About Me

gene.klingonsmith website4
The unprofessional side

Hi, my name is Gene. I’m a father of 3 and husband to the best woman on earth (lucky I know).

I grew up in San Jose, California and enjoy sports, travel, the outdoors, and the latest and greatest technology (maybe this comes from the silicon in the water?).

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. This innate drive is what has driven me through a rewarding career driving impact in product and marketing teams.

kimandgene@gmail.com
The professional side

I’ve had an amazing career to this point. I’ve worked for companies ranging from Fortune 15 to start-ups, trying to find product-market fit.

I’ve worked mostly in B2B but have several years of experience with B2C/direct to consumer. The products and services ranged from consumer packaged goods and electronics to digital experiences and software as a service.

I’ve enjoyed them all, but for now am looking to continue my growth in the SaaS space in the Product Marketing field.

Hard Skills

Hard skills for Product Marketing Managers (PMMs) include data analysis, market research, technical proficiency (e.g., with analytics tools, marketing platforms, or light coding), product knowledge, SEO/SEM, A/B testing, and project management. Strong written and verbal communication is also a critical hard skill, allowing PMMs to effectively articulate product value and build consensus.

Data analysis
Market research
Artificial Intelligence (various platforms)
Adobe Creative Suite + Davinci Resolve

Soft Skills

Key soft skills for product marketing managers (PMMs) include communication, customer empathy, adaptability, strategic thinking, and leadership to effectively understand customer needs, guide cross-functional teams, and align market strategy with product goals. They also need strong collaboration, problem-solving, prioritization, and presentation skills to bring products to market successfully.

Problem-solving
Strategic thinking
Customer empathy
Collaboration