The Uncommon Executive

The Uncommon Executive

Why Mentoring Doesn't Get You Into Management

If you're looking to get more resources and manage a team, tell a story about how you'll create more impact.

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Yue Zhao
Sep 18, 2025
∙ Paid

Client: I want to become a people manager. I’ve gotten great performance reviews. My partner teams tell me I’m a great collaborator. I’ve mentored interns each summer. However, I’m not considered for manager roles. What am I doing wrong?

A few years into my PM role at Thumbtack, the company was growing, and I wanted to manage a team of PMs. I brought up…

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