Main takeaways: -Why PM? -Challenges for non-product professionals to break into Product space -Avenues to break into the PM role

1. How to Break/Transition Into Product
by Google Product Leader
productschool.com

2. Your Product Management
Certificate Path
Certificates
Product Manager
Certification™
Senior Product Manager
Certification™
Product Leader
Certification™

3. Corporate Training
Level Up Your Team Management Skills
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4. Do you enjoy Product School
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5. Free Product Management Resources
Resources
Events Courses Podcasts
Newsletters Communities eBooks and
Reports

6. How to Break into Product
Management
Sagar Randive
sagarrandive

7. Product Manager
Someone who solves complex real world problems of customers by shipping insightful products that tie
into the vision, mission and strategy of the company

8. Why PM?
Do you love to
● Solve customer problems
● Lead by influence (not authority)
● Tell a story
● Deliver time constrained results
● Wear multiple hats (technical, sales, marketing, legal list goes on)
● Make bold decisions (mostly data driven)
● Be a people person

9. Types of Product Managers
● B2C PM
○ E.g. Zillow, Snapchat, Fitbit
● B2B PM
○ E.g. Cloud Computing, Cisco devices
● PM for internal tools
○ E.g. project tracking tool
● Product Manager - Technical
○ Technical counterpart of the Product Manager
● Outbound Product Manager
○ E.g. outbound product activities like GTM and engaging with analysts
“If the PM was not a PM, he/she would probably be the CEO of their own company”

10. Challenges for Non-product professional to get into
product space
● Developing additional skills
● Lack of opportunities
● Not enough experience
● Career timeline regression
● Lack of established academic path
● Cracking the interviews (we will not cover in today’s session)
Acquiring the right set of skills and showcasing them will get you the first break

11. Skill set of an ideal PM candidate
● Communication
● Leadership
● Design skills
● Creativity
● Technical skills
● Business acumen
● Empathy
● Thriving in ambiguity

12. How to develop the skills
● Develop transferable skills in your current role
● Read books that develop product intuition
● Work closely or shadow product professionals in your current company
● Webinars, Podcasts, newsletters, blogs
● Take up side projects that will help you hone PM skills
● Formal education (B-school, courses)
● Find a Mentor
Your first product: Yourself; Your first PRD:
● Resume, Cover Letters
● Linkedin

13. Avenues to becoming a Product Manager
● Apply for a transfer to a PM role within your current company (or APM role)
● Work on projects as a Product Manager in the same company (e.g. 20% projects)
● Apply for the role as an external candidate
● Work at a start up in a multi-faceted role
● Networking - conferences, meetups, linkedin
● Start your own company

14. Learning resources
● Books
○ Design of Everyday Things
○ Creative Confidence
○ The Innovator's Solution
● Podcasts, Webinars, Newsletters
○ Stratechery (Podcast)
○ Product School (Webinars)
○ Shipping Tomorrow (Newsletter)
● Courses
○ Product Strategy - Kellogg school
○ Grokking System Design (for technical prep)
● Interview Prep
○ StellarPeers (mock interviews)
○ Exponent videos (youtube)
○ Cracking the PM interview (book)
○ The Product Manager Interview (book)

15. Part-time Product Management
Training Courses
and Corporate Training
productschool.com