The Product Cannot Be Your Only Tool

When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. As a product leader, other people, and maybe you as well, will lead every conversation with you towards features and product capabilities. While this is where your direct ownership is, as a product leader you don’t have the luxury to focus only on that.

3 Ways Your Metrics Can Help You Even if You Never Use Them

Fully applying a data-driven approach to your product is hard. You need to invest a lot in building the infrastructure that will allow you to measure everything you want, see it clearly in a dashboard, and take action based on it. But metrics are a very powerful tool that you don’t want to give up on, even if you will never measure anything.

How To Be Strategic Even if You Can’t Set the Tone

When the CEO sets the strategy, what is your role as a product leader? How can you be strategic when the strategy is set by someone else? Surprisingly, there is no contradiction there, and in most cases, there is more room for you than you think. You just have to know where to look for it.

Who Owns the Technical Debt?

Technical debt is always a hot discussion topic between product managers and engineers. It is not always clear how to handle it right, and who is the decision-maker. My recommendation is that product managers own it like they own any other feature. But beware – with great power comes great responsibility. Are you ready for it?

The Magical Tool You Are Not Using Enough

How well can you tell your product’s story? Is it a great one to tell? Make sure you use this very powerful tool correctly, to get the most out of it.

The Major Pitfalls of Lean Startup

Lean is a great methodology, but like any other methodology, it can be abused if not deeply understood. In my work with startups I noticed two common pitfalls – opposite sides of lean taken to the extreme without staying true to its core principles. The pitfalls are listed below, as well as how to avoid them.

Becoming a Strategic Product Leader, Part 4: Focus on Impact

We are all here to make an impact. So why is it so hard for us to explain what this impact really is? A guide for keeping your external perspective intact over time.

Becoming a Strategic Product Leader, Part 3: Own the Big Picture

We live in a constant battle between tactical and strategic. Without ongoing care, the tactical will always win. Take it upon yourself to bring everyone back on the strategic track to make sure you are doing the right thing.

Why Every VP Product Needs a Mentor

Women approach me for mentoring much more frequently than men. Is it a problem or something to learn from? I believe it’s the latter, and International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to acknowledge it and explain why.

How to Write Your First Strategic Roadmap (Part 3)

The importance of a strategic roadmap goes beyond executing on it. Learn how your roadmap can serve you in various ways after it is ready.

How to Write Your First Strategic Roadmap (Part 2)

Now that you understand what a good strategic roadmap should include, here is the process that you should follow for building yours.

How to Write Your First Strategic Roadmap (Part 1)

The strategic roadmap serves as a compass to the entire company. But if you haven’t built one before, getting there could be tricky. This elaborate 3-part guide will help you avoid common mistakes and build a roadmap everyone is proud of.