Episodit
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Excited to share a bonus episode of Trying to Product.
In this episode, Parv and Alex dive deep into the art and science of roadmap planning for product managers. From aligning with company vision to prioritizing features and balancing stakeholder expectations, they uncover the strategies that ensure a product's success. Whether you're a newbie PM or a veteran in the field, this episode offers valuable takeaways to elevate your roadmap game. Tune in and chart a clearer path for your product's future!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
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Product managers are in high demand because of their ability to spark change across a wide range of industries and business models thanks to their broad grasp of technical, commercial, and design skills. The real difficulty is choosing which one to work for.
Key Highlights
[00:03:03] Today’s topic: How to pick a company as a product manager
[00:04:14] How choosing a company has changed over the years for both Parv and Alex
[00:16:31] Key things that stand out for product manager before joining a company
[00:24:34] The pathway and the growth piece around PMs when joining a company
[00:32:40] Red flags for PMs when choosing a company
[00:38:49] Quick optimizers before choosing a company
Notable Quotes
The biggest way to unblock myself in PDR writing is by putting something down on paper and getting started. Whatever it is, whatever you have in your mind, write it down, whether it's a paragraph or a page.As a mature individual, the way you think about picking the company also stems from learning more or being on the job more and figuring out what you actually enjoy.The scope is the breadth of responsibility you have across a particular aspect of the product.Learning is such a personal factor that's so different for everyone. Each one has a different definition of learning, but it's still key to your overall growth in a career.Your biggest chance of becoming financially free in Silicon Valley is not to work at a bank; it's typically actually to work in a late-stage startup, an IPO, or have some big exit.One of the things I was thinking about was that it's important when I join a company that there is an acknowledgment of what the growth looks like in your role, especially for a PM, given how ambiguous it is.The growth piece around PMs when joining a company is less important as much as the learning.When you think about where you want to work, it's not just where you're working at the moment and a few years down the road; it's eventually; how does that fit into your actual narrative of where you want to be?One thing I've just learned may come from a hint of the privilege there, but I feel everyone should try everything.As a PM, it's so varied across different types of companies and industries that the more you try, the more you figure out what works for you as a PM.PM is like a good jumping-off point because it allows you to see a lot of different roles and play in those areas of different roles like marketing, engineering, and design, so you’re ultimately able to learn all these different disciplines and then see if you want to keep climbing that product manager ladder, or you want to do change careers or switch things up. So it gives you much flexibility that I think many other paths don't.To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
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Puuttuva jakso?
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Where do companies position specific skill sets on their ladder? What does the career ladder look like for PMs? It's a topic that can be ambiguous, and the role of PMs can be structured differently in different companies. Level 3 PM in one company could have a completely different role or level compared to a Level 3 PM in another company, one might actually be the equivalent of an L4 or L5 in another company, but it can be difficult to know for sure.
It's important to understand your level and clearly understand the expectations and requirements of the position you are applying for. It's also important to communicate with your interviewer or recruiter early in the process to ensure that you are being considered for the appropriate level role. Mis-leveling can lead to disappointment, frustration, and wasted time for both the employee and the employer; therefore, it's crucial to have clear and open communication to avoid confusion and misalignment of expectations.
While there is no set rule for transitioning into product management, it ultimately depends on the company and its role. However, this chat may provide some insight for listeners on potential paths based on their experience. Please stay tuned!
