Shannon Schimmel

Why this persona fits the audience

Independent product consultant in Bristol who takes short-term contracts and is now searching for remote PM work that can start within a month. She uses spreadsheets, recruiter emails, and ATS links to track application stages for her next engagement.

• Age: 45
• Location: Bristol, UK
• Occupation: Contract Product Manager
• Income: £120k variable annual income
• Education: BA in Economics, University of Leeds
• Company size: Previous roles ranged from 15 to 300 employees; currently self-employed
• Years in role: 8 years as an independent contractor, 18 years total in product management

“I've spent enough time trying to fit my life into someone else's timeline; now I just want to make sure the next chapter actually pays the bills and leaves me room to breathe.”

Shannon Schimmel is a seasoned Product Manager who pivoted to independent contracting eight years ago after realizing the rigid structures of full-time corporate roles stifled her ability to manage her own pace. Holding a BA in Economics from the University of Leeds, she built a reputation in the UK market for bridging the gap between technical engineering teams and executive strategy, particularly in the fintech and logistics sectors. Now 45, she operates out of a semi-detached house in Southmead, Bristol, which she purchased and began renovating four years ago. This property serves as both her home office and a testament to her pragmatism; every square foot is optimized for efficiency, reflecting her broader approach to life. Her income fluctuates significantly, averaging £120,000 annually but dependent entirely on securing continuous short-term engagements. Unlike many consultants who rely heavily on agencies, Shannon cultivates direct relationships with CTOs and founders, though she remains vigilant against the 'feast or famine' nature of her profession. Currently, she is in a critical transition phase: one contract concluded three weeks ago, and she is aggressively hunting for a new remote role that begins within thirty days. Her primary tool for this hunt is a highly customized spreadsheet, meticulously updated daily with data scraped from various ATS portals and filtered through her own logic gates. She tracks application stages, recruiter follow-ups, and salary ranges with military precision. Shannon's personality is defined by high conscientiousness and low neuroticism. She approaches career instability with a calm, analytical demeanor, viewing each gap not as a failure but as a logistical puzzle to be solved. She values flexibility above all, refusing to relocate or compromise her schedule for a permanent role that doesn't offer the autonomy she has cultivated. While she enjoys the creative outlet of property renovation and the solitude of early morning cycling, the reality of her profession demands constant vigilance. She is currently weighing several offers, none of which are perfect, forcing her to prioritize speed of start date over ideal project scope. Her immediate future hinges on her ability to navigate the current job market efficiently, leveraging her extensive network and organizational skills to secure the next engagement before her savings erode further.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Shannon wakes at 5:30 AM to avoid traffic and enjoy a quiet hour with coffee. She cycles five miles to the local park, then returns to tackle her own property renovations or garden maintenance until 8:30 AM. By 9:00 AM, she shifts into 'contract mode,' reviewing her spreadsheet tracker for new ATS links and replying to recruiter emails that have piled up overnight. A typical morning involves a video stand-up with a distributed team in Berlin, followed by two hours of roadmap planning. Lunch is a quick salad eaten at her desk while reading industry news. Afternoons are reserved for stakeholder workshops and documentation. At 5:30 PM, she strictly logs off to attend to household tasks or meet a friend for a walk. Evenings are for cooking, watching a play on streaming services, or reading, ensuring she never lets work bleed into her personal recovery time.

Lifestyle

Shannon lives alone in a converted Victorian terrace in the Southmead area of Bristol, a project she has been renovating over three years. Her mornings are dedicated to cycling through the Cotswolds before dawn, followed by a rigorous routine of household management and gardening. She prioritizes financial stability, maintaining a six-month emergency fund despite her high earnings, which allows her to decline projects that don't align with her values. Her social life is curated around small dinners with close friends and weekly theatre trips to the Old Vic, preferring quality interactions over large networking events. Money is viewed as a tool for freedom rather than status, leading her to invest heavily in her home and experiences rather than luxury goods.

Work life

Her workdays are structured yet fluid, typically starting at 7:30 AM with deep work on current deliverables before client calls begin. As a contract PM, she operates with high autonomy but faces the constant pressure of billable hours and immediate delivery expectations. She manages her pipeline using a bespoke Excel tracker that integrates with her email inbox to monitor ATS submissions. Coworkers are transient, ranging from agile teams in Fintech startups to legacy banking transformation squads. The primary stressor is the 'feast or famine' cycle of contracting; she spends significant mental energy on administrative tasks like invoicing and compliance when not actively delivering value. There is no HR buffer, meaning she must personally navigate scope creep and stakeholder conflicts.

Relationships

Shannon is divorced and maintains a warm, supportive relationship with her adult daughter in London. Her closest confidants are a mix of former colleagues from her Leeds university days and neighbors from her street who share her interest in gardening. She relies on a small circle of trusted recruiters for leads but prefers direct contact with hiring managers. Her social circle is tight-knit, valuing loyalty and shared history over broad professional networking. She often feels the need to explain the volatility of contracting to older family members who still view employment as linear.

How they decide

She is a deliberate, research-heavy decision-maker who relies on data verification before committing. When evaluating opportunities or tools, she cross-references multiple sources, checks historical data, and calculates long-term ROI. She avoids impulsive choices, preferring to take a few days to analyze pros and cons, often consulting her internal checklist. Peer validation matters, but only if it comes from respected industry veterans rather than general consensus. She is skeptical of marketing hype and looks for concrete evidence of utility.

How they sound

Her speech is precise, articulate, and devoid of filler words. She speaks with a soft Bristol accent, modulating her tone to be authoritative yet approachable. She avoids jargon unless necessary for technical precision, preferring plain English to explain complex concepts. In conversation, she pauses thoughtfully before answering, signaling a consideration of the facts. She rarely uses hyperbole or emotional language, focusing instead on logical outcomes and practicalities. She does not overshare personal details in professional settings but is warm and engaging once rapport is established.