On Path | Nelson Haung: Sales Engineering to Marketing, Day Zero Mindset

Nelson is currently on a sabbatical focused on: 🏄🏻‍♂️ 🚴🏼‍♂️ ✍🏼 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Most recently he led a marketing team of 18 at Series C startup Zinier. Earlier he was the Director of Product Marketing, App Cloud at Salesforce. We chat about a range of topics: large tech company or startup? was an MBA worth the investment? how does Nelson hire? how to spot a great manager?

Show Notes

Here are some relevant links from the conversation:

• Nelson Haung on LinkedIn
• Conan O’Brien Needs A Frien‪d‬ on Apple Podcasts
• The Dave Chang Show on Apple Podcasts

Show notes:

• 1:28 Nelson's last name
• 2:55 Growing up in Mountain View
• 6:20 Was working in tech a foregone conclusion?
• 8:29 Visiting Cisco in the early days
• 10:36 Why Electrical Engineering at UC Davis?
• 14:49 Background of Sales Engineering peers
• 15:50 Deciding to do an MBA
• 17:13 Highlights of the MBA
• 19:46 Would Nelson still do an MBA now?
• 21:17 Highlights from Salesforce
• 25:52 Why return to the Bay Area?
• 26:23 Leading marketing at Zinier
• 27:42 Joining as the first marketer
• 30:00 Key factors when hiring
• 31:25 Large tech company or startup?
• 33:57 What to look for in a manager?
• 36:20 Why take a sabbatical?
• 39:39 The reaction of friends and family
• 41:16 What next professionally for Nelson?
• 43:21 Nelson's favorite product-led companies
• 45:25 Rapid-fire questions
• 51:43 A love of surfing

What is On Path ?

With the On Path podcast you'll hear the behind-the-scenes of what got professionals in the technology sector to where they are today. These are the career and life stories that aren't captured on a LinkedIn or web profile. The twists and turns. The inspirations and influences. Hosted by Vijay Viswanathan.