Product Manager
Controller Job Description
Product managers coordinate the creation, design, implementation and launch of products across a product lifecycle. They work with individuals and teams to ensure the product makes it to market with the right features. The product manager is a leader who makes informed, strategic decisions based on data and analytics. They need insight and understanding to make decisions about the product because they have responsibilities throughout all parts of development, managing processes like product backlog and roadmap, pleasing stakeholders, finding investors, talking to potential customers and more.
A good PM may know the dos and don’ts of a customer interview, but the best PMs have the ability to empathize with customers in that interview, are tuned in to their body language and emotions, and can astutely suss out the pain points that the product or feature will address. A PM with a high EQ has strong relationships within their organization and a keen sense of how to navigate both internal and external hurdles to ship a great product. Probably one of the most important characteristics of a great PM is their relationship management skills. By forming authentic and trustworthy connections with both internal and external stakeholders, the best PMs inspire people and help them reach their full potential. Relationship management is also vital in successful negotiation, resolving conflicts, and working with others toward a shared goal, which is especially challenging when a PM is tasked with balancing the needs of customers, resource-constrained engineering teams, and the company’s revenue goals. A PM has to maintain their emotions and keep it cool under pressure, The best PMs know how to push hard on the right priorities, with urgency but without conveying a sense of panic or stress. Social awareness ensures the best PMs service their customers with a product that addresses their jobs to be done, which is ultimately what drives product-market fit.
An MBA program can help you hone your professional skills in the field of product management. Typically, aspiring product managers enter a program with three to five years of business experience, so they already have some of the skills needed for product management.
Typical duties of a Controller
• Analyzing customer requirements
• Conducting research on a product, service, competitor, or market
• Strategizing a plan for a product or service (development, packaging, launching, expanding)
• Coordinating and communicating about a product or service with management, teams, and stakeholders
• Gathering and analyzing feedback about a product or service
• Developing multi-year roadmaps for products and services
Skills:
• Communication skills
• Strategic thinking
• People management skills
• Design/technical skills
• User science and empathy
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field