Presented at MVP Conf 2015.

1. Lone Product Manager

2. We Are Passionate Product
Champions
Alicia Dixon
@Li_Li_D
Kristin Bolton-Keys
@KristinBKeys
#LonePM
2
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

3. Introduction
§ Somebody has to be the first
– Working as the “Lone PM”
§ Provide usable tips to make life easier
– Identifying key players
– Role definition
– Training resources
#LonePM
3
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

4. Define Your Role or Others
Will Define it for You

5. Define Your Role
§ Clear role definition makes it harder to ‘go around’
the PM
§ Focus on the necessities
§ Avoid falling into other defined roles:
§ Account manager
§ Dev Ops
§ Product trainer
§ Tech support
§ Technical writer
#LonePM
5
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

6. Know Your Stakeholders

7. Who Owns This Thing?
§ Define stakeholders
§ Build relationships
§ Share product vision/
objectives
#LonePM
7
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D
§ Define roles
§ Create approval process
§ Communication
cadence
Stakeholder
Map
Roles
&
Responsibili4es
Matrix

8. Understand Your Users

9. Lean
Design
Thinking
Human-Centered
Users Need Love Too
#LonePM
9
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D
Design
Thinking
Lean
Human-
Centered

10. #LonePM
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D
10
Rose, Thorn, Bud
Round Robin
Additional Methods

11. Don’t Let Lack of Money
Stop You

12. Be Resourceful
Get creative and find inexpensive tools:
§ Software
§ Document templates
§ User research
$
#LonePM
12
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

13. Low Cost (& Some Free) Tools
§ PM Templates & Tools: Mironov, Pivotal, ProductCanvas
§ Usability Research: UserTesting, Userlytics, Loop11, ClickHeat
§ Prioritization: Validately,
§ Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel
§ Wireframes & Mockups: InVision, Wirefy, Blueprint,
§ Graphic Design & Screenshots: Canva, Snagit
§ Customer Feedback: UserEcho, UserVoice
§ Collaboration: Trello, Slack, Asana, Skitch
§ Surveys: WuFoo, SurveyMonkey
§ Glossary: Sequent, Blackbot
§ Data: Statista
§ CRM: Fusioo
#LonePM
13
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

14. Acquire Some Skills

15. “I once had a person working for
me who claimed she didn’t need
any additional training due to
her 20 years of experience. One
of my colleagues remarked, she
actually has one year of
experience, repeated 19 times.”
- STEVE JOHNSON
#LonePM
15
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

16. Less
than
3
years
5+
years
3
to
5
years
§ Complete formal
Training
§ Attend Meetups
§ Follow experts on
Social Media
§ Attend
conferences
§ Develop core
skills – 101
courses
§ Become a
conference
speaker
§ Give a keynote
address
§ Become a guest
blogger
§ Complete Formal
Training
§ Attend Product
Camps
§ Attend conferences
§ Complete outside
projects
§ Diversify product
experience
§ Enhance core skills
– 201, 301 courses
#LonePM
16
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D
Never Stop Learning
Less than 3 Years 3 to 5 Years
More than
5 Years

17. Establish a Professional
Support Network

18. PMs Need a Support System
PEERS
§ Establish a ‘Product Council’ – 3 to 5 people who
you can share issues with to get feedback
§ Use social media to connect with local PM’s, then
meet them face-to-face
§ Pay It Forward – help others
MENTORS
§ Find an experienced mentor
– Identify development gaps
– Networking introductions
#LonePM
18
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

19. Get Sh*t Done

20. “Perfec'onism
is
o.en
an
excuse
for
procras'na'on.”
-­‐
Paul
Graham,
Y
Combinator
“You
don’t
need
more
'me,
you
just
need
to
decide.”
-­‐
Seth
Godin
“Never
half-­‐ass
two
things.
Whole-­‐ass
one
thing.”
-­‐
Ron
Swanson,
Parks
and
Recrea4on
“Don’t
be
a
complainer;
make
things
beHer,
let
it
go,
or
take
ac'on
to
make
it
beHer.”
-­‐
Tina
Roth
Eisenberg,
TaHly
#LonePM
20
@Kris/nBKeys
@Li_Li_D

22. § Stop doing
everything!
§ “Product Janitor
Tasks”
§ Four D’s of email by
Jock Busuttil
(Re)Take Control of your Schedule

23. 1. Define Your Role
2. Know Your Stakeholders
3. Understand Your Users
4. Don’t Let Lack Of Money Stop You
5. Acquire Some Skills
6. Establish A Professional Support Network
7. Get Sh*t Done

24. Thank You!
Alicia Dixon
@Li_Li_D
Kristin Bolton-Keys
@KristinBKeys