Jenkins first joined Procore as SVP of product in 2020, and was recently promoted to Chief Product Officer. In this role, he will continue to lead Procore’s product vision and strategy and support the construction industry as it adapts to become a technology-driven, connected workforce. As Jenkins reached his third anniversary at Procore, I had the chance to learn more about his way of life, professional accomplishments and ambitions for the future. Here are some highlights from our conversation.

You have worked in product for over 20 years now –how has the way that product departments operate improved?

Product management was a relatively new concept 20 years ago – the etymology of the craft was essentially rooted in brand management. When the internet came along, it changed everything. In the 90s, there was this rise of project (not product) managers, but it wasn’t working because projects are ephemeral – they have a start and a finish – and products on the internet need sustained ownership. This eventually led to early product management jobs at places like Netscape or eBay. Over the last 20 years, as technology products have grown to dominate various industries, the role of product has become more clear, modern product discovery principles have matured, data and analytics have improved, and many industries are seeing the benefits of the role. Today, most companies realize modern product management is a huge differentiator, setting them apart from other companies who do it poorly.

Your family comes from construction, and you’ve now joined the industry and had the opportunity to talk and learn from many construction professionals. What is one thing you wish more people knew about the sector?

Construction is a team sport where relationships and reputations matter. My dad started his career climbing telephone poles before he became a manager and later started the family construction business in Colorado, building cell phone towers. I quickly learned that the work doesn’t stop. You have deadlines and people counting on you, so you put on your suit and gloves and go out with your crew in the middle of a blizzard to swing your hammer and pull cable to get the job done. I wish more construction technology was designed to enhance reputation and trust across teams of builders since that’s the foundation that powers everything else.

What are you most proud of during your time at Procore?

I’m here to make an impact on the construction industry. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. Procore’s Financials solution is the best in the industry, and now it’s both connected to our project execution solutions and money movement via . Our customers can track costs from preconstruction to closeout, and I’m really proud of that impact.

Construction is a networked industry – where disparate companies come together on a project to build on time and under budget. I’m also proud of the Procore Construction Network, where you can search, find and connect with subcontractors and general contractors (GCs) on one global platform. This is a game changer for the industry – it’s the Linkedin of construction. Not only can a GC find and connect with subcontractors, but subs can manage bids, store drawings and even get paid on this network through Procore Pay.

What has been the most fun thing about your role thus far?

I get my energy from spending time with customers – getting out on jobsites, diving deep into the product with them, looking at their business, talking about the challenges they face and figuring out how we can help solve them with technology. It never gets old – I could do it every day and still find joy and happiness in it. Another part I love is helping leaders grow. I see feedback as a gift, so I’m active about giving and receiving it.

Do you live by a particular motto, philosophy, or leadership approach?

I continue to remain curious and passionate about what lies ahead. Here’s a quote that has always resonated with me:

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.” - Lawrence Pearsall Jacks

What are you most excited about in the next phase at Procore?

We have the opportunity to re-invent how construction operates – Procore’s platform is connected from preconstruction to closeout, and we have the best possible view of the building revolution that is inevitably coming. I’m so thankful for the chance to be a part of Procore’s mission to connect everyone in construction on a global platform. I’m also inspired every day by my colleagues at Procore and our customers. Let’s do this!

At Procore Technologies, we’re building toward what’s next – and looking for Groundbreakers to join us. Interested in coming on board and joining Procore? Explore a career with Procore today, or join our Talent Community to stay connected.

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