product camp sf 2013 keynote: passionate about product management

WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUTPRODUCT MANAGEMENT

Rich Mironov@ProductCampSF 12Oct13

• Unrepentant product guy• 6 startups, 60+ consulting clients

• Blogging about products since dinosaurs roamed Cupertino

• Founded Product Camp• #prodmgmt team psychiatrist

ABOUT RICH

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

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT IS TOUGH

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• Think beyond the current sprint

• Keep dreams anchored to realities

• Ship great products• Help other groups be

heroes

BUT HUMBLY, WE...

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AND WE GET TO WEAR A LOT OF HATS SHOES

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WE HANG WITH ENGINEERING

AND POSITION WITH MARKETING

GET SALES OUT OF THE ROUGH

GENTLY REGROUND OUR EXECS

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AND DIG IN WITH SUPPORT

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• 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

WHAT DO WE REALLY DO?

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SO THAT OUR PRODUCTS CAN GROW UP

TO BECOME SOMETHING SPECIAL

OR MAYBE SOMETHING HISTORIC

HOW HARD COULD IT BE?

• We’re certainly “few”

• And I’m proud!

WE BRING A RARE MIX OF TALENTS

OTHERWISE, PRODUCTSDON’T FIT THEIR MARKETS

AND SOME CUSTOMERS GO WITHOUT PRODUCTS THEY NEED

SO WELCOME TO PRODUCT CAMP!