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Shreya Jain

In this course journey, we delve into concepts and frameworks of product management across industries. With real-life examples and exercises, one would be able to apply the learnings in one's day-to-day life as a product manager.

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In this course journey, we delve into concepts and frameworks of product management across industries. With real-life examples and exercises, one would be able to apply the learnings in one's day-to-day life as a product manager.

This course covers core fundamental concepts and how to navigate/control your growth trajectory in a company. Various techniques and objectives of conducting market and user research throw light on practical user interviews for B2B and B2C industries. We discuss detailed steps towards product strategy (what, why) and roadmap (how, when) creation. To launch a product, we cover rollout strategies and GTM plans to gain competitive advantages. Lastly, we discuss different PM roles with platform and machine learning product managers as primary examples. 

The end goal of this course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage a product throughout its lifecycle, from conception to launch and beyond. One would be able to achieve this by deeply understanding customer needs, defining a clear product vision, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver valuable products that meet market demands and achieve business objectives. Essentially, one can become a skilled product manager capable of driving product strategy and execution within a company while channeling one's career trajectory.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • An overview of the product manager's role and challenges faced
  • Creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap
  • Enhance leadership and stakeholder management skills
  • Defining product metrics: north star, primary and secondary metrics
  • Plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy
  • Types of pm: platform, ai product manager roles

Syllabus

At the end of this section, you will be able to understand generic and highly specific roles and responsibilities of a Product Manager

In this lecture, we introduce the Product Management journey by touching on the breadth of tasks a PM covers

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In this lecture, we discuss key takeaways from the course. Throughout the course, we will delve into both theoretical constraints and practical real-life case studies/take-home exercises.

This lecture lays out the structure of the course with detailed descriptions.

The roles and responsibilities of a Product Manager vary with company size. However, there is also always standard set of expectations from the PM role.

A Product manager is required to upskill themselves in areas concerning regulatory, and compliance depending on the industry. Basic set of experimentation techniques and user research also vary with changing industries 

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. We will learn how to solidify crisp problem statements with fun exercises.  We will also learn how to navigate organization and plan your career trajectory with actionable steps.

In this lecture, we go through ambiguous anecdotes to compile clear problem statements. We run through 3 different scenarios across verticals and churn out actionable steps

As a product manager joins a new company, one is expected to ramp up on historical context, depth of the product, and processes. In this lecture, we will go through all such categories with a take-home exercise

People management is one of the crucial skills needed for a PM. Navigating effectively through structures within the organization helps with more efficient execution 

This lecture describes the objectives of laying out a 30/60/90 day plan for a PM

In this lecture, we discuss the key actionable on your 30/60/90 day plan to setup for success

The growth trajectory of a product manager typically involves several key stages, which can vary depending on the organization, industry, and individual career aspirations. This lecture describes the outline of a common product management career path

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. Market research and analysis are critical components of a product manager's role, guiding product development and strategy. This section gives a breakdown of how a product manager conducts market research and analysis

Market research and analysis aims to gather, analyze, and interpret data about a specific market, including information about the target audience, competitors, and overall industry trends. This lecture describes the objectives in detail

To conduct market research and analysis, one should: define research objectives, develop a research plan, collect relevant data, analyze the data, interpret the findings, present results, and incorporate them into one's strategy. This lecture details steps to conduct research

When conducting user research for B2B (business-to-business) compared to B2C (business-to-consumer), the key difference lies in the target audience, where B2B focuses on decision-makers within businesses, requiring a deeper understanding of their complex needs and buying processes. In contrast, B2C targets individual consumers with often simpler decision-making. This lecture focuses on research techniques for both B2B and B2C worlds

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. A "product strategy" defines the overarching vision and goals for a product, outlining the "why" and "what" of its development, while a "product roadmap" is a detailed plan that specifies the "how".

This lecture covers examples of how product vision is defined and sustained

A product vision is a statement that describes a product's long-term goals and direction. It's a strategic concept that helps guide the product development team and other stakeholders. This lecture focuses on how to define your product vision

A product strategy is a plan that defines a product's vision, goals, and how it will be developed and marketed. It's a roadmap that helps align teams and stakeholders around a common objective. This lecture focuses on how to define your product strategy 

A product roadmap is a visual plan that outlines a product's goals, features, and timeline. It helps teams align on priorities and track progress. This lecture focuses on how to define your product roadmap 

This lecture details out various components of a product roadmap

An "execution strategy" in product management refers to a detailed plan outlining the specific actions, timelines, and resources needed to implement a product strategy, effectively bringing a product idea to life and achieving desired goals, including prioritizing features, managing development phases, and closely monitoring progress against key metrics. This lecture details components of an execution strategy

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. Various types of documentation, metrics, and rollout strategies will be discussed in detail

Product management documentation makes your assumptions clear and ensures that your team can build a product that actually works. Gaining a clear idea of your users is also essential as these are the people that the product manager role exists to serve.

