One Day At A Time

How to break into product management with a non-technical background

Curious about product management? In this episode, I’m breaking down what PMs actually do, who the role is perfect for (and who might hate it), and how I went from marketing and communications to product with zero technical background. I’m also sharing the real, unfiltered steps that helped me break in — from building the right skills to creating my own lucky breaks. If you’re set on becoming a PM or just figuring things out, this one’s for you. Make sure to subscribe for more episodes. Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 [https://www.instagram.com/onedayatatime.mp3/] or @valgfong [https://www.instagram.com/valgfong/] and TikTok @valerie.fong [https://www.tiktok.com/@valerie.fong]. Show Notes: * 1:15: What is a product manager, anyways? * 1:46: Traits of great PMs + who tends to thrive in this role * 3:37: Who shouldn’t go into product management * 6:10: How I navigated early career shifts + found my way into PM * 12:02: Actionable advice to boost your odds of breaking into PM * 12:16: Why your academic background doesn’t define your PM potential * 14:25: Must-have tactical skills for aspiring PMs * 15:00: Key technical concepts to learn to make you a more credible partner to your engineers * 16:02: Building business acumen * 21:39: The role of luck + how to create your own lucky breaks * 23:30: Why growth comes from discomfort + throwing yourself into the deep end

Moving out of an asian home: navigating cultural challenges and family expectations

In this episode, I discuss the unique expectations and challenges Asian Americans face when deciding to move out of their parents' home. In Asian culture, young adults typically live at home much longer than the average American due to core values like filial piety and collectivism, which starkly contrast American society’s emphasis on independence and self-sufficiency. Many Asian American young adults struggle with feelings of guilt, envy, familial tensions, and stagnation as they navigate conflicting cultural expectations and the pursuit of individual freedom. I'll share my personal experiences dealing with these mixed emotions and provide practical strategies to ease the transition, including apartment hunting tips, financial planning, and communicating the decision with your family. Additionally, I discuss how moving out can foster self-reliance, personal growth, and a stronger sense of self. Enjoy the episode!! Make sure to subscribe for more episodes. Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 [https://www.instagram.com/onedayatatime.mp3/] or @valgfong [https://www.instagram.com/valgfong/] and TikTok @valerie.fong [https://www.tiktok.com/@valerie.fong]. Show Notes: * 1:32: Conflicting expectations between Asian and American cultures * 10:47: The challenges and mixed emotions of living at home as a young adult * 17:22: Practical tips and preparation strategies for moving out * 17:44: Essential financial planning for moving out * 19:11: Researching housing options and setting timelines/milestones * 21:08: NYC-specific moving tips * 21:24: Preparing necessary paperwork for moving out * 21:58: How to tell your family you're moving out * 23:35: How moving out can foster personal growth and independence Sources: * Intuit Credit Karma Team (2024). ⁠Nearly a third of Gen Z live at home while others struggle to afford rent⁠ [https://www.notion.so/one-day-at-a-time-pod-af91ed04b5814c469ec28143a73d2615?pvs=21]. Intuit. * Irena, Hana. ⁠An Asian Dilemma: Moving Out of Parent's House.⁠ [https://www.wonderwhysea.com/detail/an-asian-dilemma-moving-out-of-parents-house] Wonderwhy.

