My Career Move: Why I’m Going to T-Mobile
April 22, 2008
I’m very excited to announce that I’ll soon be making a career transition. I’ve accepted a role as a Product Planner with the product development team at T-Mobile, USA.
I’m grateful to Steve Broback and the amazing team at The Parnassus Group. I’ve had unparalleled opportunities to develop as a Web geek at Parnassus over the past two and a half years. I think the world of Parnassus as an organization, and I can’t wait to see what they do with their Sentimine technology in the coming year. I’m going to miss the people there just as much as they say they’ll miss me.
But there come times in every career when it becomes apparent that you need to try something new–and maybe even a little bit scary–in order to grow as a professional.
So why T-Mobile?
When I began thinking about my next opportunity, many people advised me to go into business for myself as a social media consultant. Many agencies have tried to hire me. But–at least for the time being–I’ve had my fill of telling other organizations how to leverage the social Web. I want to actually do it.
T-Mobile is uniquely positioned–both because of our brand and our participation in the Open Handset Alliance–to play a major role in what Mike Arrington has long called, “the future of social networking.”
In my new role with the product development team, I’ll be a part of that future. I’ll look at market requirements and the results of our R&D efforts, and synthesize them with my social media knowledge. I get to mix bleeding edge ideas with market realities to create the products of tomorrow. Needless to say, I’m psyched!
Most importantly, T-Mobile is an organization that invests in, challenges, and rewards great people. The human beings I’ve encountered at T-Mobile are some of the best and the brightest in their fields. Many of them have spent nearly all their professional lives with the organization. I look forward to engaging with those people while facing new challenges and growing new skills.
What does this mean for my Web presence?
As many of you know, the mobile industry is one of the most competitive spaces in technology. I’ll be working on some top-secret stuff. There are some things that I just won’t be able to talk about. Getting fired for blogging is not on my list of things to do before I die–so you’ll have to forgive me if I can’t discuss certain aspects of my professional life.
That said, I’ll still be offering up my thoughts on technology, politics, and other exciting topics on a regular basis. I’ll just be doing it here at TeresaCentric instead of at Parnassus’ blogs. I know that the Web Community Forum and Blog Business Summit blogs will be in great hands with the team at Parnassus.
What’s next?
My last day at Parnassus will be April 29, 2008. After that, I’ll take some time off to travel, read, and get ready for my next big career adventure. I’ll do tons of yoga and rock climbing, visit family and friends, and celebrate my 25th birthday by performing with my good friend, online reporter Mónica Guzmán at the Seattle PI’s “Battle of the Bands.” I might even sleep in once or twice. Then, I’ll start my new job on May 12.
I want to take the time to thank everyone I have come to know these past few years. You are too numerous to mention here by name, but chances are that if we’re connected on one social network or another, I’m thinking of you when I say that I’m honored to know you and be a part of your community. I can’t wait to see what you all do next.
Wish me luck, or rather as my favorite math teacher in high school used to say, “wish me skills!”
[...] social media goddess extraordinaire is leaving the Parnassus Group at the end of April to take a very cool new job as a Product Planner with T-Mobile in [...]
Congrats on the new job Tete! I’m super excited for you, and there’s no doubt in mind that you’ll be a huge bonus to the T-mobile team. Any thoughts about coming down to Diego for BarCamp San Diego? Would love to see you again before you get sucked in to your new job!
Congrats Teresa. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about social media, life, jobs, etc. for a while now, we should make that happen.
this sounds like an incredible opportunity for an incredible person. many congrats.
there are great reasons to work for t-mobile
+ cool handsets
+ open handset alliance
+ best customer service i’ve ever dealt with in telecom. hands down
oh, and they didn’t violate my rights and the constitution like another major telco who decided to wholesale deliver traffic to the NSA. ahem, at&t.
welcome to the inside.
Congrats! I’m awed by your accomplishments and your attitude. Whenever I need an example for others in your age group (or mine for that matter) I just point them your way. Go, Teresa!
Oh, yeah, do you have to relocate?
Wow, congrats! Can’t wait to hear more… but yes, not so much that it gets you fired.
Congrats on a great opportunity and a much better commute!
Congrats!
@jennifer: when is BarCamp? I haven’t been paying much attention to conference schedules, since I’ve been finagling this whole job thing. I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it in any case, I’ll be sticking pretty close to home.
@miguel: feel free to ping me.
@baratunde: the inside, it’s exciting!
@bradley: careful! you’re going to make my ego so big I won’t fit through a door. Thankfully, I won’t have to relocate.
@jake: I’ll share what I can when I can.
@warren: I’m definitely looking forward to reducing my carbon footprint. One of my perks is a bus pass. Go earth!
@lawrence: thank you!
Congrats! I wish you the best in your new endevors. Will you be based in Seattle or the East Side?
PS Good skills!
Congrats! Come play with me in Chicago before your new job starts.
I’m so excited and happy for you, and hope that it’s everything you hope. I know that I’m having a great time at Boingo now, so i can be rewarding.
Is your world tour going through LA, perchance?
Teresa -
Congratulations on what sounds like a really great next step. May you continue to rock the free world.
TVK
Good luck with the new role. I know you’ll be awesome at it and do a great job. I also want to talk to you about the problems I had with t-mobile (grin).
