Developing Your Team Purpose
Lead on Purpose
MARCH 26, 2018
Guest post by John Izzo, PhD and Jeff Vanderwielen PhD Today’s product managers wear many hats and are required to be motivators, counsellors, mentors, and enforcers.
March, 2018
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Putting $125M to work for you, our customers
Intercom, Inc.
MARCH 27, 2018
We just raised $125M in a round led by Mary Meeker at Kleiner Perkins. Here’s what we’re going to do with it. 2018 is shaping up to be a massive year for the Intercom platform. Historically, we’ve spent proportionately way more on research and development than other software companies we track, and that won’t stop any time soon. This funding will go straight into building great new software at a pace you’ve yet to see from us.
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Be a Balanced Product Leader, Not a Feature Broker or Product Dictator
Roman Pichler
MARCH 12, 2018
Feature Broker and Product Dictator. How do you best lead the stakeholders and development team as the person in charge of the product? One way to answer this question is to avoid unhelpful but common leadership styles. Two of these styles, feature broker and product dictator, are shown in the picture below. A feature broker is a product person who relies on others—the stakeholders, development team, management, users, or a customer—to come up with ideas and make product decisions.
3 Simple Steps To Make Your Customer Stories 10x Better
The Secret PM Handbook
MARCH 28, 2018
How To Accelerate Sales With Great Storytelling. In my articles about go to market , I always mention the importance of “customer stories.” These stories are a critical component of the knowledge that product management can provide to sales and marketing and sales engineers to help ensure sales success. But, if you’re like me, maybe you aren’t so comfortable with “storytelling.
Your Guide to Product Management Interviews: Top Questions with Answers
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Stand out in your product management interview with guidance from Priyanka Upadhyay, an experienced product leader and Stanford Online program coach. In this guide, Upadhay dives into five key competencies interviewers will likely want to assess. She provides sample questions with detailed answers spanning: Product strategy Product design Execution Market estimation Teamwork Confidently land the product management role you want by pre-empting what interviewers are looking for and demonstrating y
Lucia Adams – How to Innovate in Organisations That Don’t Like Failure
Mind the Product
MARCH 6, 2018
Summary: In order to drive lasting and sustainable change, you need to be curious about the people you’re working with and explore their perspectives. This helps you to collaborate with all parts of the organisation no matter what their attitude to change may be. Finally, you’ve got to be lean, delivering quick wins that you can build together to win hearts and minds.
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Product Management Today brings together the best content for product management professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
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Are you a leader or a manager?
Lead on Purpose
MARCH 19, 2018
Business owners and entrepreneurs are often asked this leader vs. manager question regarding their management style. For many, these two words are synonymous; both are important for motivating people to work towards a common goal.
Navigating the complexity of change aversion
Intercom, Inc.
MARCH 12, 2018
Change aversion is a concept well known to designers and product managers. It’s the negative reaction users have to changes in your product, whether that’s functional changes such as updates to product features, or interface changes such as visual redesigns. History is littered with cautionary tales of introducing change. When Twitter changed its “faves” icon from stars to hearts, users threatened a mass exodus.
Technology Transformation – Adobe Lightroom
The Product Bistro
MARCH 3, 2018
Introduction. One of the most challenging tasks in product management is a major architecture shift of a product. Primarily a software related issue (although there are architecture transitions in hardware that are thorny too), the point when an old architecture is holding you back, and market forces are driving the discussion in your market space, a clean rewrite is what is required.
The Secrets of Highly Successful Sales People: Objection Handling
The Secret PM Handbook
MARCH 9, 2018
How to use better stories to overcome sales objections. During the sales process, the prospect may – and usually does – mention obstacles to getting the deal done. Reasons they might not want to do the deal. They might say “It’s too expensive,” or “your competitor has feature X that you don’t have, and we really need feature X.”. This is a normal part of the sales process.
Effective Risk Management: Balancing Safety, Compliance, and Opportunity
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Effective risk management in product development balances safety, compliance, and opportunity. Risks can't be eliminated, but they can be mitigated through structured assessments, clear documentation, and expert guidance. Engaging specialists ensures efficiency, regulatory adherence, and product security while reducing costly oversights. A well-executed risk management plan includes frequent evaluations, defined assessment criteria, and a structured decision-making process.
