Succeeding Together: The Human Side of Product Ownership at Discover®
Name: Isaac (he/him)
Title: Product Owner
Office Location: Chicago
As a product owner in Program Helix, I find myself immersed in the constant churn of an evolving product. It’s a fast-paced environment, with moving parts and shifting priorities that can sometimes feel chaotic. I’ve come to embrace that chaos, knowing my role is to bring some semblance of order. There’s a deep satisfaction in taking what seems like disarray and turning it into something that benefits not just the product, but the people I work with every day. I love seeing how the systems I help create improve the lives of my coworkers and teammates. When their work becomes easier, their jobs become more fulfilling, and their frustrations fewer, which makes the chaos worth it.
Being remote for most of my career has made work feel a bit abstract at times. When your primary mode of communication is a screen and a flurry of messages, it can be easy to forget that on the other side of each is a real person. Every person has their own challenges, goals, and lives to return to once they log off for the day. Between the deadlines, tasks and calls, it’s important to keep in mind the human element of every interaction. Whenever I’m busy, tired, or frustrated, I make a conscious effort to pause and think about who is receiving my message. Those moments of reflection make all the difference.
One of the Discover behaviors that first drew me to the company was the idea that “we succeed together.” Over time, I’ve seen how deeply embedded this value is exemplified in the company culture. From my managers who have offered guidance and trust, to the teammates who’ve helped me grow, I’ve experienced firsthand how this principle plays out. It’s a collaborative environment where no one is left behind, and I’ve been given countless opportunities to expand my skill set and grow in ways I wouldn’t have imagined on my own. It’s that sense of shared success, of lifting each other up, that makes the work not only rewarding but meaningful.
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