xanforxan's journey

I recently found myself in an unexpected situation where I have a potential opportunity for a Fintech Technical Program Manager (TPM) role at a major bank, despite having no background in software engineering or project management. I currently work in the service industry in Toronto and have only dabbled in areas like JavaScript and e-commerce without any substantial projects to show for it. This opportunity came about after I had two lengthy conversations with a VP of AI at the bank, who encouraged me to pursue the TPM path instead of a traditional computer science route, which I had been considering. He advised me against going back to school for a CS degree, suggesting that it wouldn't be a good use of my time, especially with the rise of AI in entry-level development roles. I was relieved to hear this and felt a sense of direction for my career. Now, I have an in-person meeting scheduled with him, but I'm unsure whether it's a mentorship chat or an actual interview, so I'm preparing as if it’s the latter. I want to make the most of this meeting and am seeking advice on several fronts: 1. How to approach the meeting if it could be either informal or formal. 2. How to present my transferable skills from the service industry without overselling myself, especially since I lack direct experience. 3. What core TPM skills I should focus on learning quickly, such as APIs, system design, agile methodologies, and prioritization frameworks, and what resources might be helpful. 4. What specific knowledge about fintech and banking would be impressive in this context, like payments, risk management, compliance, or the application of AI in financial services. 5. What insightful questions I could ask during the meeting to demonstrate curiosity and good judgment. 6. Common pitfalls to avoid when someone senior is willing to take a chance on me. 7. Whether it would be beneficial to create a small project or a one-page teardown of a banking app to bring along as a demonstration of my initiative. I feel incredibly fortunate to have this chance and want to ensure I make the most of it. Any honest feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated!