From campus to career: Persona’s Technical Leadership Program
About the program
The Technical Leadership Program (TLP) is a development program that allows associates to gain exposure in both Solutions Engineering and Sales Engineering.
What inspired you to join the Technical Leadership Program at Persona?
[Melanie] Whenever I get asked what TLP is, I say it’s like being a ‘customer-facing engineer,’ which I think rings true for Solutions Engineering so far. Prior to Persona, I had experience working as a software engineer and consultant, and it felt like TLP was a hybrid of the two in terms of its technical focus and customer management skills — the two aspects I enjoyed most from those respective roles. So it felt like this new program was perfect for me.
[Sheila] I craved a more technical career and was unsure of what direction I wanted to go in: sales or post-sales, customer-facing or internal-facing. My goal when joining the Technical Leadership Program was to get more exposure to a variety of roles at Persona and learn the skills that would make me successful in them.
[Ellen] With a background in computer science and business administration, I was initially inspired by the program’s focus on both technical solutioning and delivery, as well as the client-facing aspect. I felt that it was a good fit for my background and would empower me to grow in both areas.
[Ravneek] I ultimately decided to join TLP because it was the perfect blend of technical and customer-facing opportunities. I’ve always wanted a role where I could apply the skills I gained from school and previous internships, and both the solutions engineering and sales engineering roles checked all those boxes.
Experience & impact
What aspects of the Technical Leadership Program do you find most valuable?
[Sheila] I’ve found the mentorship aspect of the Technical Leadership Program invaluable. Having experienced solutions engineers take me under their wing, answer my onslaught of questions, and offer me day-to-day advice has been fundamental to my learning experience. The camaraderie is also a huge plus.
[Melanie] While this can be seen as a ‘training program’ of sorts, we actually get a lot of ownership over projects — both customer-facing and internal — so there’s a lot of room for growth and development. Our TLP cohort has only been working at Persona for six months, but we’ve launched new customers, taken charge on new use cases, and contributed to product development. This is mostly possible because we have dedicated mentors who check in with us weekly and advocate for us to take on larger roles and branch out beyond the typical solutions engineer workload through cross-functional collaboration and product deep dives. It’s reassuring to have someone in your corner pushing you to put yourself out there and try new things, especially in your first job out of college.
[Ravneek] One of the aspects I value most about the program is the mentorship it provides. Over the course of the program, we have been connected with mentors and the product teams. Having a built-in network from day one has helped me not only gain more insight into Persona but also allowed me to learn from experienced Personerds who bring a wealth of knowledge from their previous roles. These connections have been instrumental in guiding me through the program and giving me the opportunity to reflect on my experiences.
How has TLP helped you work toward your career goals?
[Sheila] Many roles in tech require comprehensive technical knowledge coupled with years of experience. I haven’t seen many other programs, especially at startups, that shape an individual without experience like myself into a viable candidate for these more technical roles, helping mend the knowledge gap between college and careers. Candidly, I think it fast-forwarded my career trajectory.
Can you share how TLP has helped you grow and improve a particular skill?
[Melanie] I think my customer management and communication skills have greatly improved. There’s a lot of consideration that goes into your specific phrasing, pauses, tone, etc. that I didn’t realize prior to taking on a role like this. Persona is big on working in public so aside from our numerous weekly external calls with customers, we also have quite a few internal meetings where we present our projects and findings that hone these skills.
What was one thing about the Technical Leadership Program that you did not expect going in but were happily surprised by?
[Melanie] I expected the program to move pretty quickly, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that nobody expected us to have it all figured out the second we were done onboarding. At the beginning, I would lament over a Slack message draft wondering if my question was too ‘dumb,’ but I soon realized that things are constantly evolving at Persona so everyone’s sort of a ‘newbie’ and isn’t afraid to ask questions in general channels to ask others for their expertise. Everyone has been so supportive and non-judgemental that I’ve gotten over my fear of sounding dumb!
