Irene Yu
@iamireneyu
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Tweet: technical knowledge 👩💻 | Become more technical without coding | Subscribe 👉 | Software eng @ ex-Amazon | Product Advisor
Brooklyn, NY
Joined December 2012
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Pinned Tweet
I've helped hundreds of PMs become more technical.
The biggest thing holding them back?
Technical jargon.
That's why I teamed up with
@carlvellotti
to create a 4-part "tech terms glossary".
Here's 9 Data tech terms you should know 🧵👇
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@MattWallace888
Elon Musk hasn't announced who the new CEO is, simply that it's a woman.
The amount of misogyny on this post is effing insane.
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870
#productmanagers
Taking a coding class is the least effective way to become more technical.
Here are the 9 core topics in software that you should focus on instead:
#productmanagement
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#productmanagers
, if you want to write a business requirement doc that your dev team will love, start using more diagrams!
In fact, diagrams should be the bulk of the doc. Ask yourself first if the req can be visualized as a flow diagram, then add text for clarification.
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SaaS tools every
#productmanagers
should learn at some point in their career:
- Project management tool (Jira)
- Documentation tool (Confluence)
- Data Viz tool (Kibana)
- Flow & Diagramming tool (Miro)
- API Platform (Postman)
Agree, disagree? What other SaaS tools & why?
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#productmanagers
Everyone working in tech should know and understand APIs, but how deep do you need to go, especially if you're not a developer?
Here are the core API learnings you should learn as a non-developer:
#productmanagement
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#productmanagers
Taking a coding class is the least effective way to become more technical.
Here are the 9 core topics in software that you should focus on instead:
#productmanagement
18
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293
I've been thinking..
What if I hosted a FREE webinar on How to Master Technical Literacy for
#ProductManagers
(and other tech roles)?
WHO'S IN?
You'll get a better sense of where your current technical skills are and how to become more technical without learning how to code...
108
44
292
#productmanagers
are approaching user stories all wrong.
In my experience as a dev working with PMs, PMs tend to overly focus on "what is customer perspective?" when writing
#userstories
.
But what's actually the ultimate goal of user stories?
13
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274
#productmanagers
If you want to be a technical PM, you need to understand how systems communicate across the technology. And no, I'm not just talking about APIs.
I'm talking about communication patterns. There are many of them, but here's one you need to know:
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Tech jargon can feel overwhelming if you're a PM but it doesn't have to be!
That's why
@CarlVellotti
and I teamed up to create a tech terms glossary of the most important terms across API, Data, System Design, and Infrastructure.
Here are 9 API "Tech Terms You Should know"👇
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#productmanagers
Want to build more
#empathy
with your dev team? Show them your product roadmap and timeline.
Empathy goes both ways–PMs should learn about tech and devs should learn about product.
🧵
#productmanagement
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Tech terms to know as a
#productmanager
:
SaaS (Software-as-a-Service): Used by consumers; is the final end product
PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service): Used by devs & businesses; provides tools to host, build, and deploy apps
IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service): Used by devs &
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Tech terms for
#productmanager
:
Libraries & Frameworks!
Both are pre-written packaged pieces of code that devs use to speed up app development. They both solve common programming problems so that devs don't have to re-invent the wheel each time.
The difference is 👇
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Tech for
#productmanagers
:
Token/Tokenization is a popular way of securing sensitive data on the internet.
Here's what it is and how it works 👇
#productmanagement
#learntech
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Software projects take longer than you think because the work in itself is about solving something.
You can't accurately scope unknowns, predict risks, and predict the unpredictable.
#productmanagement
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143
#productmanagers
are approaching user stories all wrong.
In my experience as a dev working with PMs, PMs tend to overly focus on "what is customer perspective?" when writing
#userstories
.
But what's actually the ultimate goal of user stories?
4
16
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Most
#productmanagers
tell me they're taking a coding class to become more technical, but that's actually the least effective way to become more technical.
Here's why:
#productmanagement
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Tech for
#productmanagers
:
[Part 1/4] What are Monoliths 🏡 & Microservices 🏘️ ?
ℹ️ These are the 2 core architectural types in system design you need to know as a PM.
Why is it important for you to know?
👇
#productmanagement
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Every
#productmanager
should learn how to look at API (XHR) requests in Dev Tools.. this is useful for many use cases but esp. when QA-ing your app since this helps devs cut down on time to debug.
