What is a Chief Product Officer? Definition & Overview

Often those Product Managers are in a situation where their culture isn’t product friendly. The copy at the time was very formal, corporate and had a cold-robotic-ness to it. Thus, one of the first things we wanted to do was to change the copy to be more warm, friendly, personal and geniune. For all those whoes changed copy before, technically it’s quite a straight forward thing once you nail down the appropriate wording. However, a week into this and I suddenly found myself being dragged into a number of meetings with the GM of Marketing. It turned out that our new proposed copy went against their extremely outdated branding guidelines.

Sensitivity to customers

She's a force to be reckoned with as she uses her social media to share resources for women in product, advocate diversity and inclusion in the industry, and celebrate the accomplishments of those who are underrepresented. Learn all about how successful PMs do this in our complete guide to prioritization. Having said that, the demand for the role of the CPO is continuously rising and looking at the trend of the last few years, the average salary for the position is expected to rise with it. Eventually, your role becomes more of being able to support and unblock the productivity of these PMs, and less about driving the actual product.

• It’s the product manager’s job to bring products to market that generate value for the business and serve the end user/customer.
• Metrics show a CPO how a product performs in terms of revenue growth, consumer engagement, and customer retention.
• But, if you’re starting from scratch, it’s worth considering a product management certification.
• The product manager focuses on the intended use of a product, competitor research, and whether or not the product fits the company’s overall mission.
• They’re the person who needs to make sure that all the right people are in place in the product development team — especially in leadership roles such as senior engineers or product managers.

How to Become a Head Of Product +Tools and Resources15 min read

The industry type plays a big role — highly regulated sectors like healthcare or finance require more focus on compliance, while fast-paced tech startups emphasize innovation. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to transition into this role, understanding the key steps and requirements is essential. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is the famous quote from management guru Peter Drucker. One side to considering the bigger picture is the external functions — product strategy, A&M, etc — but another equally important side is looking internally. Having more breadth of knowledge and skills has also been widely researched to increase problem-solving and abstract thinking skills.

Data-driven reporting

They must also use qualitative and quantitative data to back up requests for increased funding Line code or resources. Data can help reveal trends in the market and within the company, which can help a CPO make revenue forecasts. Accurate revenue forecasts can help the CPO and other chief officers make business decisions with confidence. Every aspect of a design must be carefully considered when developing a product.

• Certain product management skills stand as the bedrock upon which successful product strategies are built.
• In larger enterprises that have both distinct positions, the head of product will oversee the director of product and focus more on the larger operations of the product team.
• Learn how to speak the developers’ language and you’ll be well-positioned to collaborate with engineering teams—a crucial aspect of the product manager role.
• Having more breadth of knowledge and skills has also been widely researched to increase problem-solving and abstract thinking skills.
• This includes managing the production team, scheduling, quality control, inventory management, and ensuring products are manufactured within budget constraints.
• Natascha has been a product manager for over 5 years, last with Studydrive, where she managed an interdisciplinary scrum team and driven initiatives for web products.

Soumeya Benghanem, Product Executive at VMware

Research and product analysis are vital steps in the product development process. These steps facilitate all areas of project management, from conception to completion. A CPO will know the ins and outs of research and analysis and use them to the team’s advantage. The product strategy takes a high-level product vision and turns Head of Product job it into a roadmap toward development. It will also outline which steps and initiatives to prioritize to avoid wasting time or resources. A CPO will be responsible for designing and carrying out the product strategy.

You can learn more about it in our guide to the technical product manager role. Chief product officers will likely have several years of experience in roles like product manager, director of product management and vice president of product before stepping into the CPO role. Chief product officers are the head of product departments and conduct all high-level product development roadmapping, strategies and operations. They may collaborate directly with a company’s chief executive officer (CEO) and other department officers to meet key business objectives. It’s also important for the chief product officer to understand the business side of things. Although there is no set timeline, director-level roles are expected to have at least 5-8 or more years of product management, with clear evidence of people management skills within a product org.

An understanding of UX

If you’re an employer searching for the perfect candidate to fill a product management position, we invite you to explore our product management recruitment services page. While the two roles are different, they are both critical to the success of any startup. By working together, a Head of Engineering and a CTO can ensure that a company is able to achieve its goals and reach its full potential. Now, she handles a team of professionals who help brands get their designs from concept to production. Now, he handles his own product management agency, servicing clients all over the world and earns $2,000 per month. Despite starting in roles far from her dream, she persisted, built real connections, and worked her way up, becoming a brand coordinator, and then a product line coordinator, before securing her spot as a product manager.