The presentation introduces veterans to product management, core position competencies, and highlight the unique attributes and value that veterans can bring to the field.

1. Why Veterans
Make Great
Product Managers
Michael Pavek - Eagle Group

2. Purpose
Introduce veterans to product management, core position competencies, and
highlight the unique attributes and value that veterans can bring to the field.
Agenda
1. What is product management and what does a product manager do?
2. Knowledge, Skills, & Attributes (KSA) & education/certification
3. Military-to-product manager fit
a. Why veterans make good product managers
b. How to prepare for this role

3. Product Management
Ensuring over time that a product or service profitably meets the needs of
customers by continually monitoring and modifying the elements of the
marketing mix, including: the product and its features, the communications
strategy, distribution channel, and price
Product Manager
Responsible for overseeing all of the various activities that concern a
particular product
Product Owner
Single person with final authority to represent the customer’s interest in
backlog prioritization and requirements

4. ExecutionStrategy
Vision
The Venn Diagrams of Product Management
Foresight
Informed Discernment
Desired Future State
Market Research
Innovation
Roadmap
Marketing/ Bus dev
Product Development
Service

5. TechUX
Business Product Manager

6. Product Customers
Role of the Product Manager
Product Manager

7. Knowledge, Skills, Attributes (KSA)
Attributes
● Collaborative
● Communicative
● Customer-Focused
● Thick skinned
Knowledge & Skills
● Business Understanding
● Understand Data
● Industry Insights
● Strategic Planning
● Technical ENOUGH
Education/Certification
● Lots of different educational backgrounds
● No singularly recognized certificate
○ New Product Development Professional (NPDP), Product Manager
Certificate (PMC), Certified Product Owner (CPO)

8. Why veterans make good product
managers
PM Cross-Functional
Leadership
Engineering
Sales
Marketing
Project Delivery
Supply Chain
Service
Strategic
Thinking
Customer-
Focused
Strong
Execution
Skills
Lifelong
Learners

9. How to Prepare for this Role
General Preparation
● Networking & Informational Interviews
● Consider Certification
● Reading List
○ The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
○ Crossing the Chasm by Geoffery Moore
○ Product Management for Dummies
Industry-specific
● Industry news journals
● Read Form 10-K’s of market leading companies
● Review cross-section of PM job postings for common KSA’s

10. Why Veterans
Make Great
Product Managers
Michael Pavek - Eagle Group