This lecture covers different types of documentations

A Product Requirements Document (PRD) is a document that outlines the requirements for a product. It's a critical communication tool that helps product managers and other stakeholders align on the product's vision, goals, and features

A "rollout strategy" in product management refers to a planned approach to gradually introduce a new product or feature to the market, including identifying target audiences, defining launch phases, managing marketing efforts, and gathering feedback to ensure a smooth and successful adoption by users.

Product metrics are relevant because they provide quantifiable data about how users interact with a product, enabling informed decision-making by product teams to improve user experience, identify areas for development, and ultimately drive business success by making data-driven adjustments to the product based on user behavior and engagement levels

Product metrics are quantifiable data points that help businesses assess the performance of their products. They can be used to understand how users interact with a product, how well it's being used, and how successful it is

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. Different types of stakeholders and approaches to manage them.

To effectively manage product stakeholders, a key strategy is to proactively identify and prioritize them, deeply understand their needs and interests, foster open communication channels, regularly update them on progress, address concerns promptly, and tailor your engagement approach based on their influence and level of involvement; this includes creating a clear product vision, setting expectations, and using data to support decision-making when communicating with them

This lecture covers on who your team members are and effectively lead the team.

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. A go-to-market strategy is a tactical plan detailing how a company plans to execute a successful product release and promotion, and ultimately its sale to customers. Common elements of a product's go-to-market strategy include: Pricing strategy. Sales tactics and channels.

A product release is the process of making a product, feature, or update available to users. It is a significant milestone in product development. In the section, we will cover the checklist before a product release

A go-to-market (GTM) strategy is a detailed plan that outlines how a business will launch a product or service to market. It helps businesses connect with customers and gain a competitive advantage

In this lecture, we will focus on detailed goals & summary of steps of various stages in the lifecycle of a product, right from development to maturity

In this lecture, we will discuss the key takeaways from this section. We would discuss details on different roles within the product management domain and skillsets for a platform PM and an Machine Learning PM

There are several types of product management roles, including technical, growth, marketing, AI, data, UX, and enterprise product manager. This lecture covers each one in detail

A Platform Product Manager (PM), is one of the most challenging roles in product management. They are responsible for prioritizing and supporting the work of multiple consumer-facing products and providing a cohesive vision across the organization

This lecture focuses on various dimensions that a platform PM is supposed to cover

A machine learning (ML) product manager is responsible for guiding the development of ML products from concept to a user-friendly product. They act as a liaison between business and technical strategists

This lecture discusses the skillsets and expectations out of Machine Learning PM

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers core fundamental concepts and how to navigate a growth trajectory in a company, which is helpful for those looking to advance their careers
Explores various techniques and objectives of conducting market and user research, which is essential for understanding customer needs and market demands
Discusses detailed steps towards product strategy and roadmap creation, which are critical skills for driving product strategy and execution within a company
Examines different PM roles with platform and machine learning product managers as primary examples, which provides insights into specialized areas within product management
Includes exercises such as addressing information asymmetry and conducting a/b experiments, which provide opportunities for hands-on learning and skill development
Requires students to ramp up on historical context, depth of the product, and processes, which may require significant time investment for those new to the field

