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Ashka Vakil

AMA: strongDM Sr. Director, Product Management, Ashka Vakil on Product Roadmap & Prioritization

March 20 @ 10:00AM PST
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StrongDM Sr. Director, Product Management, Ashka Vakil on Product Roadmap & Prioritization
Top Questions
How do you determine how much of your roadmap should be focused on existing customers vs prospects?
Ashka Vakil
Ashka Vakil
strongDM Sr. Director, Product Management • March 20
The short answer is it depends. There is no magic formula that you can apply to determine what percentage of your roadmap you should dedicate to existing customer needs versus prospects. You have to strike a balance generally speaking between keeping existing customers happy and attracting new on......Read More
371 Views
2 requests
How do you handle exec input in the roadmap, and convey a point of view while also accommodating?
Ashka Vakil
Ashka Vakil
strongDM Sr. Director, Product Management • March 20
Exec input on the roadmap can be a double-edged sword. It can bring valuable strategic insights, but it can also lead to feature creep or misalignment with the product vision. Start by understanding the context that led them to provide input and use it to augment your current thinking. Once you h......Read More
370 Views
1 request
How does your product team usually work with your product marketing team with building the roadmap?
Ashka Vakil
Ashka Vakil
strongDM Sr. Director, Product Management • March 20
While the product team ultimately owns the roadmap and is responsible for setting the vision and strategy, the marketing team understands the buyer personas and is responsible for messaging and launch. The marketing team has unique insights into customer and market needs. The two functions must c......Read More
381 Views
1 request
It seems like a PM role is stretched in multiple directions - business goals, engineering, customer satisfaction etc. How do you determine what's more important to focus on?
Ashka Vakil
Ashka Vakil
strongDM Sr. Director, Product Management • March 20
Product managers juggle multiple priorities and have to work with stakeholders whose needs vary. The most successful product managers understand customer's needs and market dynamics and use data to make informed decisions while keeping all stakeholders aligned and informed. They are adaptable and......Read More
357 Views
1 request
What are the best practices for introducing roadmapping as a product management practice in a transforming organization that is new to product practices and mindset, and how can you ensure that different teams stay consistent with the formats or frameworks used, while still allowing for flexibility and innovation?
In context of an organization undergoing business transformation, managing exiting products and product portfolios with a product approach rather than project based approach.
Ashka Vakil
Ashka Vakil
strongDM Sr. Director, Product Management • March 20
Transforming an organization, especially one new to product practices, requires a thoughtful approach to introducing roadmapping. It requires bringing all functions together and sharing how it helps with overall alignment across the company. Here are some best practices to ensure a smooth tran......Read More
365 Views
1 request