Key Highlights
[00:00:30] This week’s topic: Levels of product management
[00:03:28] Levels of product management
[00:05:47] First level: L3
[00:08:33] Junior PM level of product management
[00:11:02] Second level: L4
[00:12:46] Third level: L5
[00:15:59] Required skill set for L4 & L5 managers
[00:17:15] Senior PM level of product management
[00:20:59] Individual Contributors and Product Managers
[00:21:39] Fourth level: L6
[00:27:44] Director level
[00:32:40] VPs and Senior VPs
[00:37:29] Recap of the levels of product management
Notable Quotes
From what I've heard from people in the APA programs, I’m jealous. It sounds like a lot of fun because it’s like the best of the PM life, but none of the stresses of the PM life.The difference between being a Level 4 and Level 5 employee is not only about years of experience but also depends on the company and how well you perform in the interview process. So, the line between Level 4 and Level 5 is very blurry.When you think about the roles of a Project Manager (PM) and Senior Project Manager, you may be looking at employees from Level 4 to Level 6 and potentially looking at spending years between those three levels.The Project Manager (PM) ladder is a bit different in the management track because PMs have a lot of leverage, so there is not a need for many PMs to handle a lot of tasks, even on large websites.A potential use case for Principal Project Managers is managing more critical things in terms of complexity and impact but still within the boundaries of their product or zone.The stress increases as you move up the ladder. It may be linear or like a stepwise function, where each new level increases the stress by a certain amount.As a PM, you have more guidance on direction and strategy and are confined to improving a subset of the product. However, problem statements become more ambiguous and open-ended as you move up to higher levels.The role of a CEO is to handle the most critical issues that others cannot solve. They are the final point of escalation for problems and are responsible for figuring out how to solve them.Resources:
Podcast website: https://www.tryingtoproduct.com/
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:
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Debunking myths around Product Management
Being a PM comes with a horde of challenges, but explaining what makes a PM great with respect to myths is even harder. What does the role not revolve around given there is no PM school?
In today's episode, Parv and Alex debunk some common and uncommon product management myths you are likely to come across. Skewed by both skills and experience, the two burst out myths that you may be wise to consider.
Join Parv Alex as they chat about:
As a PM you're the CEO of the products [1:16]Being a PM is dissimilar across different companies [5:20]Overlapping responsibility between a PM and UX [11:23]Project Vs product management [15:53]As a PM all you do is write requirements [20:10]PMs need specific certifications [24:27]You need PM experience to be a PM [29:04]As a PM you're only building what customers want… and so much more!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
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Failure as a Product Manager
Failure is inevitable and is part of the process of being a product manager and it isn't fatal, but the failure to change might be. In fact, there's more to learn from failure.
In today's episode, Parv and Alex straighten out on failures as a product manager. Tune in as the two savvy product managers share insightful reflections, show you how to internalize learnings, recover from failure in style and use them as building blocks for your next project.
Join Parv and Alex as they chat about:
What constitutes a failure to them as product manager [1:39]Micro and macro failures as a product manager [4:50]Some of the major reasons why a product manager is likely to fail [7:20]Valuable approaches and strategies to handling failure [22:56]Pulling away from the tendency to focus more on the solution rather than the actual underlying problem How to bounce back highly and from failure [30:10]… and so much more!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Quotes:
But examine what went wrong. Was it a wrong assumption? Was it the wrong problem you're focusing on? Was it just that different sorts of stakeholders needed more alignment? Just take that chance for the moment to dive deep into it, figure out where some of the mistakes happened, and then use that as a building block for your next project.
The easiest way to avoid failure is probably just to meet expectations. But it's also the saddest way to get anything done. There's an art to it.
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Diving into Popular Questions about Product Managers
In today's episode, Parv and Alex walk you through some of the most popular questions about PMs that come up from you, their audience, interview panels, and in general conversations. Although PM roles can be different at different organizations, there are a lot similarities in schedules and approaches, just to mention a few aspects. Tune in as they clear up the air on the most popular questions you have about PMs.
Join Parv and Alex as they chat about:
A day in the life of a PM [01:13]]How to choose a company to be a PM at [05:56]Do you need technical skills as a PM [11:16]How to deal with meeting fatigue [15:53] Best ways to craft your resume for switching into product management [18:57]What product managers do in their free time [22:28]… and so much more!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Quotes
Learn some technical skills that you can lean on, it doesn't hurt and there's no downside. If you have an opportunity, learn it.
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Why You Shouldn't Be a Product Manager
In today's episode, Alex and Parv cast some light on why you might want to stay clear of being a Product Manager. Product management is filled with pros and so much fun, but today they scrutinize the other side of the coin. Does the idea of accountability without authority or delayed gratification sit right with you? These and many more are some of the aspects you should consider as you mull over being or not being a PM.
Join Parv and Alex as they chat about:
The nature of day-to-day unpredictability in the life of a PM [2:05]Costs of constant context switching [6:19]The immense responsibility and accountability bestowed to PMs but no real authority [10:48]The sense of delayed gratification [15:35]Loneliness and isolation as a PM [18:48]… and so much more!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
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Burnout and Product Management
As human beings, we can only handle so much. At times issues accumulate in our workplaces that lead to burnout. It could be prolonged working hours, lack of resources or support, and loneliness, among other causes.
These burnouts go beyond physical or emotional exhaustion and can be detrimental. For this reason, it is always important to look out for signs that indicate you are on the brink of burnout so that you can take a step back and reassess everything.
This episode covers the burnout you may encounter as a PM, their causes, and how to deal with them. In addition, we also share some of our burnout experiences, what may have caused them and how we avoided or overcame them.
Tune in to learn this and more!
Key Highlights[1:05] Burnouts in startups
[1:43] Burnout in large companies
[4:14] Causes of burnouts
[7:29] Rewards
[9:50] The community
[10:57] Parv's burnout
[14:10] Mismatch of organizational values and personal values
[16:48] Alex's burnout and how he went about it
[21:10] Taking a step back and reassessing
[22:54] The cost of burnout
[25:00] How Parv handled his burnout
[26:00] When it's worth risking burnout to achieve some objective
[27:49] Burnouts from the pandemic
[29:59] Keeping an eye on potential signs of burnout
Notable QuotesThe PM role itself is just so ambiguous regarding what needs to be done.- ParvAs product managers, one of the biggest things we have to learn is delayed gratification. There is no immediate access or reward for the type of work that you're doing. - ParvA lack of tangible reward at the end can sometimes make you feel as if your effort hasn't been worth it. - ParvAs a PM, sometimes you are left alone until you're needed or until you need to specify a requirement or clarify a question that can feel lonely and can add up and eventually lead to burnout. - ParvIt's always important to take a step back and realize if the problems you're asked to work on aligning with some of the issues you as an individual also want to address. And that sometimes can solve many other issues that stem from a stressful work environment. - ParvBurnout also is comorbid with depression. - AlexSometimes you can go headlong into it, knowing you're probably going to burn out. But it might be worth it for whatever your goal is. - AlexWith each win, there's a moment to celebrate, take a step back, relax, and focus on the downside of that time. - ParvPandemic has led to encroachment into personal time. - ParvAlways be aware of your mental state, whether you are on the brink of burnout, and things that might be signs of burnout.- ParvResources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
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Staying Motivated as a Product Manager
As a product manager, you can feel overwhelmed by the endless deluge of information, products, and technology that drives the business world. You could flip through so many different websites, articles, podcasts and other resources that it feels like you're drowning in an ocean of data rather than swimming through a sea of knowledge.
In this episode, Alex and Parv team up for a special episode about motivation. They talk about how it is so hard to stay motivated when you're a PM, and then how you can stay motivated with some really helpful tips and techniques.
Tune in to listen to this and more!
Key Highlights[00:53] why it is hard to stay motivated as a product manager according to Alex.
[02:24] Interesting ways to stay motivated on less interesting projects.
[04:12] Focusing on small wins to stay motivated as a PM.
[08:12] why PMS have multiple projects.
[08:39] moving around in the space of the unknown.
[09:56] how you could work around the space of unknown and stay motivated.
[12:04] What Parv does to stay motivated.
[14:24] Does feedback play a part in keeping us motivated?
[17:35] Acknowledgement encourages motivation
Notable Quotes“Almost every really boring project has some ultimate goal that sounds a little better than what you're actually working on day to day.” [01:53]“Sometimes understanding the vision, the goal, and where you have to get to. And I think that helps you push along on some of these smaller tasks, even though they might seem inconsequential at the time.” [02:34]“It is hard to find those regular and frequent wins as a PM. Gratification is very, very delayed.”“So I think one tact is to have that passion project that you're able to get through.” [10:10]“If you find too much meaning in your product, you get too motivated. And that can very easily lead to burnout, which we really want to be mindful of.” [13:49]“When you think about product management as a role, I mean, I sometimes think of it is as one of those thankless roles where you're doing stuff day in and day out, and not always receiving the appreciation or the feedback on that.” [15:44]“Acknowledgement, turns into a discussion turns into time connecting with your team turns into like a relationship. It all just snowballs into positive motivation.” [18:03]Resources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
Call to Action
We all agree it is the hard one when you're working as a product manager due to the nature of the role to stay motivated. Please let us know what are some of your ideas on how to stay motivated as a PM on Twitter?
We would love to hear from you!
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Your Product Manager Superpower
In this episode, Parv and Alex discuss how to find your superpower as a PM. Every PM has specific attributes that kind of mesh together to give them a sense of the PM product.
This time, Parv and Alex discuss the comparability, various characteristics they've observed over the years, PM skill set, among other intriguing topics. As two experienced PMs, it's quite easy for Alex and Parv to spot the various key factors that make someone successful in the PM role.
Tune in to learn this and more!
Key Highlights[00:54] Alex's thoughts on his qualities as a PM in comparison to other PMs he has seen
[05:08] It's hard to measure soft skills in a PM.
[06:150] The toolset, skill chart, or armory of a PM
[08:06] Why Communication and storytelling skills are important for PMs
[11:35] Ideation and innovation PMS.
[14:04] Proactive PMs who gets things done.
[15:26] Management and motivating a team as PM Skillset
[17:36] Managing up and down
[19:18] Mentoring as a PM Skillset
[20:13] Being insightful by asking the right questions
[21:32]How to identify the base problem
[23:02] How to reach the mountain's summit be an excellent communicator, insightful, and all-around great PM.
[25:44] How to find your superpower as a PM
[27:46] Comparison between the life of a PM and RPG game
Notable Quotes“We’re prone to comparison. And we're always trying to figure out if who's the best pm and who's the worst and hoping that you're not the worst.” [02:56]“It’s so easy to compare. But it's also so hard to measure for such like a metric-driven roll.”[03:54]I don't think like any of these skills that we talked about are necessarily ones that can't be learned.”[22:21]“And sometimes it's also identifying which ones you don't give a shit about. And don't care if you are that good at them.” [24:53]“Comparison doesn't really lead to anything fruitful. But focusing on finding your superpower does.” [28:11]Connect with Alex:
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcox245/
Connect with Parv:
Twitter
https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
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How to Pivot Industries as a Product Manager
Everything is moving so quickly these days, and industries are constantly disrupted by startups. With this comes the feeling of ‘you'll never learn everything’. Fortunately, part of being a Product Manager is dealing with ambiguity and being in that mind space of acknowledging that you might not know the problem necessarily, but will still try to understand it and solve it. So, as a product manager, how do you pivot industries in this rapidly changing space?
Join us to learn more about:
The fundamental aspect of your PM skills and general knowledge [2:56]If time is a metric in pivoting Industries [4:33] The timespan to ramp up on starting in a new Industry and then ramping up to the level of feeling competent [7:30]More fundamental knowledge and recommendations on pivoting Industries as a PM [12:55]… and so much more!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
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Imposter Syndrome as a Product Manager
Imposter syndrome is incredibly common in product management. Yes, even if you’re 5+ years into the job with a proven track record and experience. And it’s not just product managers — the uncertainty runs deep across our entire industry.
Imposter syndrome is definitely something that exists outside the field of Product Management. But sometimes it can feel like a big enemy within the product management space as well. So grab your diary, lean up against a tree if you're outside, or bring it inside and open a window to get some fresh air and truly absorb this conversation. This is an episode you simply cannot afford to miss.
Let’s delve in!
Key Highlights[00:59] What Alex thinks about imposter syndrome and whether he has ever experienced it while working as a PM
[06:51] Why you cannot become a PM by following any particular program, degree, rules, or set of courses.
[08:13] How imposter syndrome can emerge from delayed gratification.
[12:55] Why impostor syndrome can result from an inability to step back.
[18:01] Why the PM role is ambiguous in nature
[20:17] Strategies Alex has used to battle imposter syndrome at work and in general
[21:40] How Parv has approached imposter syndrome in the workplace and generally by understanding the expectations.
[24:23] How being open as a PM helps tackle imposter syndrome
[26:18] Why we should support and mentor new PMs.
Notable Quotes“Imposter syndrome is probably something almost every PM feels at one point or another in their career.” [01:00]“It takes a lot of courage to even admit that sometimes that there is a thing in product and that impostor syndrome.” [02:32]“I think every Product Manager who I've spoken to struggles with impostor syndrome periodically. I think it's just that space and the type of work that we do as a PM that makes us so susceptible to impostor syndrome.”[04:44]“You just don't have the same journey leading into a product management role. And you're bound to be in a position where you have some grasp over concepts, but then some things you just wouldn't have heard of, because there's just no formal education.” [07:18]“There's so much constantly that we're doing that, it just makes it easy for you to feel like a you're not just doing enough.” [13:30]“Our currency is information, and you have to be learning, constantly be doing something. And that major influx of information can be overwhelming sometimes.”[14:42]“40% of product managers experience imposter syndrome frequently or all the time.”[19:17]“Only 8% of product people say that they've never experienced impostor syndrome. [19:28]“Being vulnerable is like a great way to get around it. Imposter syndrome.” [25:39]Resources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
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Types of Product Management Interviews
Interviews in the product management field vary from company to company, and they could be structured or unstructured, depending on the company. Regardless of the type of interview, it's essential to know what to expect in such interviews to avoid making mistakes such as giving scripted answers or giving answers that only suit the interviewer but not you.
In this episode, we take you through the types of interviews you'll encounter as a PM, including the common questions to expect from such interviews. We also share our personal experiences and take-home lessons from the interviews we've been to. Most importantly, we share some tips on preparing for PM interviews to help you secure that dream job as a PM and mistakes you should avoid making during interviews.
Tune in to listen to this and more!
Key Highlights[0:42] Parv's interview experiences
[2:03] Alex's preferred type of [interview
[4:14] Alex's favorite interview and interview question
[6:40] Parv's resume
[9:48] Getting into a flow state as a PM
[10:58] Parv's first interview question
[12:23] What you ought to focus on when preparing for PM interviews ( structured or unstructured)
[17:26] Common questions asked in structured interviews
[20:23] Debugging
[22:27] Metrics
[24:31] Estimation questions
[27:48] Favorite product question
[30:18] Behavioral questions in structured interviews
[33:19] Panel presentation
[34:31] Parv's take home from interviews
[36:11] Tips on PM interview preparation
[41:15] Parv's worst interview mistake
[42:55] Alex's worst interview mistake
Notable QuotesUnstructured interviews have been more of a good conversation and digging deeper into my pm style, my pm skill sets, and both technical and soft skills. -ParvUnstructured feels like a lot lower pressure; you get to learn a lot more about the company itself, what they're thinking about and how they're thinking about products and their future roadmap. -AlexI feel like those types of interviews I've done have been both like me sharing my ideas and my thoughts, but also learning from the respective people on the other side of how they handled that kind of situation and how they've been thinking about that problem. - ParvBut as a PM, you're always in that situation where you can go wild. And it's an ambiguous situation and an undefined problem.- ParvWhen it's an unstructured interview, it could be very, very different from your previous interview. Each round could be very different from the last round. -ParvPreparing for structured interviews feels like studying for a test. But my experience with these is that it was a beneficial experience as a PM to structure your thoughts in these ways. -Alex It wasn't until I started studying for these structured interviews that I began to appreciate better how metrics are squishy, many of them, and how they impact each other. -AlexBanner presentations and take-home assignments are becoming more common in the PM interview. And that's something that we should have on our radar when preparing for pm interviews. -ParvBeing a great PM means you go that one level deeper. You ask that one question that no one else has asked in the room. -ParvConnect with Alex:
LinkedIn
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Mistakes We Made as Product Managers
Just because you are a product manager doesn't signify that your opinions carry all the weight, in actuality your team works with you and not for you. This is just a sneak peek of the many mistakes we make as product managers. We all make thousands of mistakes and as a product manager, inherently, part of the role is making mistakes. We should constantly be learning from them, trying to be better, and improving all sorts of different attributes of being a product manager.
Join Parv and Alex as they chat about:
How under communication as a PM breeds dependencies [01:29]Pitching an idea backed up with strong data rather than just intuition [05:54] The common thought that roadmaps are locked [12:13]Knowing your KPIs and levers you can pull to hit the metrics [13:25]… and so much more!
To Connect with Parv:
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
To Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Quotes
Always make sure to communicate very frequently, even if you think it's the most simple, mundane piece of information, it could be a relatively high-impacting piece of information for someone else.
If you don't understand the product, there's nobody who's going to have that knowledge. You're the PM, you should hold as much of the information as possible.
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Paths to becoming a product manager
In the modern business environment, product management is the job profile that is most in demand. Due to their responsibilities and contributions, they are among the highest-paid professionals in a company.
Suppose you're wondering how you can become a product manager.
In this episode, we take you through the various means of getting into product management, including internships, switching roles inside a company, and learning the course online and offline, among many other means.
Tune in to learn this and more!
Key Highlights[1:16] Through internships
[1:51] Associate Product management position
[4:43] Switching inside a company
[7:46] Customer support role
[9:47] Starting or joining startups
[14:27] Offline skill development
[17:04] Hackathons
[18:20] Taking online courses
[20:26] Through networking
[21:44] Having an MBA
[26:43] Putting in the reps
[28:12] Doing case studies to get your work out there
Notable QuotesIn switching within the organization, subject matter expertise is one key thing you have over other folks.- ParvA lot of the time, a lot of the things you're doing in your current role have some connection to being a PM.- ParvThe most important part of being a PM is understanding your customers and users.- AlexAny role can become a PM.- AlexSometimes it might be harder to jump in from some roles directly to product management. But it's still doable. - ParvOne of those things with product management is there's not really a formal education around it. - AlexI think meetups and networking can actually open the door. - ParvIf you truly want to get a job somewhere, you take one of their products, break it up, redesign it, and show them how it could be better and why it could be better. -AlexAnd startups are probably, in my opinion, the best way to get into the product, whether you make your startup or work at someone else's. -AlexIt can't be overstated enough that the more products you ship, the better you get at product. -AlexResources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
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Isolation as a product manager
One of the things about PMs is that we're sort of like, on an island.
In this episode, Parv and Alex discuss how being a PM can be both enjoyable and taxing. Whether you like it or not, being a PM means you'll spend a lot of time working alone. We believe this is a worthwhile topic to discuss, especially concerning the present climate and the pandemic.
Tune in to listen to this and more!
Key Highlights[1:00] Alex's thoughts on why working as a PM can be quite taxing given the current pandemic.
[O4:27] Cons of the PM role.
[06:55] Possible reasons why PM role is lonely
[08:43] Breaking that barrier and lifting some of the issues around being lonely as a PM
[10:06] Most PMs work in isolation.
[12:02] Positives of working in isolation as a PM.
[14:14] How does one progress as a PM?
[15:52] PMs make tradeoffs.
[20:21] Isolation and the mental health of PM
[23:20] Parv and Alex PM recollections
[27:00] Pair Product management
[28:14] Continuous feedback and iteration during PM Onboarding
[29:50] Having a PM buddy
Notable Quotes“When we think about product managers, they are usually working with so many different people across the organization, you're constantly talking to like design, engineering, legal privacy, compliance, like so many different folks around. But somehow it can still be quite isolating to be a PM; it can be considered sometimes a lonely profession.”[02:00]“I don't think in my career, I've ever seen a project with multiple PMs, it just that even normal work, a pm ratio on a team has like one to 10.” [02:52]“Pm is a fantastic career path. For those who want to wear multiple hats. It's fun, it's engaging. “ [04:19]“PMs have individual mandates that they're driving, and there's just a lack of overlap between roles and responsibilities.”[08:55]“The biggest thing about PM in general, I think it's just making sure you have really solid relationships with the team, because your entire ability to get anything done ever is just solely based on your relationships with the team.” [16:03]“And if you're facing an issue, most likely the other PMs would have also either faced it or might be facing it.”[24:00]Resources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
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Types of Product Managers
The product manager role is a general and broad term. The job of a product manager is to discover a valuable, usable, and feasible product.
Most people go online looking for product management roles, never realizing that there are so many different flavors and types of product managers hidden underneath every title. Various categories of PMs branch from this term, each with its unique roles, responsibilities, and qualifications.
In this episode, we give you a detailed breakdown of various categories of product management roles. We highlight their roles, responsibility, and who best fits that position to help folks considering being PMs but don't know which category fits them best.
Tune in to listen to this and more!
Key Highlights[1:12] Consumer PM role
[2:00] Roles of Consumer PM
[5:10] Enterprise PM role
[5:31] B2B and B2C products
[9:40] Platform PM/Technical PM role
[12:26] Is having an engineering background vital in communicating with the engineering team?
