Stop Chasing Promotions - All Things Product with Teresa & Petra

So many of us chase promotions as if they’re the ultimate career milestone—but are they really the best goal? In this conversation, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres unpack why promotions can be a tricky (and sometimes misleading) target, what to focus on instead, and how to reframe career growth around skills, influence, and personal fulfillment.

In this episode of All Things Product, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres dig into the obsession with promotions and why they might not be the best north star for your career. Instead, they explore what it looks like to invest in personal growth, craftsmanship, and influence—and how those things can open doors far beyond a title change.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ Why promotions are often outside your span of control—and why that matters
✅ The risks of tying promotions too closely to salary and status
✅ How to reframe career goals around learning, skill-building, and impact
✅ The importance of asking: What do I want to be known for?
✅ Other ways to meet needs for money, influence, or recognition without a title change
✅ How to spot whether a promotion is truly what you want—or just shiny object syndrome

Resources & Links:
Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org 
Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com

Mentioned in this episode: 
Great Expectations by Thor Mitchell - MTP Engage Hamburg 2022: https://vimeo.com/727164157/126ba3a47f
Building My First AI Product: 6 Lessons from My 90-Day Deep Dive by Teresa: https://www.producttalk.org/2025/08/ai-playbook/
Continuous Discovery Habits book by Teresa: https://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Discovery-Habits-Discover-Products/dp/1736633309?dchild=1&keywords=continuous+discovery+habits&qid=1621385051&sr=8-2&linkCode=sl1&tag=teresatorres-20&linkId=34bc439ac78da06e1398f7bf069b219e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
Petra’s coaching work: https://www.petra-wille.com/coaching-packages

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