- People
From Developer to Product Manager: discover Sylvie’s journey at Betsson
- Published: 17/04/25
In this article, Sylvie Magri, Product Manager for Content & Blogging Tools, shares details about her path at Betsson Group and the driving forces that have kept her with the company for over a decade. From contributing to developing internal tools to leading initiatives that optimise processes, her journey showcases the impact of being part of a company that values individual and collective growth.
1. Tell us a bit about your journey at Betsson Group
I started as a developer with the Content & Creative team, initially working on enhancing a promotion page tool. Later, I was part of the team that built an entirely custom drag-and-drop system as a blogging platform for internal teams which we kept developing and advancing.
Around that time, I had the opportunity to step in for our product manager during maternity leave while continuing some development work. I quickly realised I enjoyed product management more than coding, which led me to make the transition.
Today, I continue to work with the same team, specialising in internal tools for blogs and promotions. One of my key projects has been leading the development of a tool that enables internal teams to create promotion pages efficiently. Currently, I’m driving an initiative to optimise it further, ensuring we deliver high-quality pages across all touchpoints.
Product management isn’t easy – it involves balancing multiple stakeholder requirements, managing priorities, roadmaps, analytics, and aligning business goals with technical feasibility. My background in development has been a huge advantage in bridging the gap between teams. Despite the challenges, I love the constant learning and problem-solving that comes with the role, and I’m excited to see the impact of this current initiative.
2. Why did you join Betsson, and what has kept you here?
A former colleague who had moved to Betsson encouraged me to apply when an opening came up. I missed the first opportunity, but a few months later, a role opened in a smaller team. Since I was still new to the field, such a setup felt like the perfect step forward. It allowed me to focus solely on development while being part of a self-sufficient team with its own leadership, content managers, developers, and eventually even QA and DevOps.
From the start, Betsson has been adynamic place to work. Over the years, I’ve seen countless changes, but one thing has remained constant, the culture of support and camaraderie. This is a major factor in why I’ve stayed so long. I’ve been fortunate to work with great colleagues, who create an environment where challenges are met with support rather than isolation.
Another key reason I’ve stayed is the culture of continuous growth. No one is perfect, and life is a constant state of learning. At Betsson, challenges aren’t seen as setbacks but as opportunities to develop. Growth doesn’t happen when things are easy – it happens when we’re pushed beyond our comfort zone.
3. Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at Betsson?
One of the most memorable experiences was a team trip to Sicily, where we packed an entire adventure into a single day. Thanks to the incredible planning of Deandra Fenech Mula (her events never disappoint!), we took the earliest flight to Sicily and the latest one back, making the most of a day filled with great food, breathtaking views, and plenty of laughs – from morning coffee in Catania and a snowy hike on Mount Etna, to a delicious lunch at a countryside agritourism spot and a scenic stroll through Taormina, ending with a relaxed evening in Catania and some unexpected airport adventures due to a delayed flight.
Of course, there have been countless other memorable moments, but I chose to focus on this team-building event because it really stood out and gave me the chance to see another side of the amazing people I work with.
4. Which Betsson values resonate with you the most?
Passion. Through years of self-development, I’ve become fascinated by Japanese philosophy, which approaches passion as something deeper – a state of mind, a way of being, and a lifelong pursuit.
Rather than searching for a job or task that already ignites passion, this perspective suggests that passion can be infused into anything through presence, discipline, and purpose. It’s not about waiting to find the perfect work but about committing fully to what you do, even in the smallest tasks. Over time, dedication leads to mastery, and even seemingly mundane work can transform into something meaningful.
When we shift our mindset, passion becomes not just an emotion but a way of life. Passion isn’t something we follow but something we cultivate.