you achieve your goals. Our mentors and mentees come from diverse backgrounds, all united in their passion for Product Management. We call them Leaguers because we believe that together, we can accomplish great things. If you're an experienced Product Manager looking to take your career to the next level, we invite you to join our Product League!
Our commitment to excellence and the success of our Leaguers has earned us the reputation of being the most trusted mentoring program for Product Managers globally. We're here to help you achieve your goals and become the best Product Manager and Leader you can be.
Tell us about yourself
As a Product Manager myself, I understand the needs and challenges that come with this role. We're not just another agency or school; we're a community of like-minded individuals who share the same passion for Product Management. The idea for Product League came from my own experiences, as well as those of my colleagues and peers in the industry. We saw a need for a structured, supportive environment where both mentors and mentees can grow and thrive. We believe that mentoring is a two-way journey where both parties need to receive tools, support, and guidance to succeed.
What motivates me and my team every day is the impact we're making in the lives and careers of our Leaguers. Our mentors gain real value and a sense of fulfillment that go beyond monetary compensation, while our mentees learn valuable hard and soft skills that set them apart in the industry. Product League runs two batches a year and impacts the lives of hundreds of Product Managers. We're proud to manage a product that makes a difference for Product Managers, by Product Managers.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is building a community of passionate and driven individuals who share our values and are committed to making a positive impact in their industries and communities. When we started our business, we knew that we wanted to create more than just a product or service. We wanted to create a movement, one that would inspire and empower people to be their best selves and make a difference in the world. And over time, we've been able to do just that. Seeing the impact that our community has had, both on their own careers and on the world around them, has been incredibly rewarding. Of course, this accomplishment wouldn't have been possible without the support of our team, our Leaguers – mentors and mentees alike, and our community. It's truly a group effort, and I'm grateful for every person who has been a part of our journey.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with the title is the feeling of constant responsibility. When you start a business, it becomes a part of your life, and you can't help but feel responsible for every aspect of it. I feel responsible for your employees and for our customers, and I never really get a break from that responsibility.
Finally, there's the pressure to constantly innovate and grow. One can't afford to rest on their laurels or become complacent, especially in a fast-changing market. I need to stay ahead of the curve, keep up with the latest trends, and always be looking for new opportunities to provide our Leaguers with an even better experience. It can be challenging to balance this drive with the need to maintain a healthy work-life balance, but it's essential to keep pushing forward.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Starting, running, and growing a business today can be a daunting task, but there are three key tips that I believe can help any social-impact-driven business:
Don't be an impulsive purchase: It's tempting to make it easy for people to become your customers, but it's important to set a high bar for entry. We owe it to our Leaguers to be surrounded by smart, dedicated, and like-minded Product Managers. This not only attracts the right customers but also creates a community of individuals who are committed to the same values and goals.
Build great products, not marketing machines: At Product League, we have never spent a dollar on marketing and have grown to become the most trusted mentoring program for Product Managers in 30 countries. Our growth comes from our Leaguers being proud to recognize themselves as part of our community and sharing their experience with their colleagues and friends.
Know your values: Finally, as a business, it's important to define and stick to your core values. At Product League, we made a conscious decision not to promote any services or products on our platform and to never sell our data. This has helped us create an experience that is free of the feeling that someone is trying to sell you something. Define your values and stick to them. It has proven to be the foundation of our success, and I believe it can do the same for anyone starting a business.
By setting a high bar for entry, focusing on building great products, and knowing your values, you can create a business that not only achieves success but also makes a positive social- impact on the world.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://productleague.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProductLeagueMentoring
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/product_league/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3OzSSu4
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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