To do this, here are the API components you should know:
#productmanagement
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It can be super frustrating for everyone when
#productmanagers
and devs go back and forth constantly on requirements, even during the build phase.
Here's a simple way to cut down on the back and forth:
#productmanagement
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EXCITING FREE LAUNCH! 🤩
On Monday, September 11th, I'm launching a FREE 10-day email mini-course "Technology for
#ProductManagers
"!
My team and I have been working HARD on this the last 3 months and I'm excited IT'S FINALLY HERE!
The email course includes 5 mini-lessons from
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Your job as a product manager working w/ devs is to make things EASIER or CLEARER.
Many PMs try to brute force devs to build what they want or build faster but that's not effective.
Instead, during interactions w/ devs, ask yourself: "Did I make things easier or clearer?"👇
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Product managers, it might feel uncomfortable to “push back” on engineers..
But it is 100% OK to push back on engineers when they say something can’t be done. In fact, it’ll even earn you more respect!
If you’re feeling unsure about how to respond when engineers say something
Ever heard a 'No' from a dev? 🤔
Our latest blog uncovers the 4 key questions that redefine collaboration and problem-solving when devs hit you a 'No' 🚀 Read it here ➡️
#productmanagers
#devs
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Most
#productmanagers
tell me they're taking a coding class to become more technical, but that's actually the least effective way to become more technical.
Here's why:
#productmanagement
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Tech for
#productmanagers
:
[Part 2/4] Differences b/w monoliths 🏠 and microservices 🏘️
What makes an application a monolith and what makes it a microservices architecture? What are their core differences?
👇
#productmanagement
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Good product requirements = reqs that are TESTABLE or OBSERVABLE.
This means avoiding vague adjectives and focusing on quantifiable elements such as numbers, mocks, and flow diagrams.
Watch video for examples of testable and observable requirements!👇
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Product managers: What is your best advice for working with engineering teams?
#productmanagers
#productmanagement
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Product Managers: What's your best advice for new PMs for how to build a good relationship with engineers?
#productmanagers
#productmanagement
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Tech for
#productmanagers
:
5 API HTTP Status Codes you should know
HTTP status codes are 3-digit responses sent by a server to indicate the outcome of an API request and it's a quick way to help you understand what happened with your request.
🧵
#productmanagement
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8
#productmanagement
rules for working with engineers:
1/ Learn technology so you can communicate effectively
2/ When it comes to timelines: Buffer, buffer, buffer!
3/ Less words; more diagrams and UX mocks
#productmanagers
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Common
#productmanager
struggle: "How do I go about user stories? What do engineers want to see from them?"
Here's how:
Write broad epic user stories first.. then break them down into functional user stories.
👇
#productmanagement
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Prediction: AI will remove arguably the most complex PM task: making data-driven decisions.
AI predictive models can rapidly analyze a sea of data to identify patterns. This enables quick and informed choices on everything from feature prioritization to product development.
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Try this instead:
• Ask an engineer on your team for a software diagram of a product you're familiar with
• Ask for a meeting with an engineer you communicate well with
• Dissect the diagram together
• Ask open-ended questions about decisions made, and alternative solutions
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Highly recommended for stressed out founders🫶
I just returned from a mini 4-day vacay in Tulum where I spent 2 days non-stop partying and 1.5 days doing *nothing* other than relaxing and getting massages on the beach...
.. and MOST importantly deleted my IG and spent ✨ZERO✨
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I asked my subscribers what topics they wanted to learn about in last month's newsletter & I got the responses "Overcoming
#ADHD
as a PM". This really got me thinking.. how many
#productmanagers
have ADHD & how has it affected you? What tips do you have for other PMs w/ ADHD?
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Last weekend I intentionally did something that I’ve always been terrified of… skiing.
I’m terrified of skiing because I don’t like the cold, I’m not a fan of snow, def not a fan of speed when I’m not confident about how to stop, and the bunny slope is NOT cute despite its
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#productmanagers
, it's normal to be afraid of asking "stupid" questions during engineering meetings if you're not confident in your technical skills. You're far from the only one.
But when you feel this way, remember this:
#productmanagement
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Clearly the interest is overwhelming, so I'm working with my team to set up this webinar sometime in May. Follow me and I'll post once I have more details. Appreciate you all 🙏🥰
I've been thinking..
What if I hosted a FREE webinar on How to Master Technical Literacy for
#ProductManagers
(and other tech roles)?
WHO'S IN?
You'll get a better sense of where your current technical skills are and how to become more technical without learning how to code...
108
44
292
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As a
#productmanager
, you don't build software directly. So when working with dev teams, all you can really do is make things EASIER or CLEARER.
How do you make things easier or clearer when working with your dev team?
#productmanagement
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Last night was the perfect example of what I love about NYC (in the summer 🤪).. the ☀️, the spontaneity, the people, and the👌🤘conversations.
Super awesome time meeting awesome folks and hanging w/
@gregisenberg
talking about communities and skiing in Colorado. See you next
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Present requirements to developers in phases & priorities!
Devs not only need to know *what* to build, but also *when* to build it and what features to *prioritize*. A phased approach is iterative and allows for quicker delivery of tangible results.
👇
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#productmanagers
, it's normal to be afraid of asking "stupid" questions during engineering meetings if you're not confident in your technical skills. You're far from the only one.
But when you feel this way, remember this:
#productmanagement
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Don't take a coding class if you want to become more technical and DO THIS instead 👇 👇 🧵
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How technical do you need to be as a product manager?
I get asked this question a lot, and of course the answer is.. it depends!
The industry you're in, the company you work for, how technical your product is and who your customer is all affect what technical skills you need👇
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Core PM skill to cultivate: the ability to ballpark sense the level of effort, time and feasibility of a requirement/feature.
Becoming more technical will help you cultivate this sense so you're better able to judge the limitations and factors that go into building a feature.
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I left my cushy software engineering job at Amazon in October 2020. Leaving a stable gig in the middle of unstable times to take on a big risk wasn't an easy decision.
There were a ton of reasons for not making the jump.. uncertainty during COVID, going from $250k to $0 without
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1
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Tech for
#productmanagers
:
[Part 3/4] Visualizing how data flows in monoliths and microservices
How does data flow between the frontend and backend in a monolithic and microservices architecture look like?
#productmanagement
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1
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I've worked with a lot of product managers throughout my career. Most of them tell me they're taking a coding class to become more technical, but that's actually the least effective way to become more technical.
Here's why:
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Try this instead:
• Ask an engineer on your team for a software diagram of a product you're familiar with
• Ask for a meeting with an engineer you communicate well with
• Dissect the diagram together
• Ask open-ended questions about decisions made, and alternative solutions
2
5
45
If you want to learn SQL but struggle with writing simple SQL queries, it's likely you were never taught the structure of a data table.
So before you attempt a SQL query, learn the following:
#productmanagers
#productmanagement
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Awesome PM mindset hack from
@k3fernan
:
As a
#productmanager
, you don't build software directly. So when working with devs/team, all you can really do/your job is make things EASIER or CLEARER.
Here's how & what that means 👇
(Link to full convo in thread!)
#productmanagement
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Both engineers and PMs need to do better.
Engineers should be curious about product and the customer & translating technical terms/concepts into human words as much as possible... PMs should be curious about how software & technology works and want to play a more active part in
Many engineers HATE working with their PMs.
They see PMs as technically clueless meeting schedulers that don't do any real work.
So I teamed up w/ ex-Amazon engineer
@iamireneyu
to create a Good PM Bad PM Guide to working with engineers.
An in-depth guide to 4 common q's 🧵👇
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What's the difference b/w a technically proficient PM and TPM 👇
It comes down to the primary focus and expertise but both need to have a strong understanding of technical concepts, is capable of engaging with dev teams and effectively communicate with technical stakeholders.
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A common saying in
#productmanagement
is “
#productmanagers
own the ‘what’ and engineers own the ‘how’ ”.
While this saying is broadly true, in the real-world there’s a space of overlap where:
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#productmanagers
#founders
If you want to motivate your dev team to do great work, *fully* communicate the IMPACT of your vision via the PRD. This is easier said than done and I see PMs & founders struggle w/ this all the time.
Here's my simple, actionable tip I teach everyone👇
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When companies ask technical questions in product management interviews, they’re typically trying to assess whether you’ll be able to communicate and collaborate successfully with engineers — which is a core part of being a PM.
