Humans of HTB #1: Pavlos’ journey into product management

Step into the vibrant world of the Humans of HTB (HoH), your behind-the-scenes glimpse into the growth of our talented team and dynamic culture!  

In this HoH series, we talk to Pavlos Kolios, who embarked on his journey at HTB as CTF delivery manager, and is now thriving in his role as Capture The Flag (CTF) Product Manager (PM)! 

What was your career path before HTB?

Hello, I'm Pavlos Kolios, residing in Athens, Greece. I've been a part of the HTB community (player nickname: pzyc0) since its inception. I’ve worked at HTB since November 2021, preceded by a primarily technical background as a Penetration Tester and Red Teamer.

How did you end up in your current role?

I began my journey at HTB as a Delivery Manager for CTF events, given that they are my primary passion. (Note: A CTF is a competition in which teams or individuals compete to solve several hacking challenges.) 

As a Delivery Manager, I was responsible for coordinating internal teams to deliver exceptional CTF experiences for our customers. However, in April 2023, I transitioned to the Product Team and currently hold the position of Product Manager of Events (CTFs and Battlegrounds), having an even greater impact on the experience of our users as now I am responsible for the product roadmap. 

Can you share some highlights of your work at HTB?

Key highlights from my HTB journey include empowering the sales team to promote events hosted by our B2B partners with confidence. This contribution earned me the recognition of Top Sales Contributor in 2022, and eventually, my transition to the Product Team! 

You transitioned to PM from a technical role. Why was it an attractive domain for you?

As a competitive CTF player tasked with delivering and frequently promoting our CTF product to prospects and clients, I gained great insight into the CTF platform. I also learned a lot from extensive interactions with the engineering and product teams. 

My constant engagement with different teams to shape the CTF platform solidified my decision to take up a more challenging and engaging role, which I was fortunate to find within the Product Team.

Tell us about the most enjoyable part of your job!

I cherish the daily learning opportunities—gaining new insights on better enabling our engineering team and continuously shaping the product to deliver even more value.

What are the key challenges of your work now?

Given that this is my first stint in a product team, I'm navigating a learning curve to grasp the essential fundamentals. Despite this challenge, I couldn't be more pleased to be part of a team that consistently empowers me through their positive attitude and provision of resources.

What are your key learnings from your experience so far at HTB?

To achieve success and deliver impactful results, one needs to foster collaboration and think outside the box.

What career advice would you give to someone interested in PM?

A robust foundation in both commercial and technical aspects, coupled with strong communication skills and integrity, is pivotal for understanding and thriving in Product Management.

You’ve been at HTB for two years now. What makes it a unique place to work?

What sets HTB apart is the chance to collaborate with extraordinarily intelligent and compassionate colleagues from all around the world. Their accomplishments and mentorship, coupled with the lessons learned, are invaluable. Additionally, the company's global reach encourages unconventional thinking and broadening of perspectives.

What advice would you give to someone interviewing at HTB?

Take the time to gain intel about the company and grasp why we're so passionate about Hack The Box. 

We are not just another startup or tech enterprise—we are dedicated to fostering new hackers and enhancing the skills of the already proficient to reach their highest potential. 

Maintain composure, embrace the process, and get ready to join what I consider the most enriching workplace I've ever been part of!

Author bio: Pavlos Kolios (pzyc0), CTF Product Manager, Hack The Box Pavlos Kolios is the CTF Product Manager at Hack The Box. He is responsible for scaling the CTF Platform to deliver high-quality events for various audiences, such as businesses, universities, and communities. Pavlos has extensive experience in cyber security, having participated in and won several CTF competitions, such as the the European Cyber Security Challenge, CSAW, GreHack and the Hack The Box Business CTF. He is also a certified ethical hacker and a penetration tester, holding several certifications from vendors such as Offensive Security. Furthermore, he has disclosed vulnerabilities that resulted in CVE publications in the past. Want to hear more from Pavlos? Connect with him on LinkedIn.