How To Succeed In Product Management | Jeffrey Shulman, Red Russak & Soumeya Benghanem Jeff Shulman, Red Russak & Soumeya Benghanem

If you are looking to transition from product manager to Group Product Manager, you can get advice from Executives in Residence in the Elevate Program. Learn more and apply at https://elevate.info.foster.uw.edu/
 
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman welcomes Nkem Nwankwo (Greenhouse Software) to talk about transitioning from PM to group PM. Moving from a PM to a Group PM role involves mastering trust-building, scalability, and aligning team goals. It's a big step that demands leadership growth and effective team management, leading to success in the world of product management. In this episode, you can learn the crucial steps in managing teams and aligning visions for success in a leadership capacity.
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
03:04 What is a group PM?
04:29 Can group PMs be IC PMs and vice versa?
05:40 Challenges of transitioning to group PM
09:46 What can help or slow you down when you want to become a group PM
15:55 Declining meetings
18:06 Where to learn about group PMs
20:03 Becoming a serial entrepreneur
21:06 What PMs are missing out on?
22:42 Transitioning from PM to Group PM

Learn from two Executives in Residence in The Product Management Center’s Elevate program (https://elevate.info.foster.uw.edu/) as they share stories and lessons from managing multiple product teams.
 
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board member Red Russak welcome John Yurcisin (Change.org) and Leslie Grandy to talk about managing multiple product teams.Managing multiple product teams requires skillful coordination and guidance, aligning efforts toward shared goals. It involves constant communication, task management, and ensuring each team aligns with the broader objectives. It's akin to conducting an orchestra, harmonizing diverse efforts toward a unified outcome. Mastering this skill empowers PMs to navigate complexities and maintain a cohesive vision across projects, ensuring success in product development and delivery.
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
04:01 Managing Multiple Teams
06:25 Unifying Teams through Shared Strategy
08:33 What is Unique About Managing and Leading Product Teams?
09:45 Challenges in Managing Multiple Teams
14:29 Stakeholder Management
21:58 What Is It Like To Manage Multiple Product Teams Daily
25:40 Elevate: Workshop for Product Managers
28:52 How Product Managers Stay Informed and Relevant
36:33 Strategies for Organizational Structures
39:51 Managing External Product Teams
44:06 Overcoming Daily Challenges in Managing Multiple Product Teams
49:05 Final Thoughts

Are you looking to elevate your product management career and your peers? Apply to join Elevate, an exclusive program for high-performing product managers to learn from Executives in Residence and each other.
 
Learn more at: https://elevate.info.foster.uw.edu/
 
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman welcomes Charles Stewart, Chris Kuang, and Jamie Lambert, CSPO, LSSGB to talk about PM roles and opportunities in the U.S. Digital Corps. The U.S. Digital Corps serves as an impactful avenue for individuals interested in public service and various tech-related fields, including product management. This program is designed to offer a meaningful platform for talented professionals to contribute their skills and expertise to government initiatives. Whether you're passionate about digital transformation, user-centered design, or product management, the U.S. Digital Corps provides a unique opportunity to make a difference in the public sector while helping to shape the future of government technology.
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
09:25 U.S. Digital Corps PM Opportunities
13:38 PM Roles and Responsibilities in the U.S. Digital Corps
15:55 Tech and Design in Public Service
18:01 Aligning Stakeholders and Overcoming Challenges
22:36 The Power of Curiosity in PM
24:04 Serving The Government
27:02 Introducing PM Practices in the Public Sector
32:44 Opportunities for Both Early Career and Seasoned Professionals
37:41 Finding Your Niche in Public Service
41:05 Job in The Public Service as a TV Show
42:28 Eligibility Criteria for Public Service Fellowships
45:30 Mastering the U.S. Digital Corps Assessment
47:01 Final Thoughts

Are you looking to elevate your product management career and your peers? Apply to join Elevate, an exclusive program for high-performing product managers to learn from Executives in Residence and each other.
 
Learn more at: https://elevate.info.foster.uw.edu/
 
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board member Soumeya Benghanem welcome Hemanth Babu Shekar (Rivian) and Gabe Antypas to talk about product management in an engineering-focused organization. PMs play a crucial role in engineering-focused organizations because they help in coordinating complex projects, ensuring that tasks are completed on time and within budget, and facilitating effective communication among team members. PMs also help manage risks, set priorities, and align projects with the organization's strategic goals. While some smaller engineering teams may not require dedicated PMs, in larger organizations and for complex projects, having PMs can significantly improve efficiency and project outcomes.
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
07:00 How to spot an engineering-focused organization
12:30 Joys of being in an engineering-focused organization
16:46 Engineering-focused vs. Engineering-led organization
20:44 The challenges of being a PM in an engineering-focused organization
24:42 How can PMs and aspiring PMs transition to working in an engineering-focused organization
31:16 PMs and taking risks
37:01 When PMs have an engineering background
41:54 Are PMs necessary in engineering-focused organizations?
47:23 Final Thoughts

Are you looking to elevate your product management career and your peers? Apply to join Elevate, an exclusive program for high-performing product managers to learn from Executives in Residence and each other.
 
Learn more at: https://elevate.info.foster.uw.edu/
 
In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board member Red Russak welcome Tommy Brown (Google) and Jenai Akina (Amazon) to talk about the highs and lows of being a product manager. On the positive side, it's fulfilling to plan a product's future, solve tough problems, and provide valuable solutions to users. Working with various teams and influencing a product's success is also gratifying. However, there are challenges too, such as dealing with too many processes, lots of meetings, and feeling like you might not be good enough at times. Despite these challenges, the job offers a mix of rewarding achievements and expected setbacks.
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
06:06 What boosts and drains your energy as a PM
10:06 Can negative feedback be energizing?
12:48 Other aspects of PM that can sap your energy and how to overcome it
18:22 Optimizing document workflows
21:43 Unexpected challenges of PM
23:45 Learn to celebrate your wins
27:37 How AI can help in a PMs job
30:36 Competing with the past and ignoring the noise
35:26 Highs and lows in AI PM
40:16 Accessibility in PM
42:34 Necessity of processes and ways to handle queries efficiently
44:56 Final thoughts

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak and  Soumeya Benghanem welcome Adam Grupp (Woodhaven Advisors), Greg Young (Collectors Universe), Sumathi Kadambi (Zillow), Marily Nika (Meta), and Sumantro Das (Mattress Firm) as they discuss the importance of decision making in the success of any project. The panel of experts, known and respected in their respective expertise, share valuable tips and insights on what it takes to come up with the right decision.
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
01:03 The different styles of decision-making
03:44 “Understand the right process and structure to use to frame up decisions.” 
05:37 “The expensive and scary are the ones where it's a long-term commitment you can’t change so easily.” 
08:05 The cost of failing to make a decision and the fear of decision-making.
12:17 “Create your own metrics for your own product.” 
14:57 What’s your bold thought on decision-making? 
16:37 Is data just confirming what you already know or do you have some wild changes based off of it?
20:02 Half of PM decisions are decisions they’re not even conscious of
21:26 Build an ecosystem of experts within the company to help make decisions
24:24 Favorite decision-making matrix regularly used
27:01 Go-to method for sourcing new ideas or iterating mature and new products
34:23 Oftentimes, the best ideas come from unexpected places
37:15 Take what makes you successful but apply it in new places that can help make big changes
39:05 Be very clear on how everyone makes decisions
43:09 Decision-making takes time to build confidence on and to build the tool set
44:27 Some things are hard to let go but maybe they're not where our future is
46:24 Build a learning organization by understanding how decisions are made and documenting them