A summary of inspiring and (sometimes) hard lessons learned over the summer The pandemic’s flipped over our lives. If we’re lucky (“lucky” being a relative term here), the big problem we face is the loss of face-to-face experiences. I may be an introvert, but I don’t function as well without company. I need one-on-ones to feel inspired and to get fired up. So over the past few months, I went on a LinkedIn and Slack Read more…
Background Why do we love sports so much? What is it about them that causes us to parade in the streets when our city’s team wins and riot when they lose? The Superbowl was watched by 100 million people last year. We love sports because they’re real. They mirror our actual lives. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. The allegory of professional sports contains a lot of lessons that can be applied to Read more…
It’s been a long year, to say the least. But the holidays are close and everyone’s favorite shopping holiday, Black Friday, is even closer! Earlier this year, I shared a list of 25 Perfect Gifts for the Product Manager in Your Life, and based on that post’s popularity and a few requests, I wanted to share some of the best Black Friday deals I’m seeing for Product Managers! 25 Perfect Gifts For The Product Manager Read more…
Some points for wondering and wandering into your future professional network Looking into Product but don’t know where to start? Like with a lot of industries (but even more so with Product Management), your greatest assets may well be your people. Your connections. Your community. The reality of things? Usually, you’re gonna have to go to them before they come to you. Network, network, network. Fall into the rabbit hole, and be willing to jump Read more…
As I’m writing this, it’s almost the end of 2020. There were certainly a lot of ups and downs this year to stay the least. A LOT of things changed around the world. Many businesses failed, but some startups thrived. I’m excited to write about many of the incredibly impressive startups in Africa that you need to watch in 2021. These startups not only survived the pandemic but thrived in it, managing to grow incredibly Read more…
Product Management roles are getting snatched up like hotcakes! In a world of finite problems, the tech industry is bursting with ideas. Who better to try and tend to the pain points with potentially infinite solutions than a well-coordinated team of PMs, designers, and engineers? What makes it really cool is that there’s not really a set “PM course curriculum” that feeds students right into the industry. Sure, we have some of the usual direct Read more…
It’s a difficult (and crowded) job market out there… Most weeks during the pandemic, I’ve spent between 5 and 10 hours coaching and mentoring aspiring Product Managers and Product Managers seeking their next challenge. P.S. If you’re looking for coaching/mentorship, you can find more on offerings from The Modern Product Manager here: Coaching and Mentoring with The Modern Product Manager Almost everyone I meet with has a compelling background, unique stories, and can almost certainly Read more…
Technical skills have become indispensable in product management. If you are from a non-tech background and are already in Product or you are still trying to break into Product, but you are unsure where and how to start with building tech skills, this article will help you. These resources will teach non-tech folks the basics of tech. Most of these resources are free, though for some you might be having to spend a few bucks Read more…
Author: Sachin Bhat Introduction Ever been intrigued by the habits that make people successful? Is it discipline? Perseverance? An active body/mind? Drive? Patience? Consistency? Bouncing back? Strength of character? Writing? Reading? Public speaking? Time-management? Productivity? All of these are essential, but do you want to know the three habits that are a precursor to all of the others? Both in our professional and personal life, many of us, at one time or the other, have Read more…
Author: Gardner Fiveash How many articles have you read recently that start with “due to COVID-19, the following has changed, etc. etc.” It’s become so commonplace to hear that refrain that it can be tempting to find something else, ANYTHING else to read about than how the pandemic has changed our lives. But, disruption to our normal work-life routine comes with tremendous opportunities to change our habits and behaviors to become more productive and creative. Read more…