How hollywood demonizes hyper-femininity and ugly truths about pretty privilege

Why does Madison Beer’s beauty make us feel so insecure? Why does Hollywood demonize hyper-femininity? Why do we have a love-hate relationship with girly girls? With trending TikTok topics like "not like the other girls," "that girl," "pick-me girls," "pretty privilege," I've been trying to understand conversations around conventional beauty and femininity and why we’re often so quick to assume and react negatively to those who embody these characteristics. Through media and research dissections and some personal tea spilling, I unpack the downstream effects of a patriarchal system — one that breeds divisive media narratives, setting strict boundaries for girlhood and positioning femininity as a flaw. Constant exposure to these portrayals causes us to internalize these misogynistic biases in our everyday thoughts and behavior. In a society where a woman’s worth is closely tied to her appearance, I recognize social advantages tied to conventional beauty and femininity while pivoting the discussion to explore less glamorous aspects of these traits within a patriarchal hegemony. Make sure to subscribe for more episodes. Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 [https://www.instagram.com/onedayatatime.mp3/] or @valgfong [https://www.instagram.com/valgfong/] and TikTok @valerie.fong [https://www.tiktok.com/@valerie.fong]. Show Notes: * 0:42: Intro (TikTok trends, personal story that inspired this ep, disclaimers, etc.) * 6:18: Why do movies teach us to hate pink? * 7:30: The separation of femininity from feminism: how feminist movements shaped our perceptions of girlhood * 10:00: Who is the girly girl? What gendered tropes teach us about hyper-femininity * 13:37: Girls we love to hate: 3 myths about the hot mean girls * 14:10: #1: She’s an attention whore or a bitch.. * 15:12: Girly Girl vs Not Like The Other Girls Girl * 16:54: #2: She’s a threat.. * 18:52: #3: She’s not the brightest (the dumb blonde) * 22:50: Objectification * 24:12: Career and workplace challenges: retaliation, girl-on-girl resentment, and male-dominated industries * 27:47: Case study #1: Hedy Lamarr - beauty before brains * 29:09: Harmful forms of attention: victim blaming and harassment * 30:44: Case study #2: Stop blaming Madison Beer for your insecurities Sources: * Harpin, J. & Holland, S. (2012). Who is the ‘girly’ girl? Tomboys, hyper-femininity and gender [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09589236.2013.841570?casa_token=99ZBiAOMIKsAAAAA%3AjtXTlGnmGnZfv_kDV4vi56dHc7XFFDOJ4HZNzoyYmGwqt6DuDmNh5K2lS-m62JwIJ50BqO82YMW6]. Journal of Gender Studies. * Rosida, I., Ghazali, M. M., Dedi, D. & Salsabila, F. S. (2022). The Manifestation of Internalized Sexism in the Pick Me Girl Trend on TikTok. [https://alphabet.ub.ac.id/index.php/alphabet/article/view/120/0] Alphabet Journal. * The Take. (2020). The Girly Girl Trope, Explained [https://the-take.com/watch/the-girly-girl-trope-explained] * Hanke, A. (2022). How Hollywood demonizes ultra-femininity [https://alicehanke.medium.com/how-hollywood-demonizes-ultra-femininity-883240823e2e]. Medium. * Huizinga, M. (2022). In Defense of the Mean Girl [https://madisonhuizinga.substack.com/p/in-defense-of-the-mean-girl]. Cafe Hysteria. * Chel Writes. (2023). “I’m not like other girls” [https://medium.com/feminista101/im-not-like-other-girls-8c8a0761ad99]. Medium. * Iversen, K. (2014). How Girls Explores and Explodes the Myth of Pretty Girl Privilege [https://www.bkmag.com/2014/03/26/how-girls-explores-and-explodes-the-myth-of-pretty-girl-privilege/]. Brooklyn Mag. * Weiss, S. (2016). Blondes Aren't Dumb, Science Proves Once and for All [https://www.glamour.com/story/dumb-blondes-study]. Glamour. * Morosini, D. (2020). The Dumb Blonde: Where Did The Stereotype Even Come From? [https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/dumb-blonde-stereotype]. Refinery. * THIRTEEN - New York Public Media. (2018). Hedy Lamarr and Howard Hughes' Relationship [https://www.thirteen.org/programs/american-masters/howard-hughes-and-hedy-lamarr-utxabg/]. PBS. * ItzKeisha. (2022). Stop blaming Madison Beer for YOUR insecurities [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLhN_O1lcl4]. YouTube. * Shanspeare. (2021). how hollywood demonizes ultra-femininity. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDEOZqnJMqI] YouTube. * Elle Literacy. (2021). how high school musical demonizes femininity - a Sharpay Evans deep dive [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jltiDL126zw]. YouTube.

