Malthi SS (Product Coach)

Product Management : beyond influencing without authority, to leading without authority. Influencing without authority has long been the name of the game for PMs. As the industry moves (rightly so) towards a world with fewer managers and more individual contributors, ICs must continue to build their muscle on how to lead without authority. What does leading without authority look like for an IC PM? - Don't measure your worth only through execution. Execution is table stakes. Have strong views on the right thing to build, and the right way to build it. - Insert yourself in critical discussions. Ask for facetime with leaders, present your views. Leaders must learn to listen and embrace feedback/inputs from senior ICs. - Ask for help. For e.g. if some complex data pull needs to be done, make a case to the data team and push your request. DIY is ideal but don't be averse to asking for help. - Be vocal about where you see gaps. Sometimes gaps exist because nobody's thinking deeply enough. Thinking is the job of the PM. You should've thought through issues and experiences before it hits your customers. There's unmatched satisfaction in being an IC PM and building as opposed to endless meetings, but we need to give more agency to the IC leaders. This will also need ICs to not distance themselves from leading - leading is part of the job.

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What is North Star ✨ framework? North Star framework is an important product management concept to define success metric for business and inputs that drive the success metric. Here is an attempt to simplify it (Go to PPT 💻) + What is a North Star Metric? A North Star metric is the one measurement that’s most predictive of a company’s long-term success. + Why Do We Need a North Star Metric? Focus and Alignment Company-wide View

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𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬? 1) 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞: Show employees how their work connects to the product strategy and success. Reinforce that their feedback matters and contributes to meaningful decisions. 2) 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲: Host roadshows to share the current strategy and product roadmap to ensure everyone has a clear understanding of the big picture. 3) 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭: Use brainstorming sessions and focus groups to collect feedback in a systematic way. These forums encourage diverse ideas and collaboration. 4) 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐩: Maintain transparent communication by sharing how employee feedback has been integrated into strategies. This builds trust and encourages future contributions. By driving motivation, creating clear communication channels, and closing the feedback loop, product managers can turn employee insights into actionable improvements that drive success. #ProductManagement #ProductStrategy #Collaboration #Leadership #stephenwang

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What makes great products great is balance Balance between depth of features and breadth of features Balance between how often their PMs say yes and say no to stakeholders Balance between speed of increments and quality of increments Balance between number of problems they solve and the importance of problems they solve Balance between business needs and user needs Balance between successful and failed feature launches Balance between agility and stubborness Great products are like those Grand Slam winners in tennis who know how to win games by understanding the conditions and balancing their games according to what is required Their greatness is inherent in their ability to balance! #ProductManagement #Balance #Products

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Launching a product is one of the most exhilarating yet challenging tasks for any product manager. It’s the culmination of months, sometimes years, of hard work, research, and development. The stakes are high, and the pressure to succeed can be immense. However, a well-executed product launch can set the stage for long-term success and establish a strong market presence. It's not just about getting the product out there — it's about making a lasting impact and ensuring that the product resonates with its intended audience. But how can you ensure that your product launch is not just good, but exceptional? Here are some strategies from the Product Ops book that can help you achieve a successful product launch. 1. Understand Your Market and Customer Needs - Conduct thorough market research and gather customer insights to ensure your product addresses real pain points. 2. Set Clear Objectives and KPIs - Define what success looks like for your product launch. Set clear, measurable objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) that will help you track your progress and make necessary adjustments along the way. 3. Create a Comprehensive Launch Plan - A detailed launch plan is crucial. This should include timelines, responsibilities, and a step-by-step guide to the launch process. Make sure all stakeholders are aligned and aware of their roles. 4. Leverage Cross-Functional Teams - Product launches are not just the responsibility of the product team. Involve marketing, sales, customer support, and other relevant departments early in the process. Their input and support can be invaluable. 5. Test and Iterate - Before the big day, conduct beta tests and gather feedback. Use this information to make necessary tweaks and improvements. Iteration is key to refining your product and ensuring it meets customer expectations. 6. Communicate Effectively - Keep all stakeholders informed throughout the launch process. Regular updates and open communication channels can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure everyone is on the same page. 7. Prepare for Post-Launch - The work doesn’t stop once the product is launched. Have a plan in place for post-launch activities, including customer support, monitoring performance, and gathering feedback for future improvements. The key to a successful product launch lies in meticulous planning and cross-functional collaboration. It's essential to understand the market and customer needs deeply, set clear objectives, and involve all relevant departments early in the process. This holistic approach ensures that everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal.

