Main Takeaways: -Global needs for good PMs and the opportunities we have in the globalized world -First impressions and cultural shocks of starting as a PM in a culturally diverse company -How working with international people can make you grow as a better PM

1. PMs in Culturally Diverse Companies by
Zalando Product Leader
www.productschool.com

2. CERTIFICATES
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5. PMs in Culturally
Diverse Companies
by Zalando Product Manager

6. 01.
Oppoítunities
Global high demand for good
Product Manager
02.
Challenges
Cultural shocks of starting as a PM
in a culturally diverse company
03.
Stíengths
How working with international
people can make you grow as a
better Product Manager
04.
Empoweíing
How to prepare for the challenge of
starting working in a multicultural
environment
Agenda

7. About me
Maíia Beatíiz Vaz
● Data Product Manager with +4 years of
experience
● Brazilian, currently living in Berlin
● Experience working in 3 different
countries
● Passionate about human psychology and
cultural influences

8. 01.
Oppoítunities
The global high demand for
good Product Manager

9. Global Demand foí PMs
Demand
Gíowth
PM job openings had a 29%
year on year growth in 2019.
Glassdoor had about 12,173 PM
listings in 2020
Píomising Job
In a 2019 survey, LinkedIn
ranked Product Management as one of
the most promising jobs of
the year
New
Needs
Studies show that the coronavirus
pandemic has accelerated digital
adoption by major firms by as
much as 5 years.
Lack of PMs
The increase in demand for PM
roles in the US outpaces the
increase in demand for overall
roles by 5x.

10. What is stopping you?
If you are a PM or aspire to
become one, and would
love to have an experience
abroad - why not trying it?

11. That’s how I ended up in
Beílin …

12. About Zalando
Zalando is Europe’s leading online
platform for fashion and lifestyle.
Our goal is to become the starting
point for fashion.
Zalando has a strong workforce of around
14,000 employees of over 130 different
nationalities, and more than 200 PMs.

13. 02.
First impressions and cultural
shocks of starting as a PM in a
culturally diverse company
Challenges

14. Challenges of cultuíal diffeíences
Communication
Communication between
non-native speakers can often
generates misunderstandings.
Inteípíetation
What people of one culture or
country see as appropriate
behavior or common sense
may be quite different from
what citizens of other
countries expect.
Remote Woík
70 to 93 percent of all
communication is nonverbal.
Remote set up make it even
harder to pick up on the
unspoken subtext of a
conversation

15. Don’t take it foí gíanted!
Even those who are culturally informed, travel
extensively, and have lived abroad often have few
strategies for dealing with the cross-cultural
complexity that affects their team’s day-to-day
effectiveness.

16. 03.
How working with international
people can make you grow as a
better Product Manager
Stíengths

17. 01.
EMPATHY
In order to achieve a PM role successfully there
is a need to be able to put yourself in the
customer’s shoes and understand their
perspectives as they use your product.
PM’s Impoítant Soft Skills
FLEXIBILITY
Product managers need to be able to keep up with
changes and stay flexible to ensure products are
developed and launched in a timely and efficient
manner.
02.

18. 03.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Proper communication skills, including written and
spoken, ensure the PM can effectively communicate
with their team and stakeholders to get successful
products built.
PM’s Impoítant Soft Skills
TRUST BUILDING
Being transparent about decisions with their team
and stakeholders, and getting them involved in the
decision-making process can be critical for the
success of a product.
04.

19. 04.
How to prepare for the challenge of
starting working in a multicultural
environment
Empoweíing

20. How to betteí woík in multicultuíal
enviíonment
Self-Awaíenes
s
One of the most important
things is for you to
understand your way of
working and how your
cultural background reflects
on your behavior
Know youí team
Take some time to know your
colleagues besides work. Learn
what they like to do, what
motivate them and find what you
have in common
Be vulneíable
Don’t be defensive! It is crucial
to be open to listen to others’
feedback and carefully analyze
what you can improve about it

21. Books that helped me duíing my jouíney

22. Recap
● Product Management is a hot role in the current marketing, with
thousand of global opportunities. If you are interested in moving
abroad or working in a multicultural company, go for it!
● Don’t take it for granted the challenges of working with a
culturally diverse teams.
● When working with different cultures, you can strength
important soft skills for PMs, such as empathy, communication
skills and flexibility.
● Know your team, know you better and be vulnerable.
● Most important: Enjoy the amazing experience and
people you have the chance to meet!

23. Thank you!
Do you have any questions?
mbeatrizrvaz@gmail.com
/mariabeatrizvaz
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24. www.productschool.com
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