The webinar discusses overcoming barriers to becoming a product manager. It is divided into three sections. Section one debunks myths about PM roles and outlines core PM skills like vision, communication, and execution. Section two prompts introspection on strengths and challenges attendees to channel their inner PM. Section three offers tips for marketing oneself as a PM, including creating a opportunities spreadsheet, networking, storytelling accomplishments in interviews, and persistence. The webinar emphasizes that everyone brings a unique strength to product management.

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Overcoming the Barriers of Getting
into PM by Amazon Sr PM

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6. Webinar: How to Break into Product Management
by Zakir Tyebjee, Senior PM at Amazon
www.productschool.com

7. Agenda
1
1
Three main sections:
1. Understanding Product Management
2. Channeling Your Inner PM
3. Marketing Yourself
How to Break into Product Management
Agenda

8. Section 1
Understanding Product Management
How to Break into Product Management
Section 1 of 3 – Understanding Product Management

9. Our theme for today…
Everyone brings a unique strength to
product management
How to Break into Product Management
Our Theme

10. Myths Busted
PMs are not the “mini-CEOs” of their product
• PMs lead through influence instead of authority
• PMs are actually the QBs, rather than the CEOs
PMs do not need to have a computer science background
• PMs are not building their products, they are influencing others to do so
• PMs execute by crafting clear requirements and communicating them effectively
Product management is not the same at every company
• For example, PMs at Amazon are different from PMs at Facebook
• Each PM role values different strengths
How to Break into Product Management
Section 1 of 3 – Understanding Product Management

11. Three Core PM Skillsets
Vision & Strategy
Communication
& Leadership
Execution
How to Break into Product Management
Section 1 of 3 – Understanding Product Management

12. Section 2
Channeling Your Inner PM
How to Break into Product Management
Section 2 of 3 – Channeling Your Inner PM

13. • Can I be comfortable operating in
ambiguity?
• Can I craft and sell a vision?
• Can I inspire others to execute?
• Can I work well with multiple
stakeholders?
• Can I ruthlessly prioritize? Do I know
when to say “no”?
• Can I put myself in the shoes of
customers?
• Can I be comfortable with
imperfection and iterating through
experimentation?
• Can I be objective, confident, and
data-driven in decision-making?
• Can I write and communicate
clearly?
• Can I be comfortable with a
never-ending to-do list?
How to Break into Product Management
Section 2 of 3 – Channeling Your Inner PM
Introspection – What drives the inner PM in you?
Ask yourself the following questions…

14. One of my favorite quotes…
“If you want to prove you can build products, you
have to start by building products.”
–
Carlos González de Villaumbrosia, Founder & CEO at Product School
How to Break into Product Management
Section 2 of 3 – Channeling Your Inner PM

15. Channeling Your PM Skillsets
Be a builder
• Take initiative
• Drive products from
inception to launch
Be a leader
• Emphasize the “why” over
the “what”
• Galvanize others
Be customer-obsessed
• Work backwards
• Ruthlessly prioritize to
maximize impact
How to Break into Product Management
Section 2 of 3 – Channeling Your Inner PM
Images from Unsplash

16. Section 3
Marketing Yourself
How to Break into Product Management
Section 3 of 3 – Marketing Yourself

17. PM the Preparation
1. Create a spreadsheet of opportunities
2. Identify network leads
3. Prioritize and rank opportunities
4. Start recruiting
How to Break into Product Management
Section 3 of 3 – Marketing Yourself

18. Closing the Deal
Some final tips for your recruiter calls and interviews…
• Maximize the recruiter call – recruiters are on your side
• Master the art of storytelling and treat yourself as a product:
• You have a vision (your background and personal story)
• You have key features (your experiences)
• You have delivered impact (your accomplishments)
• Be persistent and remain confident
How to Break into Product Management
Section 3 of 3 – Marketing Yourself

19. Always remember…
Everyone brings a unique strength to
product management
How to Break into Product Management
Final Thoughts

20. Thank You!
www.productschool.com
Follow me on LinkedIn or message me for feedback (@zakirtyebjee)
Follow me on Medium for monthly posts on PM realities (@zakir.tyebjee)

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