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Reimagining Education: Striving for Equilibrium Between Purpose and Progress Education stands at a critical crossroads. On one side, institutions are aligning with industry demands to climb the value chain - patents, entrepreneurships and more. On the other, businesses also see education as a growth vertical. While these shifts have merits, they also raise vital questions about the true purpose of education. Here are five thought-provoking points for reflection: 1️⃣ Education Beyond Employability Education must empower learners with skills for today and wisdom for tomorrow. While job-readiness is key, its true value lies in fostering thinkers and innovators who adapt to an uncertain future. ❓How can we balance immediate skills with lifelong capabilities? 2️⃣ The Role of Industry in Shaping Education Industry partnerships bring relevance but must remain collaborative, not prescriptive. The goal is curricula that serve both economic needs and education’s transformative purpose. ❓How can industry and academia drive shared, long-term benefits? 3️⃣ Equity in Access and Opportunity Commercialised education risks widening gaps. Innovation must benefit all, ensuring education remains a ladder, not a barrier. ❓How do we ensure education remains a powerful equaliser? 4️⃣ Balancing Innovation with Fundamentals AI and EdTech reshape learning, but shouldn’t overshadow foundational principles like critical thinking and ethics. ❓How can cutting-edge tools coexist with timeless principles? 5️⃣ Education as a Public Good, Not Just a Private Gain Education drives societal progress. Treating it as a commodity risks eroding its greater purpose. Policies must balance societal and economic goals. ❓What steps reaffirm education as a public good while embracing innovation? ✨The Need for Change These aren’t criticisms—they’re calls for reflection. Striving for equilibrium ensures education remains a transformative force for individuals, businesses, and society. 💡 What do you think? Are we balancing short-term goals with long-term vision? How can education better align with today’s dynamic world? Let’s spark a healthy discussion—your insights matter! EduScale® - A leap & Scale® Enterprise

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This is an invitation for an introductory webinar on "Design Psychology for Product Managers & UX Designers," scheduled for July 3rd, 2024, from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM IST. Register for Webinar: https://shorturl.at/1G5LR Product managers and designers can apply the knowledge of "Design Psychology" to conceptualize and innovate product ideas, features, and functionalities that cater to users' psychological needs. With the emergence of AI, the digital technologies have gained the capacity to predict and adapt to users' mindsets. In this challenging and changing context, the knowledge of "Design Psychology", empowers the product managers and designers with groundbreaking techniques for user research, human-AI interaction design, and innovation. As a distinguished researcher in the field of HCI, Dr. Dinesh Katre has invested many years studying and experimenting to carefully curate the body of knowledge for Applied Design Psychology. More about the presenter: https://shorturl.at/mBGI7 #productmanagement #ProductCulture #ProductDesign #ProductSuccess #ProductOwner #ProductVision #hci #userresearch #designpsychology #PsychonomicDesign #humancomputerinteraction #uxdesign #userexperiencedesign #interactiondesign

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BRAND. NEW. WEBSITE. 🤯🤯🤯 https://rasayel.io Rasayel exists to help sales teams succeed with WhatsApp. How? 1️⃣ No more chaos managing a sales team over #WhatsApp. 2️⃣ Qualify, nurture and convert your leads over #WhatsApp done right. 3️⃣ Relationships-first, automations-second sales ops. 4️⃣ Works with your tech stack, tied to your #CRM. If your sales team still use outdated ways to sell over #WhatsApp – You'll honestly be surprised of what we built for you. ☺️ Check it out here → https://rasayel.io For Arabic, over here → https://www.rasayel.io/ar/