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Reviews summary

Solid foundation for product management

According to learners, this course provides a largely positive foundation for understanding product management. Students appreciate the comprehensive coverage of fundamental concepts, including strategy, roadmaps, and metrics. The practical examples and exercises are frequently highlighted as helpful for applying learnings. While many find it excellent for beginners and aspiring PMs looking for an overview, some suggest experienced product managers might find certain sections less in-depth than desired. The course structure and content are generally seen as well-organized and relevant to the day-to-day life of a PM.
Includes details on Platform and ML PMs.
"I appreciated the section on different PM roles, especially the breakdown of Platform and ML PM."
"Learning about the specifics of Platform and Machine Learning PM roles was a valuable addition."
"The coverage of different PM types adds practical value for career planning."
Ideal for those new to Product Management.
"As someone completely new to product management, I found this course incredibly accessible and informative."
"Great starting point for anyone looking to transition into a PM role."
"It lays out the PM role and responsibilities clearly, making it perfect for aspiring PMs."
Helps apply theory to real-world scenarios.
"The real-life examples and take-home exercises were very helpful for applying the frameworks learned."
"I really liked the practical exercises, they helped solidify the concepts taught in the lectures."
"Applying the concepts through exercises made the learning more concrete and useful."
Covers essential PM concepts broadly.
"This course gave me a solid understanding of the key aspects of product management, from vision to metrics."
"I learned about product strategy, roadmaps, GTM, and metrics. It's a good overview of the basics."
"For someone starting out, this provides a great foundational knowledge across the PM lifecycle."
May lack depth for seasoned professionals.
"While good for beginners, I found some sections a bit too high-level given my existing PM experience."
"Could use more in-depth discussion on advanced topics or specific industry nuances."
"An experienced PM might find this more of a refresher than a deep dive into new skills."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Product Management Masterclass: Become a Product Manager with these activities:
Review Agile and Scrum Methodologies
Reinforce your understanding of Agile and Scrum, as these methodologies are frequently used in product development and will help you understand the context of product management decisions.
Browse courses on Agile Methodologies
Show steps
  • Read articles and blog posts about Agile and Scrum.
  • Watch introductory videos explaining the core concepts.
  • Take a short online quiz to test your knowledge.
Read 'Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love'
Gain insights into product discovery, strategy, and execution from a leading expert in the field.
Show steps
  • Read the book and highlight key takeaways.
  • Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own product management experiences.
  • Share your insights with other students in a discussion forum.
Read 'The Lean Product Playbook'
Learn how to apply Lean Startup principles to product development, focusing on building MVPs and iterating based on customer feedback.
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Identify how the concepts apply to real-world product scenarios.
  • Discuss the book's ideas with other students.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Define Product Metrics
Practice defining North Star, primary, and secondary metrics for different product scenarios to reinforce your understanding of product measurement.
Show steps
  • Select 3 different product examples (e.g., social media app, e-commerce platform, SaaS tool).
  • For each product, identify a North Star metric.
  • Define 2-3 primary and secondary metrics that support the North Star metric.
  • Explain how each metric contributes to the overall product success.
Create a Product Vision Board
Develop a visual representation of a product vision to communicate the long-term goals and direction of a product.
Show steps
  • Choose a product you are passionate about.
  • Gather images, keywords, and phrases that represent the product's vision.
  • Arrange the elements on a board to create a compelling visual.
  • Write a short statement explaining the vision.
Competitive Analysis Project
Conduct a competitive analysis of existing products in a chosen market to identify opportunities and potential threats for a new product.
Show steps
  • Choose a product area of interest.
  • Identify 3-5 key competitors in that space.
  • Analyze their products' features, pricing, and marketing strategies.
  • Summarize your findings in a report and present it.
Go-to-Market Plan Presentation
Develop a comprehensive go-to-market plan for a new product, including target audience, pricing, marketing channels, and launch strategy.
Show steps
  • Choose a product and define its target audience.
  • Research the market and identify key competitors.
  • Develop a pricing strategy and marketing plan.
  • Create a presentation outlining the go-to-market plan.

