Seekamentor’s Post

Do you want to LAND a DIRECTOR ROLE? Do you want to land your DREAM ROLE? Next week, we are holding a LIVE: Land an AMAZING ROLE IN PRODUCT 3-day session. There is no charge. It's real content. I would love to see you there. Respond LAND, and I'll send you a link. #productmanagement

Great article about how to structure your product team (and I'm not just saying that because they highlight a quote from me right the top). Some key points: 1/ Subtle differences between the product trio, the squad, and the cross-functional team. Precision matters! 2/ A reminder of the Product Owner role. It's less common in the US but worth remembering because even without someone with that title, the work still needs to get done. 3/ Suggestions for others who might sometimes belong on a product team, such as legal, customer success, or even sales! 4/ The necessity of aligning org structure with strategy, metrics, and team capabilities. I'll put the link in the comments 👇 Kudos to Janna Bastow, Domenic Edwards, and the folks at ProdPad.

I have one question for my product manager friends: “How often do you feel caught between long-term goals and daily tasks?" One minute you’re mapping out where you want the product to be six months or a year from now, and the next, you’re knee-deep in today’s urgent fixes, small requests, or unexpected issues. It’s like building a ship while trying to plug leaks—and both feel equally important. The hard truth about this, is that without balance, we always end up with a product that doesn’t quite reach the vision we’ve set. What constantly helps me in these situations is scheduling dedicated time every week just for the long-term vision—no distractions. I use that time to connect the smaller tasks to the bigger purpose. I remind myself, and my team, why those daily tasks matter for the future of the product. Doing this makes the fires feel less overwhelming and the vision more achievable. It keeps us on course, helps avoid burnout, and keeps the team motivated. How do you keep your focus on the bigger picture without letting the day-to-day consume you? Would love to hear your thoughts. 👇

Are you a product manager? I'm working on a story about how the role has grown, and how the product managers sometimes get caught in the middle and get hate from other teams. Do you have stories about the frustrations of the job? Are you on another team and frustrated BY the product manager? I want to hear from you! DM me here or email ahoover@insider.com

Want to break into Product Management? 🚀 Watch our exclusive video with Brandon Y. Buccowich from the Findy Team+ as he shares tips to become a Product Manager and insights into the role. Don't miss out on this valuable advice – it could be the game changer in your job hunt! 🎥 #ProductManager #FindyTeam#CareerGrowth #ExclusiveContent #NewtonSchool

🚀 Product Manager Life: A Comedy in Three Acts 🚀 Act 1: The Idea 💡 “Eureka! I’ve got the perfect new feature for the product!” 👥 Team Meeting: “But can it be done in two sprints?” 🤔 Me: “Sure, if we redefine the laws of physics.” Act 2: The Development  🛠️ “Just a few minor tweaks,” they said. 🐛 Bug Count: “Why does it keep multiplying like rabbits?” ☕ Me: “Is it too late to pivot to the other feature?” Act 3: The Launch 🎉 “We did it! The product is live!” 📈 Metrics: “Why is the user engagement graph doing the limbo?” 🧘♂️ Me: “Remember, deep breaths and lots of coffee.” Epilogue: 🔄 Repeat Acts 1-3 indefinitely. 💪 Survival Tip: Embrace the chaos, celebrate the small wins, and always keep a sense of humor. #ProductManagement #StartupLife #TechHumor #PMLife

✨ Storytime: Helping a CEO Find the Right Product Leader ✨ We were approached by a CEO who had a clear vision: he wanted to turn a services-based offering into a SaaS product. To make this happen, he needed a product manager with very specific experience—someone who had successfully led a similar transformation before. This wasn’t just about finding someone with the right skills; he needed a product leader who could operate autonomously, collaborate closely with him, and align with his work style. We helped him dig into the details: What methodology would they use? What questions would they ask in product scenarios? Who would thrive in this role, and why would it appeal to them? Within about a week of onboarding the role, we identified strong candidates, including the hire he ultimately chose—someone who fit both the experience and cultural needs of the position. The CEO even remarked that, if he had more headcount, he’d hire multiple people we introduced. Beyond just finding the right talent, we helped define not only who the ideal candidate was but also why the role was an exciting opportunity for them. This clarity allowed us to move fast—an offer was out in about three weeks. In the end, we didn’t just help him find the right product manager; we ensured the hire would be the perfect partner to deliver the outcomes the CEO needed to achieve his goals.

Job descriptions for product managers really should add 'Problem Detective' to the list. It’s a major skill for us product folks, diving deep into problems and really getting what's going on. It’s like being a detective, but for tricky issues, finding out what’s really happening so we can fix it with a cool solution. But, let’s be real, they probably won’t add it. Why? Because the big bosses know that fixing problems is what the product team does all day. They’re like, 'No need to state the obvious. Let's keep them thinking they’re just making products, when they’re actually saving the day, one problem at a time. #justforfun #productmanagement #problemanalyst Image: DALL-E

Being a Product Manager is like being a conductor in an orchestra. You're accountable for ensuring the product's success, but you're dependent on a symphony of cross-functional teams over which you have no authority. The good news: it's easier than you think to pull off. 1) Don't make enemies. 2) Establish trust. 3) Communicate clearly. Easier said than done? Hear me out. 1) Don't make enemies: Avoid power struggles, don't compete with other departments. The goal isn't to win, it's to collaborate. If they win, you win...it's the all boats rise mentality. 2) Establish trust: Build relationships with everyone in your cross-functional team. Trust will make things smoother and faster. 3) Communicate clearly: Over and Over again! Explain the vision clearly, give context, and provide a balanced perspective. Empathize with their concerns. If you don't have clear channels, create them. By doing these, you build a sense of comradery. And your job as a Product Manager just got easier. It's common sense that's also surprisingly rare. Be the one to start.

How does a Senior Product Manager go from layoff to landing a Staff Product Manager role with a significant compensation increase? Join us as we chat with Nora Hughes, a seasoned product manager with a decade of experience in the tech industry. Nora shares her journey from being laid off in October to navigating the challenging job market. She talks about her initial struggles, including the overwhelm of job searching during the holidays, dealing with COVID-19, and the loneliness that came with it. Nora discusses how she discovered the Intentional Job Search (IJS) program and her thought process before joining. She highlights the program's structure and quality and how it helped her regain focus, prioritize effectively, and build confidence in her job search strategy. In this candid conversation, Nora also reveals her aha moments, including the value of peer interviews and the comprehensive support from the IJS community. She explains how the program's personalized coaching and strategic guidance were pivotal in helping her land a dream role as a Staff Product Manager in AI and ML at a large public company, achieving a significant pay raise and working alongside best-in-class professionals. If you're curious about how the IJS program can transform your job search and career trajectory, this video is a must-watch. Nora's story is a testament to the power of structured support and intentional effort in achieving career success. Key Moments in this Episode ======================== 00:00 - About Nora 01:00 - Challenges before IJS 02:45 - How Nora decided to join the program 07:30 - Nora's experience in IJS 17:30 - Negotiations 20:00 - Her message for you https://lnkd.in/eHEBAxpQ