AMA: Google Product Lead - Google Cloud, Nikita Jagadeesh on Product Management Skills

I currently work in the intersection of enterprise security & AI and it is incredible to see the use cases that have emerged for AI in this space.  User research: As I mentioned in one of the earlier questions, AI tools can be a fantastic source to understand user trends, market, and competitive trends. For example, you can take a look at online user reviews for your product to understand key functionalities and usability gaps. Product functionality: Within security SaaS we often use the fra ...Read More

Bring structured thinking to your communication and approach: Become effective at breaking down problems using structured thinking. For Behavioral questions, look into the STAR method. For other product sense questions, look at case study books such as Case in Point and PM interview practice. This is a critical skill set that will serve you well as you take on different types of PM challenges on the job - from developing a new PRD, doing a competitor analysis, to building an execution plan.  Hav ...Read More

Develop a product mindset: For early career PMs from a skillset perspective, choose whether consumer, enterprise, or developer products appeal to you the most. Do a side project and build your own! Pick a few products with that persona (e.g, pick three of your favorite consumer tech products) and understand how users interact with the product, the pain points they face, what could be improved, industry trends driving that product. Your goal is to start developing some understanding on market tre ...Read More

There is a a shift from from execution to influence & strategy. Earlier in your career you are often helping drive the product to launch and collaborating with a large group of stakeholders to make it happen. As you become more senior, your role shifts to influencing product strategy based on your experiences from the market, competitors, and customers. In this phase you have to be effective at defining and articulating the strategy, then influencing across the organization to adopt, and the ...Read More

Love this question. User research is critical to incorporate throughout the funnel journey for a PM - from awareness, to consideration, to decision.  Awareness: During this phase we want to understand how prospects are learning about your product. For example, do they resonate with the messaging and positioning on your website, do they understand the market you play in, do they understand the problem you are looking to solve? This type of research can be conducted often at trade shows, through s ...Read More

Great question. In my personal career journey as well as several hires I’ve made I’ve always found it helpful to try the new role before you go all in. When I was at a startup where we didn’t have well defined programs like Google’s 20% program or PM rotations, I asked to work with the PM team for 6 months on the side where I took on some of the PM responsibilities for a non-critical product. By doing so, I personally got conviction if the role was right for me and the PM team also got to see me ...Read More

When you receive critical feedback that you don't fully agree with or don't know how to act on, it can be challenging and discouraging. For feedback to be effective, I find it needs to be timely and based on examples. It can be helpful to have a conversation with your boss about working styles and preferences around giving and receiving feedback. You might suggest: Timely feedback: Requesting that feedback be given closer to the event (e.g., after a meeting or presentation) so you can act on it ...Read More