Modern Product Leadership

Course Overview

This course, Modern Product Leadership, is designed to equip Product Managers with the skills and knowledge to become effective leaders. It will cover the key elements of good product leadership, based on research and studies by experts such as Jim Collins, John Maxwell, Peter Northouse, and Melissa Perri. Participants will learn how to build and align teams, encourage ownership, and set and communicate a product vision. They will also gain an understanding of influential competencies, such as goal setting, roadmapping, and demoing. Finally, the course will cover frameworks for organizing teams at multiple scales of product development, and how to deploy influence and guide the work with discovery frameworks and techniques.

[Applications]
The application of this course will enable Product Managers to develop the skills necessary to lead product teams, set product strategy, and manage product development at scale. They will learn modern leadership principles, how to build and empower teams, and how to negotiate and manage conflicts. They will also gain an understanding of frameworks for organizing teams and deploying influence at scale. With these skills, Product Managers will be better equipped to lead their teams to success.

[Career Paths]
Recommended Career Paths:
1. Product Manager: Product Managers are responsible for the development and execution of product strategies, from envisioning a product strategy to correctly portraying the product roadmap. They must be able to communicate effectively across a wide range of audiences and have strong leadership skills. Product Managers must also be able to manage teams of teams and align product teams, product designs, and product development for speed and innovation at scale.

2. Product Evangelist: Product Evangelists are responsible for vision setting, roadmapping problems, setting goals and objectives, demoing effectively, and more. They must be able to negotiate across departments and interests, and manage conflicts to resolution quickly through good leadership and problem solving.

3. Head of Product: Heads of Product are responsible for leading product teams and scaling techniques for integrating hardware and software teams of teams. They must be able to deploy influence and guide the work with discovery frameworks and techniques at scale.

Developing Trends:
1. Increasing focus on customer experience: Product Managers are increasingly focusing on customer experience, as this is becoming a key factor in product success.

2. Growing importance of data: Product Managers are relying more and more on data to inform their decisions and strategies.

3. Increased emphasis on collaboration: Product Managers are emphasizing collaboration between teams and departments to ensure successful product development.

4. Growing emphasis on agile processes: Product Managers are increasingly utilizing agile processes to ensure faster and more efficient product development.

[Education Paths]
Recommended Degree Paths:
1. Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration: This degree provides a comprehensive overview of business principles and practices, including accounting, finance, marketing, and management. It also provides a foundation in product management, including product development, product strategy, and product marketing. This degree is ideal for those looking to pursue a career in product management, as it provides the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful.

2. Master's Degree in Product Management: This degree provides a more in-depth look at product management, including product design, product development, product strategy, and product marketing. It also covers topics such as customer experience, user experience, and product analytics. This degree is ideal for those looking to pursue a career in product management, as it provides the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful.

3. MBA in Product Management: This degree provides a comprehensive overview of business principles and practices, including accounting, finance, marketing, and management. It also provides a foundation in product management, including product development, product strategy, and product marketing. This degree is ideal for those looking to pursue a career in product management, as it provides the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful.

Developing Trends:
1. Increasing Focus on User Experience: Product managers are increasingly focusing on user experience, as this is a key factor in the success of a product. This includes understanding user needs, designing user-friendly interfaces, and creating engaging experiences.

2. Growing Emphasis on Data-Driven Decision Making: Product managers are increasingly relying on data-driven decision making to make informed decisions about product development and product strategy. This includes using data to understand customer needs, identify trends, and make decisions about product features and pricing.

3. Increasing Use of Agile Methodologies: Product managers are increasingly using agile methodologies to manage product development. This includes using agile techniques such as sprints, scrums, and Kanban boards to manage product development and ensure that products are delivered on time and on budget.