Hey Fireside PM crew, I had a fantastic conversation in this week’s podcast with Priydarshan Jha (PJ), a seasoned Director of Product Management and product transformation consultant. PJ shared valuable insights from his journey, starting as a tech-focused developer, moving into product ownership at American Express, working with clients across industries at BCG, and now leading product transformations at EPAM. Here are the top takeaways: 1. Driving Product Transformation Across Diverse Organizations PJ highlighted that every company has its unique DNA—some are engineering-led, some sales-led, others founder-driven. When companies seek to strengthen their product orientation, the challenge is often not just “what to do” but understanding “what change means for them.” Key steps PJ advises: Assess the Current State: Understand how the organization defines product success, builds products, and aligns teams. Establish a Common Product Vision: Everyone, from developers to sales, should share a unified understanding of the product and its purpose. Break Down Silos: Connect teams to the end customer so that even an engineer sees how their work impacts users. Small, Incremental Changes: Large overhauls often fail. Success comes from bite-sized adjustments that shift both ways of working and thinking. As PJ put it, “Most organizations recognize that what got them here won’t get them where they want to go. The challenge is that they often don’t know what that change actually looks like for them. We help them visualize what 'good' looks like and break it down into small, achievable steps.” He added, “One of the most common issues I see is silos. The engineering team might be working on their own objectives, while the product managers and sales teams are operating in parallel worlds. Bringing everyone onto the same page around the customer impact can be a game-changer.” 2. Common Pitfalls for Product Managers PJ and I discussed two classic challenges PMs often face: Over-indexing on Execution: PMs get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of long-term strategy. Under-communicating Progress: Even if you’re on the right track strategically, failing to proactively communicate with stakeholders can create uncertainty and risk. Successful PMs find a balance: They drive day-to-day delivery while ensuring leadership and stakeholders remain aligned with the strategic vision. “It’s so easy to get trapped in the day-to-day. You’re shipping features, hitting your sprints, but if you lose sight of the bigger picture, you may end up delivering a lot but not necessarily moving the business forward,” PJ noted. On communication, he shared, “Under-communication can kill trust. I’ve seen great teams end up under a microscope simply because stakeholders felt out of the loop. It’s not about overloading with updates; it’s about consistent, clear communication.” 3. Building Product Teams in the AI Era With 2025 upon us, PJ reflected on debates around the necessity of PMs in a world increasingly assisted by AI. Could engineering managers with chatbots fill the gap? PJ’s take: The PM role can flex, but the core need remains: balancing value, viability, usability, and feasibility. Engineering or marketing leaders can step into product roles if they develop the right mindset, but that transition requires coaching and organizational patience. “There’s a lot of talk about replacing PMs with AI or blending the role into other functions, but product management is fundamentally about balancing multiple perspectives,” PJ explained. “It’s not just about what can be built, but whether it should be built, if users will value it, and whether it makes business sense.” He added, “I’ve seen companies successfully transition engineers or marketers into product roles. The key is investing in their mindset shift and giving them the right support through coaching.” 4. Advice for Aspiring PMs and Leaders Hiring PM Talent Aspiring PMs: You don’t need a technical background. Passion, curiosity, and a desire to solve problems matter more. Hiring Product Leaders: When leading a product transformation, prioritize candidates with experience driving organizational change—especially those with consulting backgrounds—or consider fractional product leaders during transitions. “There’s this myth that you need to have a technical background to be a product manager. It can help, but it’s not a requirement. Some of the best PMs I know came from non-technical backgrounds and excelled because of their customer empathy and strategic thinking,” PJ emphasized. On hiring, he advised, “If you’re transforming your product culture, look for someone who’s done it before. They’ll bring the experience and playbook to navigate the rough waters. Sometimes, a fractional leader during the transition can be the perfect bridge.” Final Thought PJ reminded us that transformation is a ...
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2025/03/2155 分