Insights

10 Years at RealityMine: Lessons, Growth, and Looking Ahead

By September 25, 2024 No Comments

For the past 10 years, Craig Parker, Product Manager, has played a key role at RealityMine, helping shape the company’s biggest products. He started out working with key market research partners, and he is now involved in projects that will revolutionise the industry. 

In this interview, Craig reflects on his path and how it mirrors RealityMine’s own transformation over the past decade. 

Looking back on your journey with us, how has your role evolved?

My journey here has been long and varied! I started as a Junior Project Manager, working closely with our key market research partners to ensure their projects’ success. Over time, I’ve progressed through several roles—including managing the Customer Support Team, serving as a Project Manager and Programme Manager, and for the past two years, embracing the role of a Product Manager. Each position taught me something new, but one constant has been delivering high-quality service to our customers. I’m incredibly proud that the customers we started with are still working with us today, and we’re continuously solving their market needs. 

Do you have any memories from your first day at work?

My first day is a fun memory—I arrived fully suited up, only to find everyone else in their casual clothing! That’s when I realised I’d joined a tech startup with a laid-back culture, quite a contrast to my previous corporate environment. Back then, the entire company could fit into a single stand-up meeting. Since then, we’ve added many more teams and moved upstairs to a bigger office in the same building. 

What has been the most challenging project you’ve worked on, and how did you overcome it?

The most challenging project is the one I’m currently working on, utilising machine learning to dive into the cutting edge of AI.  It has been a steep learning curve, especially while also learning the ropes of product management, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. 

Balancing the technical complexities with our customers’ needs has been crucial, and effective communication has helped us navigate these challenges. This development will address numerous issues the industry has faced over the past ten years with Apple/iOS app reporting. Having been on the front lines for most of that time, I’m excited to deliver this major improvement and unique product to market!  

How would you describe the company culture, and what role do you play in it? 

Our company culture is one where we all have each other’s backs. Whenever we face tough challenges—and there have been plenty over the past decade—we come together to find solutions. As a Product Manager, I prioritise identifying the right problems because I genuinely believe that if we do, our talented team will solve them. 

What do you enjoy most about working with our clients, and how do you ensure their success?

I’ve greatly enjoyed the diversity of our clients over the years. Working with partners across multiple countries exposes me to different cultures and ways of working—which has led to both personal and professional growth (even if it means some early mornings or late-night calls due to time zones!). 

To ensure their success, we focus on building genuine partnerships rather than just client-supplier relationships. We spend quality time with our clients, understanding their unique dynamics, we tailor our solutions to meet their specific goals. This way, we’re not just delivering a product—we’re providing a high-quality service that brings real value to them. 

What are your thoughts on the impact of AI in our industry and beyond, and how do you see it shaping the future?

We’re witnessing all the leading tech giants investing heavily in AI and integrating it into their technologies, alongside major developments from organisations like OpenAI. It feels like we’re on the cusp of a significant transformation in people’s daily lives—sometimes dubbed the ‘Intelligence Revolution.’ On a large scale, this will change how people work, or even how much work people do versus tasks performed by AI counterparts. On a smaller scale, it will alter how we use our mobile devices every day, which is where our company’s technology comes into play—we can help measure and report on these changes, assisting our customers in predicting future trends. 

I’ve personally enjoyed experimenting with different AI solutions, and I enjoy getting my hands on the very latest Apple products and software. It will be very interesting to observe how Google, Apple, Microsoft and other app publishers implement their AI innovations over the next year. 

What are you most excited about in the next phase of your career here?

I’m incredibly excited about continuing my journey as a Product Manager and becoming the best I can be. Alongside the machine learning development, I’m looking forward to expanding our innovations across app and web measurement, and to meet market needs as the world embraces fast evolving AI features. 

Key to this is further engagement with our customers and the broader market, so I invite anyone reading this or otherwise to reach out and we’ll arrange a chat! 

What’s one fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

Well, here’s a quirky one—I can lick my own elbow! People often say it’s impossible, but I somehow manage to do it. Maybe I missed my calling at the circus! 

Craig’s decade-long journey at RealityMine reflects both personal growth and the company’s evolution, pushing boundaries in product development and technology. From early challenges to leading cutting-edge AI projects, his passion for solving problems and delivering value to customers remains at the heart of everything he does. As RealityMine continues to innovate, Craig is eager to hear from clients and partners to explore new opportunities. If you’d like to connect, learn more about the exciting developments in AI, or just chat with Craig about your own needs, feel free to reach out!