People often ask me: What’s the best way to become a great Product Manager?
After ten years of building products across corporate ventures, international startups, and e-commerce platforms — and after coaching dozens of PMs at different career stages — my answer is always the same: start by doing before you dive into theory.
Here’s the framework I share with every PM I mentor.
1. Build Something: Learn Product Management by Doing
If you’re new to product management, the fastest way to learn is by getting your hands dirty. Start by creating a product — any product. It doesn’t have to be perfect or big; it just needs to exist.
Launching something real teaches you more about user needs, prioritization, and product-market fit than any certification. You’ll face trade-offs between scope and speed, learn to talk to users, and discover what “shipping” actually means.
Need inspiration? Browse Product Hunt (www.producthunt.com) daily — thousands of small and large products launch there, and studying what works (and what doesn’t) is a masterclass in itself.
2. Join a Product Management Community
Product management can feel isolating, especially early on. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Connect with other PMs on LinkedIn, ask questions openly, share what you’re learning, and seek mentorship. I’ve mentored many aspiring and practicing PMs over the years, and I’ve seen firsthand how the right conversation at the right time can accelerate someone’s growth by months.
If you’re based in Switzerland, the Product Academy in Zürich is a fantastic resource for both new and experienced product people. Being part of a community sharpens your thinking and expands your perspective.
3. Develop Your Product Thinking
Hands-on experience is essential, but pairing it with strong frameworks rounds out your skills — especially as you grow toward senior or leadership roles. Here are resources I genuinely recommend:
Books every Product Manager should read:
- Inspired by Marty Cagan — The foundational book on building products customers love. https://amzn.to/4dHNUol
- Escape the Build Trap by Melissa Perri — How to focus on outcomes, not just shipping features. https://amzn.to/4drjG9q
- The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick — How to talk to customers and get honest, useful insights. https://amzn.to/3ApWH09
Newsletters and podcasts worth your time:
- Lenny Rachitsky’s newsletter and podcast — One of the best resources on product strategy and growth. https://lnkd.in/efUXmmgT
- The Beautiful Mess by John Cutler — Sharp thinking on product organizations and ways of working. https://lnkd.in/eCeY-MjC
4. From Product Manager to Product Leader: What Changes
This is the part most “how to learn PM” guides leave out. Moving from individual contributor to product leadership requires a different set of muscles:
- You shift from owning one product to shaping product strategy across multiple domains.
- You move from executing discovery yourself to coaching others through it.
- Stakeholder management becomes less about alignment and more about influence and trust-building.
- You start thinking about team design, hiring, and creating the conditions where other PMs can do their best work.
If you’re already a practicing PM and aiming for a senior or Head of Product role, start developing these skills now — don’t wait for the title.
What resources helped you learn product management? I’d love to hear — leave a comment or reach out on LinkedIn.
Until next time, Cyril
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