The Product Manager Role
Source: Source: Cracking the PM Interview: How to Land a Product Manager
What is a PM:
A PM is responsible for making sure that a team ships a great product.
Also known as a program manager or project manager. A PM must define what success looks like and set the vision/strategy of a product. Thus, because they hold a holistic view of the product, they must see the big picture but also the minute (pronounced: mynoot, synonmyn: small ) details.
However, a PM does not have direct authority over people. You must influence them with your vision and research.
Even though, PM are highly respected, they are not more respected than engineers. You can not show up and start bossing people around or you will not get much done. You need to be able to influence engineers and get them on your side. They are the ones building the product and they are often viewed as one of the most important people in the company.
As a product manager, you sit at the heart of business, technology and design. You have to wear many hats. A Product Manager has to advocate for the customer’s need. You need to learn their needs and translate that into product goals & features.
Afterwards, you are responsible for making sure your solutions (product) is built in a cohesive set that are:
- Well Designed
- Solves customer’s problems
The product manager is a highly collaborative role. You are the main liaison between:
- Engineer
- Quality Assurance
- Design
- User Research
- Data Analyst
- Marketing
- Sales
- Customer Support
- Business Development
- Legal
- Content Writer
- Executive Team, etc.
It is your responsibility to know when a team should be brought in and when you need to step in to fill the gap if they do not exist
Side-Note: This is my first medium post so please be kind. I plan on writing on topic that interest me like Tech Product, Emerging Market, Business Models and Finance, Politics, Sports, Life etc. I do hope whoever reads this can support me by holding me accountable and sharing tips on how I could write better. I took this initiative because:
- I was inspired by great friends and mentors like OvisWrites Stuff, WriteEazy, Luc Geoffrey, Ryan Persaud, Rami Bidshahri among others.
- Because I want to become an excellent writer & orator
Thank you and God bless us all. :)