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Got a few exciting things coming down the pipeline in the next couple weeks!
1/ I'm launching something mid-sept that's valuable 👀 and FREE for PMs who want to become more technical. Only available for a limited time while it's in beta!
If you want dibs, like and leave a
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My webinar yesterday on mastering technical literacy as a
#productmanager
was a freaking blast. So much engagement and everyone was LOCKED IN FOCUSED & ready to learn–Love to see it!
Always such an *awesome* surprise to see Twitter & virtual friends at my events. Thanks for
Shoutout to
@iamireneyu
for crushing it yesterday with her incredible Technical literacy for product managers webinar
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#productmanagers
#founders
It's important to have a strong grasp of the fundamentals in software and technology.
A strong technical foundation makes it easier to:
#productmanagement
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#productmanagers
It doesn't matter how much effort you put into crafting your business requirements. Or if you brought engineers into the conversation early on during product ideation.
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Friendly reminder: Product decisions affect technical implementation as much as technical considerations affect product decisions.
So if you're not including engineering early and throughout your product lifecycle, you're doing it wrong and chances are you're feeling the
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There was a lot of debate about the role of
#productmanagers
& who's responsible for writing user stories.
It's worth talking about, but it's missing my point. Product roles & titles are so varied across orgs. It doesn't matter which product role writes the user stories.
#productmanagers
are approaching user stories all wrong.
In my experience as a dev working with PMs, PMs tend to overly focus on "what is customer perspective?" when writing
#userstories
.
But what's actually the ultimate goal of user stories?
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My episode with
@onejasonknight
on the
@oneknightinprod
podcast IS HERE! *AMAZING* time with Jason talking about a whole lot including what it really takes to be technical and why learning how to code doesn't make you technical, so make sure to CHECK IT OUT 👇
On this
#podcast
episode,
@onejasonknight
speaks to
@iamireneyu
, founder of Skiplevel. Irene's a former
@amazon
engineer turned educator who wants to teach non tech PMs & founders how to be just technical enough to be effective!
We talk about a lot 🧵
#prodmgmt
#techtwitter
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Writing requirement docs are crucial for PMs to effectively communicate with engineers but they're also notoriously difficult to get right.
I know this first hand as a dev having read dozens of PRDs over my career: a handful of decent ones, the vast majority of them a mess, and
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Most technical convos w/ engineers will be about system design / architecture.
It is by far the most underrated tech skill for product managers no one talks about.
So here's 10 tech terms in system design you *must* know as a PM ⬇️
I used to be terrified of talking to engineers.
Every technical product discussion filled me with dread.
My big unlock? Learning the vocab of software engineering.
So I teamed w/
@iamireneyu
to define the 10 most important System Design concepts I wish I'd known years ago 👇
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Don't be afraid to ask "stupid" questions to engineers!
I get it. It feels scary to ask questions b/c you're afraid of how you'll come off. But the only way to learn is to ask! Devs love to talk abt what they're building and most won't make you feel dumb for wanting to learn👇
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#productmanagers
Don't trade short-term convenience for long-term stability. Tech debt is an important consideration for product decisions.
💡 Here's a quick example of why:
#productmanagement
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🚀 IT'S FINALLY HERE! My conversation with
@KiwiDenny
on "How technical should a Product Manager be" for the Product Management Stories podcast is officially live!
Listen now to learn:
- How technical should a PM be
- Breadth vs. Depth framework for technical skills & knowledge
In this episode
@iamireneyu
and I discussed one of the hottest topics in Product Management: how technical should a Product Manager be?
The answer is super easy: listen to this episode and find out yourself 😉
Listen here: 🎧
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Product managers, did you come from a technical background?
#productmanagement
Nope.
554
Previously was a dev
214
Studied computer science
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I get asked a lot whether
#productmanagers
need to be technical, but this is the wrong question to ask.
The right question is: *How* technical do you need to be?
Here's why:
#productmanagement
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#productmanagers
You have a lot more control over technical debt than you think.
Getting ahead of tech debt so it doesn't bog down your product and your team in the long run comes down to 3 things:
- Preventing
- Managing
- Fixing
#productmanagement
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1/ How do
#productmanagers
and engineers work together best?
