7 Tips to a Successful Product Management Career
Not too long after landing a job as a software engineer at Information Builders in 1999, my boss told me we had to talk. He wanted me to switch from a programming role to Product Manager. I was pretty sure my management liked me and my work, so I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t think I was good enough keep at it. I knew nothing of this role.
All the smartest people in this business were coders, but while I was not immune to dreaming about solving programming problems, just like the Tetris Effect, I also did not see myself doing it forever. I’ll give it a shot.
No training. No mentoring. Figure out what the customers need, describe that to the smart people doing the coding, then help us figure out how to sell it.
And so began my Product Management career.
Over 20 years into this journey, it is a great time to reflect on some of the things I have learned in my career. This is over and above learning the fundamental mindset and practices of our profession. Here is a short list that may help those trying to chart their own course right now.
- Self Motivate
- Nurture the Team
- Take Every Opportunity to Learn
- Network
- Mentoring
- Write & Present
- Focus on (Improving) the Process
Good luck!
