"Why I'm Passionate About Product Management." A lighthearted pictorial keynote for Product Camp San Francisco (Oct 2013). Since we typically talk about wearing lots of hats, I've instead referred to shoes.

1. WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Rich Mironov
@ProductCampSF 12Oct13

2. ABOUT RICH
• Unrepentant product guy
• 6 startups, 60+ consulting clients
• Blogging about products since dinosaurs roamed
Cupertino
• Founded Product Camp
• #prodmgmt team psychiatrist

3. PRODUCT MANAGEMENT IS
TOUGH
•
•
•
•
•
No one understands what we do
Responsibility, but no authority
We’re not really the CEOs
Tactical buries the strategic
Often product janitors
3

5. BUT HUMBLY, WE...
• Think beyond the current sprint
• Keep dreams anchored to
realities
• Ship great products
• Help other groups be heroes
5

6. AND WE GET TO WEAR
A LOT OF HATS SHOES
6

7. WE HANG WITH ENGINEERING

8. AND POSITION WITH MARKETING

9. GET SALES OUT OF THE ROUGH

10. GENTLY REGROUND OUR EXECS
10

11. AND DIG IN WITH SUPPORT
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12. WHAT DO WE REALLY DO?
• 20%: Thoughtfully make combined technical AND
market decisions to drive product revenue next
quarter and next year
• 80%: Cajole, drive, reprioritize, cheer, remind,
block, thank, coach, refocus, refocus, refocus and
refocus
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13. SO THAT OUR PRODUCTS CAN
GROW UP

14. TO BECOME SOMETHING SPECIAL

15. OR MAYBE SOMETHING HISTORIC

16. HOW HARD COULD IT BE?

17. WE BRING A RARE MIX OF
TALENTS
• We’re certainly “few”
• And I’m proud!

18. OTHERWISE, PRODUCTS
DON’T FIT THEIR MARKETS

19. AND SOME CUSTOMERS GO
WITHOUT PRODUCTS THEY NEED

20. SO WELCOME TO PRODUCT CAMP!