I attended Nesslabs‘ “Annual Year in Review” workshop this year. The last time I joined was in 2020, and I regret not making it an annual habit. But better late than never! This article is the result of this year’s workshop.
On the work front, 2024 was a continuity and a conclusion of 2023’s challenges. After completing a bootcamp last year to transition into product management, it was time to begin the job hunt. And oh, what a ride it was! 2023-2024 were far from ideal years for a career switch in the tech industry. I sent out over a hundred applications and faced contradictory feedback at every turn—either I was too senior or not senior enough, too business-oriented or not technical enough, inexperienced in Agile/Scrum or too hands-on. At times, I questioned my decision to pursue product management.
Despite the setbacks, I stayed persistent. In February 2024, while organizing a meetup for Product Managers, I met a friend of a friend who connected me with a freelance Data Product Manager role. This opportunity allowed me to collaborate with great Data Scientists, Data Analysts, and Machine Learning Engineers. Keeping up with the technical discussions was challenging, but I learned so much and absolutely loved being immersed in the data world.
A few months later, a former colleague told me about the company he had recently joined. After several conversations, he asked if I’d be interested in coming aboard. That’s how I landed my current role at Pruna.AI, where I now use my product management skills to help the company grow while discovering Machine Learning.
On a personal note, 2024 was a positive year for my health. After spending most of 2023 in a depressive state where I struggled to wake up early enough for the gym, I finally managed to fix my sleep schedule. This year, I finally went back to the 7:30 AM CrossFit classes. The coach had not seen me for months. I also completed many extended periods without consuming added sugar, which left me feeling amazing—fewer cravings, more energy, and clearer skin. In 2025, I plan to extend those sugar-free periods and track them more diligently.
Another health milestone was buying myself a gravel bike, even though it was the middle of winter. I braved the cold for a few rides, and it felt great! For 2025, I want to focus on more outdoor activities. While I’ve been running less since joining my gym, I plan to change that by continuing CrossFit and Thai boxing on weekdays and dedicating weekends to running or biking.
I also feel immense gratitude for my friends and partner. Their support over the past two years has been invaluable. This year, I celebrated my 34th birthday surrounded by joy, love, and friendship, which reminded me how lucky I am to have them in my life.
In terms of learning, I’m proud to have invested time in non-work-related topics. In September 2023, I joined two classes: a weekly evening Japanese class and a Saturday chess class at my local chess club. Since then, I’ve rarely missed a session, arranging my schedule to focus on studying things I truly enjoy. Both disciplines challenge me, as I’m still a beginner in each, but I genuinely enjoy learning topics I enjoy and totally unrelated to work. In 2025, I plan to continue with Japanese and chess, aiming to improve enough to consider myself an intermediate student.
The highlight of 2024 was undoubtedly our trip to Japan with my partner, a journey we had originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19. After four years of anticipation, we finally embarked on the trip we had dreamed of for so long. Japan was just as breathtaking as I remembered from my first visit in 2011. I even managed to speak a little Japanese—mainly at restaurants—but my skills weren’t quite strong enough to keep up with their fast replies!
The Nesslabs “Annual Review Template” concludes with three sections: “Proudest Accomplishments,” “Biggest Challenges,” and “Main Goals for Next Year.” I’ll keep these brief, as sharing them publicly feels a bit vulnerable.
Proudest Accomplishments
This year, I’m most proud of navigating the challenging tech job market and securing a new role. I’m also proud of returning to a morning workout routine, taking our long-awaited trip to Japan, and celebrating my birthday and Christmas surrounded by friends and family.
Biggest Challenges
The biggest challenges of 2024 included dealing with my dad’s health issues—though I’m relieved to say he is now cured. Another was enduring the endless cycle of job applications while figuring out the next steps for my career.
Main Goals for Next Year
As I mentioned in a previous article, one of my main goals is to consistently publish on this blog. I feel a nervous writing this down, as I’ve set this goal before and failed to follow through. But here’s to trying again!
I also want to attend at least one chess tournament. Even if I don’t feel good enough yet, my goal is simply to participate. Continuing to learn Japanese is another priority, along with achieving at least one FreeCodeCamp certification. I’m currently working on the Python.
If I had to summarize my goals for 2025 in one word, it would be : consistency.
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