This presentation is about the kinky world of Product Management (also known as P&M). You will be introduced to the sadists (also known as employers) who like to create PM roles and job descriptions that are nearly impossible to fit. You will also be introduced to the masochist (the Product Manager) who has to contort skills and background to fit into these roles. In other words, we will explore how employers view PM roles differently – and learn the how you can break in, and how to adapt to be successful. The safe word for this presentation is Agile.

1. Fifty
Shades
of P&M
The Kinky World of
Product Management
MIKETRUJILLO
PRODUCTCAMP AUSTIN 21
Sep 15, 2018

3. HELLO!
I AM MIKE TRUJILLO
I have held numerous jobs throughout my career. My specialty is
Product Management and helping businesses to build and grow new
teams.
Starting in the eighth grade, I was recognized by my customers and
was awarded Paperboy of the Week by the local newspaper. I’ve
been working hard providing outstanding products and services to my
customers ever since.

4. • Short History of Product Management
• Austin History of Technology
• 50 shades of Product Management Diagram
• Sadists - Companies
• Masochist - The Product Managers
• Safe Words (How to escape)
• Q&A
THE AGENDA

5. Product management is a weird discipline
full of oddballs and rejects that never quite
fit in anywhere else.
Ken Norton - Partner @GoogleVentures
“

6. P&G
Brand Men
Short History of Product Management
’30’s 40’s 50 - 70’s 90’s ‘01 ‘10
MIKETRUJILLO
HP
VoC
Japanese
Manufacturing
Scrum & XP
Software
Agile
Manifesto
Lean
Startup
Source: Mind the Product

7. ’60’s 70’s Early 90’s Lat 90’s ’00’s ’10’s
Short History of Austin Technology
Thanks IBM Hardware Bigger Hardware Software Capital Entrepreneur

8. The
Austin PM

9. The
Austin PM
Fifty
Shades
of P&M

10. Traditional
Composition of a PM
MIKETRUJILLO
Communications
Design
Technology
Business
Conductor, Diplomat, Motivational
Market Tester, Online
User Advocate, Sketch Artist
Manager, Code Whisperer
Source: Product School

11. How Austin PMs are Hired
MIKETRUJILLO
Technology
Comm
Business
Design
“Agile”
Industry
Last
Problem
P
“People Person”
Are you my religion?
We got burned…
Specialist
Are you one of US?

12. MIKETRUJILLO
• Companies don’t understand the PM role
• History of emphasizing strong technology
• Techies are not aways “good with people”
• Criteria used to HIRE is not important to SUCCESS
• PM is tasked to fix company problems
• Continual waves of new technologies over time
• Puts PMs into small boxes
(hard to break out)
Technology
Comm
Business
Design
“Agile”
Industry
Last
Problem
P
TAKEAWAYS?

13. WANT TO BREAK INTO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT?
MIKETRUJILLO
• Agile training is not sufficient
• Juggling is the most challenging part of the job
• Hard to “prove” to employer
• Suggestions:
• Get into a company you like (any role)
• Work into a team lead role
• Transfer or shadow the PM team
• Safeword: Malleable
Technology
Comm
Business
Design
“Agile”
Industry
Last
Problem

14. STUCK IN A BOX?
MIKETRUJILLO
• Have the skills and experience
• Unsuccessful in leveraging in new tech
• Tribal issue with tech, age, etc
• Suggestions:
• Train up on new tech areas
• Attend Meetups & network
• Be the solution to someone’s Last Problem
• Safeword: Break Stuff
Technology
Comm
Business
Design
“Agile”
Industry
Last
Problem

15. EMPLOYERS
MIKETRUJILLO
• Hard to find qualified candidates
• Hard to KEEP Product Managers
• Suggestions:
• Clear understanding of PM role
• Recognize & stop tribal activities
• Transfer or shadow the PM team
• Safeword: Malleable
Tech
Comm
Business
Design
“Agile”
Industry
Last
Proble

16. DISCUSSION
Successful people do what unsuccessful
people are not willing to do.
Fifty
Shades
of P&M

17. MIKE TRUJILLO
email.mike.trujillo@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/miketrujillo
radicalpm.wordpress.com