[Ravneek] I had previously interned for startups, which gave me a glimpse into the fast-paced nature of working in a high-growth space. I came into Persona anticipating that environment, but what surprised me was the unique emphasis on enablement alongside the typical speed that one would expect at a startup. From day one, the program’s focus on enablement and the support I received during onboarding gave me the confidence and knowledge to dive in and start making meaningful contributions right away.
Advice for applicants
What are some tips for standing out during the TLP application and interview process?
[Melanie] The TLP interview process is super specific to Persona, so I highly recommend becoming familiar with our product suite and terminology by referencing our external documentation, especially for the take-home use case configuration assignment. It’s a little confusing at first, but I guarantee that the extra time it takes will pay off during the final presentation.
Persona’s culture
How has Persona supported your technical and professional growth during TLP?
[Ellen] I’ve received great mentorship from our Solutions Engineering mentors, as well as informal mentorship by other solutions engineers we work with on our accounts. Everyone’s always open to talk through a solution or an issue and provide their perspective and insight.
What is your favorite snack or drink at the office?
[Melanie] Persona has ‘bevs day’ every Wednesday where we can either get reimbursed for a drink we’ve purchased or choose one from a rotating list of vendors that we group order from. Everyone at the SF office knows that the drinks arrive around 2pm in the kitchen, so there’s usually a crowd waiting around to get first dibs. My favorite group order drink is the strawberry matcha latte or yuzu sparkler from Asha Tea House. It’s the perfect pick-me-up after lunch that I look forward to every week.
Life in San Francisco
How do you typically spend your weekends in San Francisco?
[Sheila] I’ve been training for my second half marathon, so I run a lot over the weekends. I’ve been loving running through the Presidio and then grabbing coffee at Equator in Fort Mason after — their Lavender Vanilla Latte is my favorite!
[Ellen] There’s never a shortage of things to do in San Francisco. I grew up in the Bay Area but never really explored the city in depth. From vintage and art markets to a vast variety of food options, there’s always something to do. There are so many passionate and motivated people, and each interaction has the opportunity to lead to fruitful connections and friends.
[Ravneek] Because SF is walkable and has consistent public transit, I spend most of my weekends exploring the different neighborhoods within the city. I love that I’m able to find a new activity or cuisine to try almost every day — from burritos and thrifting in the Mission to grabbing matcha and going to Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach in the Richmond/Outer Sunset.
What is your favorite part about living in San Francisco out of college?
[Melanie] There are many new grads starting their careers here, so it hasn’t been too hard making friends or finding new activities to do on the weekends. SF is also pretty close to Tahoe and Yosemite, both of which I’ve been to with other Personerds on long weekends. It’s been a lot of fun being able to bond over a solid road trip playlist and gorgeous scenery.
[Ravneek] The best part about SF is that there’s always something new to try/explore! You’re able to get both the city experience and enjoy nature within a short radius — and because there’s a good amount of new grads, it’s been easy to meet new people to explore with.
Can you suggest some must-visit locations or activities in San Francisco?
[Sheila] Coffee at Equator, Fort Mason Farmers Market for local produce, Rad Haus for a beer, Blue Barn for a sandwich, and Dolores Park for a good time. San Francisco has a big music festival scene, with two major ones held right in the city: Outside Lands and Portola.
[Ellen] I love the Photo Booth Museum for Photomatica, which houses lots of analog photo booths! On the weekends I love to frequent Fort Mason for their markets.
[Ravneek]
Bernal Peak - strong competitor to Twin Peaks 😮
Farmer’s Markets! Fort Mason and Clement Street markets are fun opportunities to see different parts of the city
Shoreline Amphitheatre - an outdoor concert venue that has great shows
Bluegrass Festival - free festival in Golden Gate Park (this year they had Patti Smith!)
Early careers at Persona
The Technical Leadership Program at Persona is a great opportunity for early career individuals to develop skills at the intersection of business and technology. Learn more and apply here!