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 or @valgfong and TikTok @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

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 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

Show Notes:

Sources:

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 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

Show Notes:

Sources:

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:

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

"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:

Show Notes:

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

Our 20’s are all about embracing the flirty, fun moments and exploring what we truly want in a partner... What they aren’t about is being narrow-minded, investing time and energy in one-sided relationships, and losing ourselves during the chase. Oh, and let’s not forget the dangerous game of comparing our relationships to those of other people. To help you navigate all the crazy, fun, delicate.. sometimes traumatic.. art of dating, I’m sharing insights on how we can confidently build healthy, mature relationships while staying true to our values and sense of self.

Show Notes:

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

If you’ve been online at all this year, you’ve probably heard of #EldestDaughterSyndrome, a viral TikTok and Twitter trend shedding light on the heavy but invisible burdens that the eldest female sibling often shoulders for her family. In this episode, I dive into the unique challenges and long-term psychological impacts of this family dynamic, drawing from my own experiences as the eldest daughter in an immigrant family. Together, we’ll examine the negative feedback loop that “parentification” fosters and uncover themes of self-sacrifice, navigating high family expectations, and guilt. I’ll also share strategies for self-care, setting boundaries, and cultivating a healthier sense of self.

Sources:

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

Today, I’m honoring AAPI month by sharing my experience as a young asian american woman navigating my first corporate job and how my identity has affected the way I show up at work. Join me in unraveling the model minority myth and reveal its pervasive influence on the expectations, perceptions, and representations of AAPI professionals. Diving into the myth's impact, we uncover its constraints on career growth and mentorship, while highlighting the importance of disaggregation and actionable strategies for fostering inclusive, equitable workplaces.

Resources to learn more:

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

With the recent buzz surrounding her Eras Tour and her split with Joe Alwyn, Taylor Swift’s name has been all over the news lately. So, in this episode, I’m channeling my inner Swifty and exploring the narrative and lore of Taylor Swift’s iconic eras. From her country days to her pop star reign, we’re analyzing how Taylor has evolved as an artist, what characterizes her different media personalities, and what they represent. I also unpack my theory that everyone (yes, everyone..) is in a Taylor Swift Era, whether they realize it or not. Tune in to find out which era I’m in right now (and figure out which one you’re in) <3

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @onedayatatime.mp3 or @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.

Do you ever scroll through Instagram or LinkedIn and feel like you’re falling behind in work or life compared to everyone else? Today, I’m unpacking that feeling and discussing how social media often corners us into a comparison trap. Although we know these picture-perfect posts don’t tell us the whole story, we still can’t help but make judgments about how we measure up — catapulting us into a vicious cycle of envy, insecurity, and even imposter syndrome..

Joining me (as my first ever podcast guest!) is my bestie, Max Johnson! We’re sharing some of our own experiences dealing with internet discouragement and helpful strategies for shaking off negative thoughts to feel secure and confident in your own journey.

Make sure to subscribe for more episodes.

Follow me on Instagram @valgfong and TikTok @valerie.fong.