Growing up Lean: Lean Strategies for Maturing Products
Mind the Product
MARCH 20, 2018
Building an MVP and launching a product is actually the easy part. It’s much more difficult to manage a product in its maturity or decline stages, so I wanted to tackle the challenges of a product that’s past its initial growth stage, and share some tips on: – How to avoid becoming a feature factory, while taming your beast of a backlog. – How to use your roadmap to drive experimentation to hit company objectives. – How to disrupt yourself before someone else does.
Breaking into PM
bpma ProductHub
MARCH 5, 2018
Wondering how to “crack the code” for a career in Product Management? Whether you’re a newbie in the job market or transitioning from a different role, here are some tips from seasoned Product Managers.
How motivated leaders leave a legacy
Lead on Purpose
MARCH 6, 2018
The most successful companies have motivated leaders that inspire motivation at all levels of the organization. They are motivated for a real purpose, not just for money or other short-term rewards.
Start your marketing with why: Getting your story right
Intercom, Inc.
MARCH 21, 2018
No matter how good your product is, if you can’t tell a cohesive, compelling story about it, you’re going to have a very hard time getting people’s attention when you actually do take it to market. Companies like Amazon understand this well and are rightly famous for their “work backwards” philosophy. You start by writing the press release, to articulate how the world will see your product, and then work backwards until you get to the minimum set of technology requirements to achieve your goals
Enterprise ABM Marketing Tools: A Marketers Guide
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
Savvy B2B marketers know that a great account-based marketing (ABM) strategy leads to higher ROI and sustainable growth. In this guide, we’ll cover: What makes for a successful ABM strategy? What are the key elements and capabilities of ABM that can make a real difference? How is AI changing workflows and driving functionality? This Martech Intelligence Report on Enterprise Account-Based Marketing examines the state of ABM in 2024 and what to consider when implementing ABM software.
Stop Building for the Sake of Building
UserVoice
MARCH 12, 2018
More is better, right? The more stuff your product can do, the more markets and personas you’re satisfying. The more capabilities you have, the fewer reasons for a prospect to say no. The more functionality, the longer people will spend using it. The more things it can do, the more people will pay for it. Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves… That might hold true for a Swiss Army.
3 Simple Steps To Make Your Customer Stories 10x Better
The Secret PM Handbook
MARCH 28, 2018
How To Accelerate Sales With Great Storytelling. In my articles about go to market , I always mention the importance of “customer stories.” These stories are a critical component of the knowledge that product management can provide to sales and marketing and sales engineers to help ensure sales success. But, if you’re like me, maybe you aren’t so comfortable with “storytelling.
Building Awesome Product Teams by Martin Eriksson
Mind the Product
MARCH 15, 2018
Summary: Build better product teams by hiring smart, diverse groups of people, getting out of the way, and focusing your teams on outcomes rather than outputs. It’s not About Products, it’s About People. A lot of people think that product managers need to be experts in technology, user experience and business strategy. However, normally product managers have arrived in their role through just one of these areas of work – and are picking up the others as they go along.
Is MVP Dead?
bpma ProductHub
MARCH 4, 2018
Is Minimum Viable Product Dead? – By Don Stoddard . Minimum Viable Product is a widely accepted concept; so why do so many people want to declare it dead? There are numerous articles now about MVP and why it no longer works. Much of the discussion centers around the misuse and confusion of the words “minimum” and “viable.” In many ways, MVP suffers from its own popularity associated with both good and bad products.
Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025
Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System
Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.
Product Management Conferences: The Complete List (2018 Update)
Tim Herbig
MARCH 13, 2018
Product Management Conferences are a valuable opportunity to get inspiration for your daily work through new input and build a robust network. Both are incredibly important to make progress in your career as a product manager. To help you cut through the noise of all the conferences out there, I put together this comprehensive overview of the most relevant conferences out there.… Continue Reading.
Why live chat isn’t just for customer service anymore
Intercom, Inc.
MARCH 13, 2018
For all the time and money we spend attracting customers to our website, isn’t it odd how little we spend trying to convert them? According to an eConsultancy report , for every $92 spent acquiring prospects only $1 is spent converting them. Sure, that dollar could give you returns in spades, but in reality the odds of that are no better than a craps table in Las Vegas.
Product Success vs. Customer Success: Is It Time For a Lifestyle Change?
Product Management University
MARCH 6, 2018
Here’s a scenario many people can identify with. A routine visit to the doctor reveals that you weigh more than you should, your blood pressure and blood sugar are high, your cholesterol is nearing the danger zone and your heart isn’t functioning as well as it should. Though you’re not suffering any ill effects from these issues today, your doctor tells you that it’s time to make some lifestyle changes in order to avoid serious health issues later.
Know the World Your Product Lives in
The Product Guy
MARCH 30, 2018
Guest Post by: Peyvand Mohseni (Mentee, Session 5, The Product Mentor) [Paired with Mentor, Jordan Bergtraum]. You have a product; you are passionate about it, you believe in it, you want it to succeed and you want your users to benefit from its awesomeness. You better know the world in which your product lives, what it can do today, what it will need to do tomorrow, how much it is in demand and what other products do very similar things.
B2B eCommerce, Self-Service Portals, and PIM Trends for 2024
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In 2024, B2B customers expect better quality and service with streamlined experiences that match consumer-grade simplicity—no long calls or meetings required. Our B2B eCommerce Trends Report, surveying 400+ B2B professionals in the US and Europe, reveals how eCommerce has become vital to top companies’ strategies. The report shows how leaders are leveraging eCommerce to break data silos, unify channels, and deliver the personalized experiences that customers demand.
Four Questions That Will Lead to Better Prioritization
Mind the Product
MARCH 28, 2018
Making sure that you and your team are working on the most important thing at any point in time is part of the fun and headache of being a product manager or a product leader. Many times looking at the backlog list or strategic priorities will just cause your eyes to glaze over as you consider the actual time and effort that those lists represent. Rik Higham had it right when he said that prioritization is more about guesstimates than being a precision art.
10 Reasons Your Product is Hurting Your Sales Team
The Product Coalition
MARCH 29, 2018
Is your B2B product easy to sell and easy to renew? My relationship with sales is one that has been the source of greatest strength and greatest friction in my career. More than once I’ve reminded myself that sales people deserve empathy too. I realize not every product person has to navigate sales stakeholders. But if you’re working on a B2B product with a sales force, odds are you know what I mean.
How Warby Parker Makes Every Point In Its Employee Lifecycle Extraordinary
First Round Review
MARCH 1, 2018
Warby Parker is known for being a wonderful place to work. Here, Co-founder Dave Gilboa breaks down exactly how they've constructed this culture.
How to run a successful beta in 7 steps
Intercom, Inc.
MARCH 14, 2018
Prior to joining Intercom as a Product Manager, I had never run a structured beta. When it came to finally running my first one, I was surprised to find very little information online that could help me. I’ve run a lot of successful betas now but I learned my craft through tribal Intercom knowledge, built up by other Product Managers over the years.
Usage-Based Monetization Musts: A Roadmap for Sustainable Revenue Growth
Speaker: David Warren and Kevin O'Neill Stoll
Transitioning to a usage-based business model offers powerful growth opportunities but comes with unique challenges. How do you validate strategies, reduce risks, and ensure alignment with customer value? Join us for a deep dive into designing effective pilots that test the waters and drive success in usage-based revenue. Discover how to develop a pilot that captures real customer feedback, aligns internal teams with usage metrics, and rethinks sales incentives to prioritize lasting customer eng
The Most Basic Rule of Marketing Is So Easy to Forget
Product Management University
MARCH 8, 2018
The most basic rule of marketing is so easy to forget. You’ve just purchased some new clothes or shoes online. As part of the transaction, you hand over your email address or mobile number knowing full well that three things are going to happen. You’ll get a receipt via email/text. Good! You’ll get shipping notifications and tracking information via email/text.
How to Lead without Authority (a Product Manager POV)
The Product Guy
MARCH 27, 2018
Guest Post by: Cornell Pineda (Mentee, Session 5, The Product Mentor) [Paired with Mentor, Vikas Batra]. When I started my current product role last September, I had a textbook definition of what makes a great product manager. In my view, he or she should have these main skills: manage the release process and roadmap prioritization, be able to suggest technical solutions during discussions with developers, and be knowledgeable in all the tools and terminology of the Agile process.
Diogo Coutinho – AI in the Real World
Mind the Product
MARCH 9, 2018
Summary: Done properly, applied artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the user experience across your product – providing value for your users and your organisation. However, you need to allow your users to make the final judgement, spend time training your model, build in feedback loops and be transparent about how you’re using AI. How to Apply AI.
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