BarCampSD is May 3rd/4th conveniently during your little break between jobs. Totally understand if you can’t make it down, but if you do I’ve got the perfect karaoke spot to take to you.
http://www.barcampsd.org/
This is all so exciting! Congrats Teresa!
A big congrats to you, this sounds well deserved. I’ve been impressed with the work you’ve done at Parnassus, and they work they’ve done.
Looking forward to seeing what you produce at T-Mobile!
Teresa,
Congratulations ! I like T-Mobile and i am a customer. They are lucky to have you.
Shashi
Congrats to you! I left T-Mobile in November ‘07 to join and private practice, but I can say I honestly loved T-Mo and still have an amazing group of friends in their ranks.
I can promise you this … you will love the culture. Leadership is genuine and they truly put customers and employees first.
Enjoy your new gig - and get ready for the Magenta Dip!
Good luck -
Dennis
Teresa, it is a great news. Congratulations.
Just heard the news from Jeremiah’s tweet and had to come read about it. Congratulations. I look forward to hearing great things about your work with T-mobile, and I appreciate what you said about not just advising clients on what to do but actually jumping in the fray and DOING social media. Best wishes for great success.
Maybe get a word in about un-blocking Twitter?
Congrats!
It’s a whole new beginning.
Wish happiness and success come along with your new career.
Teresa,
It’s very exciting news to hear of your opportunity for you and T-Mobile. Getting acquainted with your professionalism at Web Community Forum was a compliment to the medium, and this news now brings to light the exciting times we can all look forward to from the mobile industry (and no doubt from some of the fruits of your ’social’ passions).
All the best! Blue skies,
Dave
How exciting! Congratulations!
Holy cow! I go away from the computer for a few hours and look what happens!
Seriously, I love all you guys.
Ok, here goes from my last response on down the list:
@Trista: I’ll be on the Eastside most of the time
@Leora: We’ll see. I’m not entirely sure how my travel schedule will shape up. I’m not taking as much time off as I had originally planned due to some scheduling issues, so I’ll have to compress my plans somewhat.
@Jeremy: As I told Leora, we’ll see…
@Mark: Thank you! And that’s one of my favorite songs…
@Mukund: I can’t speak for the company, or for customer service. But if you do have an issue, I’d love to hear about it and see if there’s anything I can o.
@Jennifer: I’ll be performing in the Battle of the Bands that weekend.
@Esther: Thanks sexi koala mama!
@Jeremiah: Thank you for your kind words and for being such a good friend to me!
@Shashi: Thanks for being a customer! I feel very fortunate to be joining such a great team.
@Dennis: That’s the sense I got when I started exploring the company. Everyone seemed to be very focused on helping their teammates to do their best work. In an environment like that, everyone wins, especially the customer.
@Krish: Thank you!
@Connie: Thanks for coming over and commenting! I’m really excited to DO things too. In the end, the brands are the ones that have to actually implement — and bear the consequences of — any social media initiatives. Seeing what that’s like firsthand will make me a better Web strategist.
@michael: New beginnings kick butt, no?
@Dave: You’re really too kind. Are you and Brad conspiring to make me too big for my britches?
In all seriousness, it’s been a pleasure getting to know you. I look forward to getting continued value from all your tweeting and blogging.
@Karen: Thanks, babe!
Good luck in the new gig. Sounds exciting
@mike: thank you! And good advice about chickens. :-\
i hereby wish you skillz!!!
congratulations! sounds exciting
I don’t need to wish you skills. You’ve got skills darlin!
I wish I could be there for Battle of the Bands! Is someone going to videotape? (please?) I’m almost as excited about your musical performance as your new job. I’m so glad everything is falling into place. Of course, great personality, stellar work ethic, personal social network extending to Timbuktu, beautiful voice, and hot body help (with both musical and career endeavors).
You deserve it all, my dearling Tete. I am so happy for you!
Come visit Denver anytime.
Change is always exciting and scary at the same time. These life changes don’t come often so enjoy the ride. If there is anything you need from me just ask!
Absolutely wonderful and absolutely deserved! Best of luck, and you know you’ll have a cast of Web 2.0 characters eager to watch you succeed…
T-Mobile, get ready!
Teresa - I’m so happy for you, and thanks for all your help the past couple of years, working with you has been great. Hope to run into you soon, in fact I’m working on two new mobile initiatives right now - so who knows? Congratulations, Brad
[...] Teresa Valdez Klein, a dear friend moves on to T-Mobile as a product planner, she’s very entrenched in social media, so we can expect her to add to the social media charge at T-Mobile. [...]
Teresa - Just caught up with my reading and this announcement. A heart congrats is certainly in order and I’m sure you’ll have no problems deciding what’s fit to print. I managed the telecom and media trading desk at Goldman for 10 years so I can empathize with the difficulty of the task that is ahead of you. Good Skills to you and please don’t fade from the Social Media Sphere.
Dear Teresa,
I am certain that the good skills you have learned on each day of your life will continue to assist you in your new setting - just as they did in that math class you referred to in your announcement (and I’m still smiling…). Continue your wonderful ability to be grounded as you fly; I can’t wait to hear about the new thinking your new setting elicits.
Fondly and with some pride, your former mathematics teacher
Best of luck to you Teresa - after meeting you at CES this year I’m sure you’ll do exceptionally well in any environment so make sure you pick … good ones. Best of luck in the mobile space.
Good Luck Teresa, I love T-Mobile.
~L4L
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