[14:40] Data PM/AI PM role
[17:04] Responsibilities of data PMs
[21:48] Machine Learning
[23:02] Growth PM role
[24:00] Roles of Growth PMs
[27:45] Alex working as a PM
[29:55] Alex's favorite book - Traction
[32:00] Product Marketing Manager
[32:53] How the PMM role overlaps the PM role
[34:44] Operations PM
[37:58] The potential Blockchain PM role
[39:36] Which role Parv would switch to from Consumer PM in the future
Notable QuotesMany companies hire consumer PMs mainly because experience is so important. -ParvAny PM can do any of these different categories. It's just a matter of really focusing and trying to learn the ropes and talk to the experts on your team. - AlexI feel like consumer PM is a smaller slice in this whole pizza of Product Management. - ParvA lot of marketing professionals end up transitioning to product managers through a product marketing manager role. -ParvResources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
Books
Traction - Gino Wickman
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What is Product Management
Depending on who you ask, a product manager is either a wonderfully fuzzy job title that means many things to many people. No one can seem to agree on what product management is (or should be) and if you're just starting out in your career, take our advice: defining product management might be a frustrating exercise, but perhaps it is best to accept that the term is ambiguous by design.
In this episode, Alex and Parv will jump into what product management is. Tune in and learn more!
Key Highlights[00:52] Misnomers used for Product Management
[01:22] The CEO of a product
[05:20] The Venn diagram’s semi-accurate Description of Product Management
[12:01] Product managers—are they similar to project managers?
[14:42] how does Alex define a product manager?
[21:58] how are product managers' daily tasks so varied?
[22:44] how product managers break walls and barriers for their teams/Unblocking
[23:27] PM as a champion of the team
[26:40] Three main lines that encompass what a product manager does
Notable Quotes“As a product manager, one of the most valuable skills you gain is the ability to lead and influence. But the one thing you also have to make sure as a product manager is that you are leading and influencing, but you don't hold any real authority.” [02:38]“So you don't sit at the center. But I feel like you kind of hover and browse through those circles simultaneously, depending on the time of the day and the meeting and the context and what you need to be thinking about.” [07:13]“One of the biggest misnomers is that product managers are like project managers.” [12:01]“The smaller the company, the more hats the pm wears, and then it doesn't really stop it product or project or marketing or design, it just you do everything as needed to be done. But as you get bigger, you have more teams that you can help leverage.”[13:04]“PMs are often kind of jack of all trades are genuinely curious people who always are interested in learning.” [13:46]“PM is one who takes the blame but passes on the praise.” [25:04]Resources
Connect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
Send us Questions
Email: [email protected]
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Sometimes we don't always end up on the career path we started. By staying open to possibilities and trying new things, you can find a career that truly suits your skills and personality. This is especially true with Product Management
In this episode, Parv and Alex share their journey into being product managers from their initial careers to being product managers.
Parv studied engineering in India but shifted to project management and then product management. Alex also shares how he transitioned from a neuroscience graduate to design and finally to product management. They also touch on what's interesting about being a product manager, their experience and takes on working in a startup or a company, and what their favorite products are.
Tune in to listen to this and more!
Key Highlights
[01:01] How Parv got into product management
[02:37] Parv's journey from a QA to a product management
[04:22] Alex's background journey into product management
[9:56] Alex's educational background
[14:37] Studying hackathons
[17:02] Working at a startup
[19:59] How would Alex get into PM if he was to start all over again?
[21:39] How would Parv get into PM if he was to start all over again?
[23:12] If Parv would consider going back to IUX
[24:53] Why Parv and Alex are still stuck with Product Management
[27:07] Favorite products for both Alex and Parv
Notable Quotes
Hackathons help you get to experience a lot quicker.-Alex
Working at a startup is kind of foundational for me because of how much you learn.- Alex
Sometimes building products in bigger companies is less about the product and more about the politics and maneuvering across different teams, which isn't as fun.- Alex
Launching products and seeing them used by millions of people is a satisfying feeling that makes it all worth it.- Alex
If you want to try each and everything possible in terms of companies, become a product manager.- Parv
Delayed gratification is a significant element of being a product manager.- Parv
ResourcesConnect with Parv:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParvSondhi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvsondhi/
Connect with Alex:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexcox245
Email: [email protected]
![[Bonus] Roadmap Planning as a Product Manager](https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts122/v4/ac/b8/38/acb83830-e0ac-ae2c-113e-0299ce0b0670/mza_6919740135045363512.jpeg/80x80bb.jpg)