Marily Nika, a Google AI product manager, shares refreshingly practical career guidance for people who dream of landing high-paying product roles in big tech. Her advice is simple but powerful: don’t try to jump straight into your dream job—move sideways instead. As she puts it, “Be a crab.”
Nika shared this perspective on The Growth Podcast with Aakash Gupta, where she explained that many aspiring PMs stall because they focus only on linear career moves. In reality, the fastest and most realistic path into elite roles often involves stepping into adjacent positions that build naturally on your existing experience. This mindset is at the heart of (What a Google AI Product Manager Tells Aspiring Candidates for Her Six-Figure Role).
Why “Crab Moves” Work Better Than Big Leaps
With more than a decade of experience in product management, Nika has seen firsthand how unconventional backgrounds can become major advantages. She recounted the story of a professional from the hearing-aid industry who felt shut out of tech because his experience wasn’t “traditional.” Instead of forcing a generic PM transition, Nika encouraged him to look for roles where his niche expertise would stand out.
That shift led him to a product management role at Apple, working on AirPods—an area where deep knowledge of hearing and audio technology was not a drawback, but a competitive edge. By moving sideways into an adjacent domain, he positioned himself perfectly for a major tech opportunity.
Your Past Experience Is Your Differentiator
“We need to be open-minded,” Nika emphasized during the podcast. According to her, prior experience is not something to downplay—it’s what sets candidates apart in a crowded job market.
She shared another example involving a sports journalist who wanted to move into product management. Rather than stressing over a nontraditional résumé, Nika advised him to lean into his strengths. His deep understanding of sports audiences and user behavior was far more valuable than a checklist of standard PM credentials. Product skills can be taught, she noted, but true industry insight takes years to develop.
How to Break Into Product Management Today
For anyone trying to transition into a PM role, Nika’s guidance is clear and actionable. Start by identifying jobs adjacent to your current field—roles where your background gives you a natural advantage. From there, make your domain expertise the core of your personal narrative.
Equally important is developing fluency in AI. Nika believes modern product managers should treat AI tools as extensions of their craft, not optional extras. Understanding how AI works, where it falls short, and how it impacts user experience is now a fundamental PM skill.
The Financial Upside of Product Management
The payoff for breaking into product management can be substantial. In the U.S., the average product manager earns around $128,000 per year, according to Indeed. At Google, PM salaries can climb as high as $280,000 annually, based on recent federal filings. It’s no surprise that advice like (What a Google AI Product Manager Tells Aspiring Candidates for Her Six-Figure Role) resonates so strongly with ambitious professionals.
Why Non-Linear Backgrounds Are a Strength
Nika reframes nontraditional career paths as assets rather than liabilities. Companies, she explains, are increasingly looking for PMs who deeply understand user problems. A hearing-aid expert can intuitively grasp audio-related needs, just as a sports journalist already knows what sports fans care about. That kind of insight is hard to teach and incredibly valuable.
Becoming an AI-Literate Product Manager
Beyond domain expertise, Nika stresses the importance of AI literacy. Today’s PMs must understand the unique challenges AI introduces, especially around data dependency and user trust.
“Understand the unique intricacies that AI brings; understand how dependent we are on data,” she said.
In her own work, Nika relies on a suite of AI tools, including Google AI Studio for building chatbots, Google Opal for creating mini apps, Notebook LM for learning, Perplexity for user research, ChatGPT for drafting product requirement documents, and Fireflies for meeting notes.
Final Takeaway
Nika’s advice challenges the myth of the perfect, linear career path. By moving sideways, embracing past experience, and building AI fluency, aspiring PMs can unlock opportunities that once felt out of reach. It’s a grounded, human approach to career growth—and a compelling lesson from (What a Google AI Product Manager Tells Aspiring Candidates for Her Six-Figure Role).
