When Sharon Duan began her career as a university librarian, she never imagined she’d one day be leading digital product teams in technology. But her passion for solving problems and understanding people guided her toward an unexpected, fulfilling career path.
In this insightful Q&A, Sharon opens up about her unconventional journey, the misconceptions about working in tech, and her advice for anyone looking to take that first step into the field.
What sparked your interest in technology?
Technology is a major force driving society forward, and I wanted to be part of shaping that journey rather than simply following it. I was drawn to the idea of having a hand in creating solutions that could make a real difference.
What was your career journey before getting into tech?
I was a librarian, managing online resources for faculties and students at various universities. Part of my role involved negotiating licence terms and prices with academic publishers around the world. This gave me invaluable insights into both user needs and business models, which eventually opened the door to the publishing industry and, later, technology.
Did you face any challenges breaking into the industry?
My first tech role was as a product manager in a digital team. I didn’t code, but I worked alongside talented software engineers. Interestingly, I didn’t find it particularly challenging because I was contributing from a different angle—bringing user perspective and market understanding to the table. The diversity of skills in a tech team is what makes it work.
What helped you the most in securing your first tech role?
My deep understanding of the market and empathy for users proved invaluable. It helped me support the team in building digital solutions that truly met end users’ needs. Technical skills matter, but understanding the ‘why’ behind what you’re building is even more important.
How did your organisation support you in this journey?
Being a product manager is incredibly demanding, and as a mum of two young children, I couldn’t have come this far without my organisation’s support. The flexibility they’ve provided has allowed women like me to thrive in tech. They’ve offered rich learning resources, peer support networks, and opportunities to attend external conferences. But what’s meant the most is the space and freedom to explore what I could contribute. I now run a product community within the organisation, and leaders across the business—especially the senior leadership team in Technology—have given me immense encouragement and room to manoeuvre. They’ve allowed me to be myself and supported me when I needed it most.
What skills or qualifications were most valuable?
Deep listening and empathy toward colleagues and users have been crucial. The ability to trial and error and iterate quickly is essential in product work. But most importantly, having the willingness to acknowledge there’s always room for improvement and to celebrate failures as learning opportunities has been transformative.
What's the biggest misconception about starting a tech career?
That you have to know how to code—you absolutely don’t. If you understand some basic technology concepts, which can be self-taught through online resources, there are countless roles in tech that don’t require coding. Product management, UX research, technical writing, and many other positions are vital to tech teams.
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field?
Know what you’re good at and passionate about. Play to your strengths and find the overlapping space where your abilities can help tech teams achieve their goals. Look for opportunities to support technology-related work—even in small ways. The experience will open your eyes and give you valuable insights that will help you break into the field.
How has your role evolved since you started?
My role has evolved tremendously. I started leading one development team, progressed to managing multiple teams, and now I’m in an advisory role supporting the entire organisation wherever teams need extra help. I feel extremely fortunate that I’ve been able to shape what I do and how I do it. None of this would have been possible without the support of this amazing organisation and my colleagues.
What excites you most about your future in tech?
AI is transforming so many aspects of our lives right now. What excites me is that as a product person working in technology, I have the opportunity to help shape how these powerful tools can benefit society in safer, more measured ways. It’s about ensuring technology serves people, not the other way around.
Learn more about careers at Cambridge University Press & Assessment on their employer profile page.
