Embracing Change and Customer Engagement in Product Management In this episode Mike Smart, an old friend and longtime product management leader, instructor, and consultant, says we can’t wait for the world to change (quoting an old John Mayer song). Product management needs to seize the day, and actively engage with customers even if it means breaking some glass and stepping on some toes, bending some rules. Mike shares his history as a product leader, starting from a sales role to becoming a product management consultant. Mike has an amazing historical perspective on product, and discuss the common challenges faced by product organizations, such as the influence of sales on product development and the importance of customer discovery. The conversation also touches on the shift towards product marketing management and the vital role of go-to-market strategies in today’s competitive landscape. Key takeaways include the imperative for product managers to initiate customer conversations and the pivot towards focusing on how products are marketed and understood by potential customers, and for product leaders in particular to have (or develop) business acumen focused on sales velocity rather than just release velocity. Links and contact information * Mike on LinkedIn * Mike’s company, Egress Solutions * Mike’s podcast is GTM Disrupted. You can listen on its home page, or find it wherever you get your podcasts (here’s the Apple link and the Spotify link). Support this podcast * The easiest and best way to support the podcast is to leave me a comment or question, drop a note or connection request to me on LinkedIn, or just send me an email at [email protected]. * You can also rate and review the podcast on Apple iTunes – that really helps others find it. * And you can just share the podcast directly with your product manager friends – they’ll probably really appreciate it! Timings 00:00 Introduction: Waiting for the World to Change 00:34 Guest Introduction: Mike Smart of Egress Solutions 01:03 The Journey of a Product Manager 02:06 The Importance of Customer Conversations 03:22 The Evolution of Product Management 05:19 The Role of Product Marketing 10:22 The Challenges of Product Management 11:31 The Impact of Sales on Product Management 12:46 The Shift in Product Management Focus 14:56 The Importance of Business Acumen in Product Management 23:07 The Role of Go-To-Market in Product Management 33:06 Conclusion: The Future of Product Management Embracing Change and Customer Engagement in Product Management In this episode Mike Smart, an old friend and longtime product management leader, instructor, and consultant, says we can’t wait for the world to change (quoting an old John Mayer song). Product management needs to seize the day, and actively engage with customers even if it means breaking some glass and stepping on some toes, bending some rules.