1. Getting Started as a
PRODUCT MANAGER

2. Since you want to be
a Product Manager,
you know that…

3. …developers build products

4. Since you want to be
a Product Manager,
you know that…
should
∧

5. …developers build products
because they like to solve problems.

6. …developers build products
because they want to make an impact.

7. …developers build products
because they are inspired.

8. …developers build products
NOT because you said so.

9. Present the right problems
Choose the most impactful work
Inspire and enable your developers
Thus, as a PM you
should
∧
1
2
3

10. Present the right problems
Choose the most impactful work
Inspire and enable your developers
Thus, as a PM you
should
∧
1
2
3

11. IMAGE CREDIT: Dell Inc.
Know your customer

12. Watch
your Net
Promoter
Score
(NPS)
IMAGE CREDIT: Nicki Zita

13. Review customer ideas

14. Use data from Support

15. Track Usage
42%!
58%!
66%!
72%!
77%!
82%!
87%!
92%!
27%!
40%!
49%!
56%!
61%!
66%!
72%!
78%!
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
March! April! May! June! July! August! September! October!

16. Monitor Bugs

17. Watch Reliability

18. IMAGE CREDIT: Ben Terrett
Conduct User Tests

19. Present the right problems
Choose the most impactful work
Inspire and enable your developers
Thus, as a PM you
should
∧
1
2
3

20. BEING A PM IS HECTIC.
Organization helps you focus.

21. BEING A PM IS CREATIVE.
Organization helps you explore.
IMAGE CREDIT: Giulio Zannol

22. BEING A PM IS INTERACTIVE.
Organization helps you find patterns.
IMAGE CREDIT: Marc Wathieu

23. However you organize,
use only one app
to manage your
roadmap.

24. Consider having a tool for:
• Roadmap/project management
• Issue tracking
• Feedback
• Notebook
• To-do list
• Internal communication
• Knowledge sharing

25. A PM bridges the
customer’s voice
with the technically
possible.

26. Know the stack your
product is built

27. …if only conceptually

28. Start in your Chrome
Developer Tools

29. Learn some
a great first language…

30. …and familiarize yourself
with APIs using it.

31. THE GOLDEN RULE
Don’t be afraid
to ask one of your
developers for help.

32. They’ll be
psyched you
are trying.

33. The First 8 Technical Things to Learn:
• HTTP & REST
• Chrome Development tools
• HTML/CSS
• Using a Text Editor
• APIs
• JSON
• Python
• SQL

34. Present the right problems
Choose the most impactful work
Inspire and enable your developers
Thus, as a PM you
should
∧
1
2
3

35. Reinforce the Vision
IMAGE CREDIT: Alan Levine

36. Gain Advocates Across
Your Organization
AGE CREDIT: Scania Group

37. Demo with
Passion
IMAGE CREDIT: Tom Coates

38. THANKS!
Maggie Georgieva, @mgieva
Matt Schnitt, @mattschnitt
Angela DeFranco, @adefranco

39. Recommended Resources:
● Intelligent.ly
● Udemy
● “The Innovator’s Dilemma” by by Clayton M. Christensen
● Google Ventures product talks:
http://startuplab.googleventures.com/workshops#product
○ Dan Olsen’s talk on Lean Product Management is a must-watch
● Product Demo guidelines
● First Round Review - http://firstround.com/review
● Intercom.io blog - intercom.io