34: Why Do PMs Need to Find Their Leadership Voice?

02/02/22 • 60 min

How To Succeed In Product Management | Jeffrey Shulman, Red Russak & Soumeya Benghanem

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak and Soumeya Benghanem welcome Ronke Majekodunmi (PayPal) to talk about finding your leadership voice. When you have a voice powerful enough to be a catalyst of change, then you are on your way to becoming an effective leader. Your leadership voice, when used correctly, will greatly benefit your organization and the people you work with.

Support for How to Succeed in Product Management is brought to you by Apptentive, which enables product managers to measure shifts in customer emotion and gather actionable feedback across the mobile customer journey. To learn more, go to Apptentive.com/UW.

What to Listen For:

00:00 Intro
01:52 Why do you need a leadership voice?
08:53 You use your leadership voice to make a difference
16:35 How do you find your leadership ears?
21:38 Four things to focus on when talking about communication
28:14 It’s easier for engineers to transition into a PM role
31:39 Give as much time as possible in mentoring new PMs
34:51 How to settle in a new role/organization
38:18 Always try to build something
46:02 Follow the social accounts of the top people in the organizations
50:53 Get exposed and reach out to the right hiring people
53:43 Don’t let fear hold you back
56:20 Don’t hesitate to use your leadership voice

What to Listen For:

00:00 Intro
01:52 Why do you need a leadership voice?
08:53 You use your leadership voice to make a difference
16:35 How do you find your leadership ears?
21:38 Four things to focus on when talking about communication
28:14 It’s easier for engineers to transition into a PM role
31:39 Give as much time as possible in mentoring new PMs
34:51 How to settle in a new role/organization
38:18 Always try to build something
46:02 Follow the social accounts of the top people in the organizations
50:53 Get exposed and reach out to the right hiring people
53:43 Don’t let fear hold you back
56:20 Don’t hesitate to use your leadership voice

Previous Episode

33: Frameworks That Work When Product Managers Hire Other PMs

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak and Soumeya Benghanem welcome Clarissa Silva (C Silva Solutions LLC), Michele Heyward (PositiveHire), and Jedidiah Jonathan (Amazon) to talk about hiring product managers. The first thing most hiring managers do during the hiring process is to look for skills that match the job description and what the applicant can bring into the company. But, it’s also important to ensure that diversity and inclusion is always taken into consideration.

What to Listen For:

00:00 Intro
01:38 When it’s time to hire, train, and delegate to other PMs
02:57 Myth: All hiring processes are the same
07:45 The landscape of what it looks like for executive recruiting
12:37 What’s the best approach to gaining the best talents?
16:45 Offer expertise to bigger organizations to build partnerships
23:48 Dos and Don’ts for a PM hiring another PM
29:05 Always keep communication clear
31:20 Understand the minimum skills required for the job
34:45 A diverse interview panel is important
37:43 Flexibility between structured interview and human connection during interviews
39:42 Universalizing the outcomes of the methodology in the interview
43:25 Start asking good PMs and map those skills down
47:44 Inclusivity in companies require more creative approach

Next Episode

35: The Tactics of Effective Roadmapping

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak and Soumeya Benghanem welcome Arvind Dutta (Microsoft) to talk about roadmaps and prioritization. A roadmap isn’t simply a to-do list that anyone can change or check off. It is a consolidated plan and execution that helps the product team prioritize and progress through the product development more organized and productive.

What to Listen For: