This document discusses how product management prepares someone for a CXO role. It outlines similarities between product management and being a CXO such as running their own business unit and coordinating cross-functionally. Key differences are that product management is more focused on the product and technology. Key skills needed include listening, consensus building, influencing others, and understanding how the business makes money. Common CEO "temptations" are also discussed such as choosing popularity over accountability. Lessons learned include building relationships, focusing on customers, understanding authority is shared, and starting to act like a CXO now in their current role.

1. Product Management:
Preparation to be a CXO
Brent Lang
President & COO
July 1, 2009
1

2. The Vocera Experience
Connecting People with
Instant Voice Communication
Helping customers save steps, save time, and save lives
with unified communication solutions.
2

3. Reforming Healthcare starts with improved communications
Vocera’s Benefits
8+
Years of Experience
Years of Experience
Patient Ensure patients progress through the hospital with
Flow peak efficiency
30%+
Patient Magnet, Most Wired, and
Magnet, Most Wired, and
Rapidly convene resources to mitigate and manage
Safety Top 100 Hospitals
Top 100 Hospitals
life-threatening events
600+
Patient Reduce noise levels and deliver high-touch patient-
Experience Hospital and Health Systems
Hospital and Health Systems
centered care
Staff Increase staff efficiency and effectiveness across 450,000+
Efficiency the healthcare enterprise Active System Users
Active System Users
3

4. Product Management: Preparation to be a CXO
Similarities between Product Management and CXO
Differences
Key skills to develop
Five Temptations of a CEO
Lessons Learned
Q&A
4

5. Similarities Between Product Management and CXO
Product Management is like running your own business
– P&L for the product or the company
– Understanding the Business Case
– Pricing and Forecasting
– Balancing priorities & resources
– Customer driven (what will generate revenue?)
– Competitive outlook
Cross Functional Coordination and Communications
Board of Directors = Product Council
Raising money from investors = Business case for project approval
Influence without ultimate authority or power
E-staff “hat” = Project Team “hat”
5

6. Key Differences
Product Management is:
Closer to the product and technology
More focused
Easier to set priorities
Easier to get stuck on a narrow perspective
More fun?
6

7. Key Skills
Listening
Consensus building
Leading with a vision for the future
Trusting
Influence
Selling
Making tough trade offs and setting priorities
Time management
Understanding how the business makes money
7

8. Five Temptations of a CEO (Patrick Lencioni)
1. Choosing status over results
2. Choosing popularity over accountability
3. Choosing certainty/accuracy over clarity
4. Choosing harmony over productive conflict
5. Choosing invulnerability over trust
8

9. Lessons Learned
Building relationships is job #1
The voice of the customer is king at all levels of the
organization
No one has “ultimate” authority… so get over it!
Product management has high job security
Get to know how the rest of the business works,
because someday you might be leading it!
Start acting like a CXO today!
9

10. Discussion and Q&A
Questions?
10