Navigating Change: My Journey Through the E-Commerce Landscape

As someone deeply entrenched in the e-commerce sector for nearly two decades, I find myself at a crossroads and contemplating the future of my career in a rapidly evolving industry. At 30, having started my journey in e-commerce at just 14, I’ve climbed the ranks within various agencies since 2015. My experiences span diverse roles, including Director of Product Management, Director of Operations, and, most recently, Director of Partnerships.

My expertise lies primarily in web development and design projects, along with managing significant SEO and e-commerce marketing campaigns. I’ve been involved in projects ranging from $20,000 to over $1 million, overseeing everything from Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) strategies to user interface/user experience planning and upsell strategies.

However, I have recently noticed a seismic shift within my industry due to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. The pace at which AI is integrating into our work processes is remarkable and, frankly, a bit unsettling. For instance, a former agency I collaborated with heavily relied on a team of 25 copywriters until 2021. A recent conversation with a friend still at the agency revealed that they now have just four writers. Despite this reduction, their SEO department is generating $20,000 more in billable work per month than when I was there—thanks to AI’s capability to streamline processes, including replacing many junior writers.

In another instance, an agency I’m familiar with let go of their entire U.S. development team, opting instead for a team based in Latin America, who predominantly use AI tools like ChatGPT for effective communication via platforms such as Jira and Slack.

While I don’t foresee an imminent collapse of my industry, I can clearly observe the trajectory we are on. AI technology is now capable of constructing websites directly from Figma files or even rough sketches. Moreover, I’ve witnessed AI generate precise code to integrate upsell features without needing any developer intervention—an astonishing leap into the future of automation. The traditional SEO landscape is also transforming, with Google’s AI and prompt-based search gradually overshadowing conventional practices.

This evolution leaves me pondering where I will fit into this changing environment over the next five years. To prepare for the unknown, I am currently pursuing my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and contemplating a return to a senior project management role, potentially in a completely different industry.

It’s evident that this is an unpredictable period, but understanding and adapting