Here are 3 important tips: ⬇️⬇️⬇️
#productmanagement
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31
Decided to take the last 2 weeks of 2021 off (even though I struggled with serious founder guilt for taking time off) but I’m SO glad I did. Looking forward to getting back into the office tomorrow!
Who else is starting 2022 off strong?! 💪
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Challenge for
#productmanagers
: At the next meeting with your engineering team (whether it's standup or something else), ask:
"What's one thing I can take off your plate right now that will make your job easier?"
Here's why:
#productmanagement
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6
33
Had a blast hosting
@flowdotclub
's NYC Happy Hour last night! Thanks to everyone who came, especially
@haleymbryant
who came all the way from DC 😻🙏
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How to use
#ChatGPT
to write and learn SQL for
#productmanagers
: A Thread 🧵
Writing SQL as a
#productmanager
can be tricky, but SQL is a valuable skill for product managers for two main reasons:
#productmanagement
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8
31
My first Junto Club event w/
@andruyeung
was incredible.
Beautiful space, an amazing view, and good & ambitious folks doing big things.
Plus you know you had the best time when you come out of it with 2 coffee dates lined up and new co-working buddies. 😉
P.S. Can you find
The Junto Club continues…
Every month, I host an intimate, curated gathering of creative and business minds.
Yesterday, we had 100 incredible ppl in tech, media, and business show up.
What does everyone have in common? They’re all humble, kind & eager to help.
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#productmanagers
#founders
Technical literacy is conflated with technical implementation. This is why you shouldn't take a coding class to be better at your jobs.
Here's a better way to think about it (for all you basketball fans🤪🏀):
#productmanagement
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30
Fascinating stats on product managers in the US, some of which surprised me.
About two-thirds of all PMs in the states are male–much higher than my anecdotal experience.
75% of PMs are white. Again, different from my anecdotal experience though NYC tends to skew on the side of
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Approach creating product roadmaps like a trade-off. No solution will make every stakeholder happy.
Get affirmative consent into the trade-offs.
Make sure everyone is aware of the risks.
This open dialogue will take the pressure off you as the PM.
#ProductManagement
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How engineers want you to report a bug/issue to them:
Don't just tell them what the issue is–SHOW THEM.
👇
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Twitter friends–helppp! I need 100 followers to qualify for the Medium Partner Program & I'm just 34 followers short! Would really appreciate if you helped by following me:
In return you'll get goodies in the form of awesome tech content 😄 Thank youuuu🙏
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I can't express in words how PUMPED I am after my talk today on technical literacy for non-engineering roles at the
@womenintech
Global Conference! It was one of the HIGHEST attended sessions with 140+ attendees & out of this world engagement (special shoutout to
@gabetimes
)🤩
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@Audio_Vortex
@MattWallace888
Believe me my dude, I’m direct to a fault. if I hated men I would just say it.
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Am I like.. the only one having a low key existential crisis about AI?
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Underrated
#productmanagement
skill no one talks about: how to say NO.
Repeat after me:
Saying NO isn't rude.
Saying NO isn't rejection.
Saying NO is being authentic.
Saying NO is being honest.
#productmanagers
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Yep, this is why I tell
#productmanagers
to shift your mindset from *telling* engineers what to do to asking what you can do to help *enable* them to do their best work.
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Webhooks.
Here's a quick explainer:
Webhooks are a popular way for apps to provide real-time information to other apps via sending automated messages. They're automated messages sent from apps when something happens (a trigger event).
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🥳In case you missed it, my episode on Lessons in Product Management w/
@ProductFont
dropped last week!
I talk abt anti-patterns & effective ways of working w/ devs, tech mentorship, misconceptions of what it means to be technical, & more!
Check it out:
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I struggle w/ productivity as a solo founder but had the most gloriously productive day yesterday and got a bunch of unpleasant tasks off my plate..
Here are my productivity "hacks":
- Get a good night sleep (no caffeine, sleep early, rise early)
- Morning exercise (I do barrys
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3
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Just came back to the land of internet after a weeks-long trip to Ireland. Pretty conflicted whether having internet again or being back in the real world is a good thing… but at least the trip was pretty incredible!
Went for a castle wedding of a dear friend in London and
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Much of the perfectionism struggle of
#productmanagers
stems from how the organization's culture handles change and uncertainty, and how technical company leaders are.
#productmanagement
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