Why making and maintaining friendships gets harder in your 20s and signs you’re outgrowing one

Welcome to the first episode in my Friendship series! With a growing list of responsibilities that demand our time and attention in our 20s, it’s so important for us to practice intentionality and self-reflection when we define our inner circle of friends. Today, I’m delving into things we should consider when making, maintaining, and outgrowing friends. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, I uncover the spectrum of friendships, from one-sided relationships to social media connections, convenience friendships, and childhood bonds. Discussing the impact of these diverse friendships on our lives, I share my opinions on recognizing who we should keep around and when when a friendship isn’t serving us anymore. Show Notes: * 0:42: Reflecting on Changing Friendships in Our 20s * 2:36: Adult Challenges and Reevaluating Our Inner Circle * 5:32: One-Sided Friendships: The Lack of Reciprocity * 9:15: The Social Media Illusion: Quantity ≠ Quality * 10:32: Friendship Spectrum: Convenience vs. Emotional Bonds * 13:18: Childhood vs. Adult Friendships: Growing Apart * 16:26: The Evolution of Friendships throughout your life: Central or Peripheral * 18:44: Outgrowing Friends & When to Move On * 21:00: The Essence of Healthy Friendships: Authenticity and Safety Make sure to subscribe for more episodes. Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 [https://www.instagram.com/onedayatatime.mp3/] or @valgfong [https://www.instagram.com/valgfong/] and TikTok @valerie.fong [https://www.tiktok.com/@valerie.fong].

How my asian culture has affected my relationships with food and body image

"Have you eaten yet?” For Asians and Asian Americans, food serves as a cultural symbol of love, care, and community. However, this emphasis on food coexists and clashes with the beauty standards and idealization of thinness that are upheld within those very same cultures. Today, I’m highlighting the complexity of balancing cultural experiences around food with pressures to conform to social expectations of beauty. The very individuals who force-feed us out of love are often also the first to point out any weight gain. Asian Americans face an added layer of complexity, as they navigate balancing the social expectations of both Asian and Western cultures. Recounting my own experiences growing up as a chubby girl in an Asian household, I candidly address the enduring psychological effects of this dynamic, including shame, emotional turmoil, disordered eating, and body dissatisfaction. Resources: * Smart, R., Tsong, Y. (2014). Weight, Body Dissatisfaction, and Disordered Eating: Asian American Women’s Perspectives. [https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-12082-001] Asian American Journal of Psychology. * Zheng, M. M. (2022, August 28). The Pressure to Be Thin [https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1010240]. Sixth Tone. * Lin, A. (2020, April 3). Let’s Talk About Body Image For Asian American Women [https://studybreaks.com/thoughts/asian-american-women-body-image-pressures/]. Study Breaks. Show Notes: * 1:46: Cultural Symbolism of Food * 2:06: Divergent Messages on Food and Body Image in Asian Cultures * 3:00: Content Warning: Discussions on Disordered Eating, Food Anxiety, Body Dissatisfaction * 3:21: My Personal Frustrations with Food, Weight Gain, and Family while Growing Up * 5:10: Effects of Familial Pressures * 7:54: Chapter 1 - Cultural Symbolism of Food in Asian Cultures * 12:46: Chapter 2 - Social Emphasis on Thinness and Pressures To Conform * 20:46: Emotional Challenges and Psychological Effects * 22:47: Chapter 3 - Reconciling the Divergent Messages * 23:40: Need for Culturally Sensitive Resources and Interventions * 24:37: Carving a Path Towards Self-Acceptance and Empowerment Make sure to subscribe for more episodes. Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 [https://www.instagram.com/onedayatatime.mp3/] or @valgfong [https://www.instagram.com/valgfong/] and TikTok @valerie.fong [https://www.tiktok.com/@valerie.fong].