Trying to Product

This podcast episode provides an insightful exploration of the transition from working in large technology firms to the realm of product consulting, as discussed by two seasoned product managers, Alex and Parv. The central theme revolves around the distinctive experiences and skill sets required in these contrasting environments, emphasizing the advantages and challenges that accompany each path....

The primary focus of this podcast episode is the intricate relationship between product management and the integration of artificial intelligence tools into the workflow of product managers. We explore the various AI models currently in use, such as ChatGPT and Claude, and discuss their respective merits in enhancing productivity, particularly in the realms of drafting product requirements and opt...

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 val...

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 ye...

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 anot...

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 t...

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,...

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 t...

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 aspect...

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 indic...

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, Al...

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 qui...

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 unders...

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 li...

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...

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 lea...

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 managemen...

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...

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 wi...

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 ambi...

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 Ind...