Career center

Learners who complete Product Management Masterclass: Become a Product Manager will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Product Manager
A product manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product or product line. This course, with its overview of the product manager's role and challenges, helps build a foundation for a career as a product manager. The course covers the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap, which are all elements that a product manager must be able to develop. To succeed as a product manager, one must be able to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy, which is also taught in this masterclass. The masterclass also covers the different types of product management roles, such as platform or artificial intelligence product manager, which gives one an overview of roles in the field.
Product Marketing Manager
A product marketing manager is responsible for the go-to-market strategy for a product, including its positioning, messaging, and launch. This masterclass's discussions about how to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy is directly applicable to the role of the product marketing manager. The course also touches on defining product metrics, which is another crucial aspect of the responsibilities of the product marketing manager. With its discussion of market research, this course will also aid a product marketing manager.
Product Owner
A product owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the development team. This course provides an introduction to the product development process, which may be useful for a product owner. By learning about creating a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap, one can better understand the product lifecycle, a central concern for the product owner. A product owner will also find the sections on defining product metrics to be useful. An understanding of this field can help one properly prioritize the product backlog.
Digital Strategist
A digital strategist develops and implements digital strategies to achieve business goals, such as increasing brand awareness and driving online sales. This course may be helpful for a digital strategist to understand how to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy. The masterclass also covers the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap, which can be applied to digital strategy. The digital strategist can use this knowledge of the product management domain to collaborate within an organization.
Growth Hacker
A growth hacker focuses on creative strategies to acquire and retain customers, often using data-driven experiments. This course may be useful for a growth hacker as they seek to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy. Growth hackers also benefit from the course's section on defining product metrics. This course can also help growth hackers to better understand types of documentation.
Business Analyst
A business analyst identifies the business needs of their clients and stakeholders to determine solutions to business problems. If you're a business analyst, this course may give you a better understanding of how to define product metrics. The masterclass touches on market research and analysis, which are critical components of a business analyst's role, as is the discussion of rollout strategies. This course may also help the business analyst to understand types of documentation.
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager plans, directs, and coordinates marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors. This course may be helpful for a marketing manager to understand how to create a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap. A marketing manager will also find the discussion of how to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy to be particularly relevant. The discussion of market research offered in the course provides concepts and context for the marketing manager.
Startup Founder
A startup founder launches and manages their own company, often requiring a broad skill set and understanding of various business functions. This course may be useful for a startup founder to understand the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap. The course also covers how to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy. These topics will be helpful for anyone starting a company. Also, the startup founder will be able to more effectively manage product managers.
Innovation Manager
An innovation manager cultivates and implements new ideas and strategies within an organization, driving growth and competitive advantage. This is done through the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap, all topics that are covered in this course. This masterclass may be particularly useful to an innovation manager seeking to understand and implement go-to-market strategies. Innovation managers will be better able to define product metrics after taking this course.
Program Manager
A program manager oversees a set of projects in a coordinated way to achieve benefits not available from managing them individually. This course may be helpful for a program manager to understand leadership and stakeholder management skills. The course also covers how to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy. As a program manager, it is important to define product metrics, and this course may provide a strong overview of that topic.
Data Scientist
A data scientist analyzes and interprets complex digital data. This masterclass may be helpful for a data scientist interested in product management to enhance leadership and stakeholder management skills. For a data scientist who wants to improve their product sense, the section on defining product metrics may be useful. The different types of product management roles covered may also be helpful. Many data scientists are interested in transitioning into product management, and this course can aid that move.
User Experience Designer
A user experience designer focuses on the experience that people have while using a product, ensuring it is easy to use and meets the user's needs. This course may be helpful for a user experience designer to understand the An Overview of the Product Manager's role and Challenges faced. The material on market research can provide insight into the user experience. The course covers the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap. This may be useful for a UX designer.
Engineering Manager
An engineering manager leads a team of software engineers, overseeing their work and ensuring they meet project goals. This course may be helpful for an engineering manager interested in product management to enhance leadership and stakeholder management skills. For an engineering manager who wants to improve their product sense, the section on defining product metrics may be useful. The different types of product management roles covered may also be helpful. Many engineering managers are interested in transitioning into product management, and this course can aid that move.
Chief Technology Officer
A chief technology officer is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of a company. This course may be helpful for a chief technology officer to understand the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap. The course also covers how to enhance leadership and stakeholder management skills. Understanding a go to market strategy will be important for a chief technology officer. Overall this course may aid communications at the executive level.
Technical Lead
A technical lead guides a team of engineers, providing technical expertise and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software. This course may be useful to a technical lead by providing context on defining product metrics. This course may also be helpful in understanding how to plan and execute a successful go-to-market strategy. The course covers the creation of a robust vision, strategy, and roadmap.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Product Management Masterclass: Become a Product Manager.
Focuses on the Lean Startup methodology and its application to product development. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to building and iterating on products using MVPs and customer feedback. It's particularly helpful for understanding how to validate product ideas quickly and efficiently, and how to avoid building products that nobody wants. This book great resource for learning about lean product development.
Is considered a bible for product managers. It provides a comprehensive overview of modern product management practices, covering everything from product discovery to product delivery. It's particularly useful for understanding how to build products that customers truly value and how to foster a strong product culture within an organization. This book is highly recommended for anyone serious about product management.

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