Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 120 posts

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#111

Post by mezod »

pmcgrathm wrote: post #75

PM @ a well funded AI startup. Previously PM at Netflix. Management consultant prior. Undergraduate degree in Psychology. Background in marketing/business and customer acquisition. I learned enough programming to automate my marketing activities, and found that I liked driving a roadmap more than I liked acquiring customers. -Communication and conflict resolution skills are key. You are in a role where you must drive…

when I asked this question I first expected a lot of answers in the lines of your "Financial Modeling" part. Funnily, you are the only one that's named it so far. Anyhow all the answers have been so incredibly enriching...

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#112

Post by telebone_man »

If you agree that the overarching reason for a Product Managers existence is to 'Facilitate the growth of the business via influence and interaction with the various departments', then I'd say the skills required exist in a sort of circle..

People skills >> Business skills >> Technical skills >> People skills >> Business skills.. and so on.

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#113

Post by javaun »

bdickason wrote: post #33

Almost every PM I've met has an odd/alternative background but the consistent traits I see are: 1. Curiosity 2. The ability to think in a structured/organized way 3. A clear understanding of users, their problems, and how to solve those problems 4. Ability to understand coworkers and motivate or influence without authority I would argue that the above aspects can come from any discipline. I've recruited Pm's (via int…

> In summary.. The best way to become a PM is to start doing it.

This is great practical advice. If you're trying to cross over within a company, put yourself in the line of opportunities. Tell your boss to look out for new initiatives where you can contribute from the beginning. Try to get yourself invited to new meetings. Offer actionable advice on making current products better. And never neglect your day job when working on your side projects. Otherwise you'll be perceived as someone who dreams big but can't get things done.

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#114

Post by halite »

pmcgrathm wrote: post #82
halite wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were you at any organisations where they did 360° feedback? What kind of feedback did you receive from developers or designers from your team? What I'm trying to understand is how are organisations ensuring that PMs and team are not in disconnect from how things really are. I know that's a different realm but just trying to understand how did you find what to improve or learn to be a better PM?

Netflix and my current organization religiously practice 360 degree feedback. For my own projects, I practice 360 degree feedback as well. I don't think a team or organization can succeed if employees cannot speak to each other candidly about performance. My typical feedback from engineering: 1) I state resolutions of a problem without clearly defining the problem. This was/is my biggest failure as a product manager…

This is so awesome, wasn't expecting such detailed response! I think we all have some of these flaws but having channels to have this feedback and to have open discussions without any ego or taking it personally makes the best teams. Currently I'm not in such a team but I was in past and wish to find one soon!

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#115

Post by apercu »

Hey, just curious where you live? My consulting company does product management consulting, and I get feeds on PM jobs automagically. Anyway, here in the greater Toronto area, there are junior(ish) marketing positions labelled as "Product Manager" fairly regularly.

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#116

Post by mezod »

apercu wrote: post #115

Hey, just curious where you live? My consulting company does product management consulting, and I get feeds on PM jobs automagically. Anyway, here in the greater Toronto area, there are junior(ish) marketing positions labelled as "Product Manager" fairly regularly.

yep, in Barcelona it's not so common :P

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#117

Post by apercu »

mezod wrote: post #116
apercu wrote: post #115

Hey, just curious where you live? My consulting company does product management consulting, and I get feeds on PM jobs automagically. Anyway, here in the greater Toronto area, there are junior(ish) marketing positions labelled as "Product Manager" fairly regularly.

yep, in Barcelona it's not so common :P

Ah, sorry.

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#118

Post by kshah12 »

bonniemuffin wrote: post #21

I'm not a PM, but I partner closely with them and also interview them. At LinkedIn, most of our PMs have both an MBA and a technical background of some sort. Many have also started companies of their own in the past. We actually DO have junior PM roles -- "Associate Product Manager" positions that are designed to ease people into the PM path and let them grow into the full skill set. Key skills are ruthless prioritiz…

Hi! Intrigued by the Associate Product Manager role - as someone who has been a Scrum Master and product lead for roughly a year at IBM, would this be enough experience to open the door to a Junior PM Role?

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#119

Post by aswin8728 »

aswin8728 wrote: post #65
mezod wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how do I ping you? :p PG did a great job as a PM with HN, but he "forgot" about some features :p

aswin8728@gmail.com

Actually, please find me on twitter @aswin8728. Didn't realize the volume of responses I'd be receiving, so I need a way to separate the two :)

Re: Ask HN: Product Managers, how did you get there and what's your background?

#120

Post by MDcker »

taneem wrote: post #16
halite wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might take you up on your offer to send a note. What's the best way to send you a message? I do not want to side-track or pollute this thread. Thx.

I added a link to my linkedin profile - can you send me a message through that?

I don't see any link on your LinkedIn. What would be the best way to contact you?

I would like to talk with you about getting into PM as a soon-to-be graduate.

Post reply on HN