My Journey of a Career in Product Management

When I started my career, I never imagined I’d end up as a product manager. Like many of you, I began in a completely different role. I was in development, then customer support, and then pre-sales before I finally found my way into product management. I realized early on that there wasn’t a clear, direct path into this field, and I had to navigate my way there by talking to people and learning everything I could. My journey taught me something important: being a product manager isn’t a destination; it’s a constant evolution.

When I first started, I thought it was all about roadmaps and shipping as many features as possible. But over time, I realized that the role is about much more. It’s about decision-making, people skills, and being a good storyteller. It’s about learning to say no more than yes.

What a Product Manager’s Role Really Looks Like

As a product manager, you get to see how what you’re building brings value to the customer. I often think of a product manager as the person who is coordinating an orchestra, making sure every part works in harmony to create something beautiful.

Here are a few things I’ve learned about the role in my journey:

• You own the business outcome. This means you’re focused on the bigger picture, like increasing revenue or improving profit margins.
• You’re the voice of the customer. You are the bridge between what the customer wants and what your engineering team builds.
• You deal with the abstract. Many times, you’ll be given a simple, one-line statement and be told, “Go figure this out.” It’s your job to take that abstract idea and define what it is, how to quantify it, and how to define success.

PM vs. PGM: Clearing the Confusion

A common question I hear is about the difference between a product manager (PM) and a program manager (PGM). It can be confusing because the acronym is the same, but the reality is they are completely different roles.

• Product Manager (PM): We focus on the ‘what’ and the ‘why.’ You are given a problem, and your job is to figure out what to solve and why it’s worth solving. We set the vision for the product.
• Program Manager (PGM): They focus on the ‘how’ and the ‘when.’ Once the vision is set by the product manager, the program manager focuses on the execution and coordination, working with multiple stakeholders to get things done.

It’s worth noting that in today’s evolving job market, some companies combine these roles. When I was at Flipkart, they had separate PMs and PGMs, but at Microsoft, my role as a PM is end-to-end. The senior PMs set the vision, while the junior PMs focus more on execution and coordination.

You may like to read: MBA in Project Management vs. MBA in Product Management

Your Role Evolves with You

Just as I had to navigate my way into product management, I’ve seen my role change and grow over time. The key is that you don’t forget the skills you’ve learned; you just build on them.

• Entry-Level PM: You start by supporting a senior product manager and focus on things like market research, competitive analysis, and gathering user feedback. Your main goal is to build customer empathy, which I believe is one of the most valuable skills a PM can have.
• Mid-Level PM: As you move into a mid-level role, you begin to own the entire product lifecycle, from the initial idea to its launch. You also start thinking about the long-term product strategy and collaborate with cross-functional teams like sales, marketing, and support.

Senior-Level PM: At the senior level, you become a subject matter expert and the “voice of the market”. You know what customers in a particular market segment expect and can use that knowledge to guide your product.

Key Skills for Product Managers

PMs need to have two types of skills – technical and non-technical. Let’s explore:

• Technical
  • Product maps, backlog, prioritization, iteration.
  • Business models, segmenting, targeting, positioning.
  • Pricing, financial statements.
  • UX Design/Design Thinking, customer insights, product strategy.
• Non-technical
  • Developing Customer Value Proposition.
  • Mindset and Critical Thinking for a Product Manager.

Essential Tools for Product Managers

Feature	Tools
Prototyping and Design Tools	Balsamiq, Adobe XD, Figma
Product Roadmap and Planning Tools	JIRA, Aha!, ProdPad, Roadmunk
Analytics and Metrics Tools	Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude
Communication and Collaboration Tools	Slack, Microsoft Teams, ZoomProject Management Tools:
Project Management Tools	Jira, Asana, Trello
Customer Feedback and Support Tools	Zendesk, Intercom, UserVoice

You might be interested in: Best MBA specialization for product management

Parting Words

There is no single path to product management but a series of right choices, skills, and experiences. Everyone’s journey is unique and ‘how’ you approach work matters at least as much as the ‘what’. Prioritize impact over ‘ownership’ and set the metrics to define your success. Storytelling matters so say what you’ll do, do it, and say what you did. Ultimately, my biggest piece of advice is to be curious, proactive, and always on the lookout for opportunities. The path may not be straight, but it’s a rewarding one.

If you’re feeling inspired and want to take the next leap for your career evolution, build a strong foundation with an Online MBA from Manipal University Jaipur.