In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman welcomes Darlene Miranda (DailyPay) as they discuss how to make customer obsession as a cross-functional practice. PMs gather data from their customers to help in product improvement and development, but how can a PM let everyone in the organization join this customer obsession?  
 
Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.
 
Support for How to Succeed in Product Management is brought to you by Apptentive, which enables product managers to measure shifts in customer emotion and gather actionable feedback across the mobile customer journey. To learn more, go to Apptentive.com/UW.
 
What to Listen For:
00:00 Intro
03:28 Customer obsession
04:55 How customer obsessed are you?
06:35 When PMs don’t do enough to make a customer obsession a cross-functional
08:08 Being obsessed with two different types of customers
10:20 Engineering in customer obsession 
13:38 Marketing 
15:16 Customer obsession from the support function
17:17 Tools and frameworks 
21:05 The role of customer support
23:52 What is unique about customer obsession?
26:10 An organization that will help you become customer obsessed
28:05 Cross-functional practice in the early stages of a startup
31:22 How to know if a company is customer obsessed
33:58 Operations functions to maintain customer obsession
36:14 Security and fraud
38:48 Resources for making customer obsession a cross-functional practice
40:55 Final thoughts

71: Making Customer Obsession a Cross-Functional Practice

Learn from some of the best product managers in the world through conversations hosted by The Product Management Center at the University of Washington. In each episode, Jeff Shulman, Red Russak, and Soumeya Benghanem dive into the tools, frameworks, and thought processes that will help drive success in product management.

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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

105: Transition from Product Manager to Group Product Manager

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

104: Managing Multiple Product Teams

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

103: Is the U.S. Digital Corps a Path to Impact and Product Management?

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

102: Product Management in an Engineering-Focused Organization

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

71: Making Customer Obsession a Cross-Functional Practice

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