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Chai pe Charcha Gaurav Saini reached out for meeting up and we figured that we have a lot in common as we are building our business. Esp the fact that in the era of omnichannel experiences one needs to build a product company and a services company together. The landscape is changing and we spoke about the learning lag esp wrt adoption of AI in consumer and manufacturing business. Esp as it relates to improving customer experience with authentic personable experiences. More to come soon Trumsy Vizitor #chaipecharcha #startups #d2c #gamification

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Finsire has recently started its learning series - Ideally by chatting with the best folks in the Industry. Here, with Siddharth Shetty, Co-founder and CTO of Account Aggregator (AA) from DigiSahamati Foundation, we speak about the data exchange's inception, growth, and future in India. - We use AA for various reasons, including pushing boundaries in India's data exchange layer with various use cases. - It's been about three years since it went live, and over 70 million cumulative Indian accounts are linked. - One-of-a-kind data sharing network from India that is not seen anywhere across the globe, baring Singapore with https://lnkd.in/gyrCQtVQ - Different approach to protect consumers as compared to the previous models that existed to attain consumer data by various methods used by Plaid or Salt Edge Onemoney Finvu (Cookiejar Technologies) Protean eGov Technologies Anumati by Perfios AA NADL - Account Aggregator Computer Age Management Services Limited KFin Technologies Ltd. Enjoy - Please click on the link below and watch the video!

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How product managers can give designers feedback that helps build great products? Click the link to watch the full video for FREE! -> https://lnkd.in/gkkQjxEa Watch this exclusive video featuring Abhilash Ramachandran, Head of Product Design at Reach, as he dives into actionable tips to help you provide clear and concise feedback that drives results. HelloMeets - Upskilling Platform for PMs #productmanagement #reach #designfeedback #hellomeets Avi Chopra Vrishti Jain Sumanth Suri Jules Pearson

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Are you truly solving customer problems or just adding features? In today’s competitive landscape, shifting from feature-focused roadmaps to a problem-centric approach is essential. Marty Cagan emphasizes defining success by the outcomes you deliver, not just the outputs. Here’s what I learned from Leslie Grandy’s insights: 🧠 Deeply understand user needs and significant problems 💡 Foster a culture that encourages creativity and rapid idea generation ⚡ Enhance creative velocity to iterate quickly and stay ahead of market trends 🔄 Embrace failure as a learning opportunity to fuel innovation 🔍 Utilize analogic thinking and generative AI to discover novel solutions 🚧 Recognize and leverage constraints to focus creative efforts By implementing these strategies, product teams can develop more impactful and innovative solutions that truly resonate with customers. Let’s prioritize solving real problems over simply delivering features and drive meaningful outcomes. Read more using the link in the comments! #productmanagement #innovation #creativity #productdevelopment ---- Need help breaking into Product Management or accelerating your PM career? Schedule a free 1-on-1 session with me and let's chat about your goals. Link in my profile. If you enjoyed this post: 1. Follow me for more PM & career content 2. Repost to share with your network

The Dawn of a New Era in Indian EdTech -From Chalkboards to AI: The Future of Learning Imagine a classroom where each student has a personalized learning path, guided by AI. This is not a distant dream but the emerging reality in India’s edtech sector. As AI and machine learning become integral, they will tailor educational experiences to individual needs. Hybrid learning models will blend the best of online and offline education, making learning more accessible. Additionally, the rise of vernacular content will ensure that education reaches every corner of India, breaking language barriers. #EdTech #AI #PersonalizedLearning #HybridEducation #VernacularContent #FutureOfLearning LinkedIn News India LinkedIn News LinkedIn News Europe What excites you most about these changes?

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In 2023, the USA and China welcomed 3.6 million and 9 million newborns, respectively. India saw a staggering 25 million new births. Harnessing this population dividend is crucial, and it begins with robust investments in early childhood development (ECD) to foster future leaders and enhance the lifelong well-being of citizens. Investment in Early Childhood Education 💸 Let’s examine the financial commitment to early child education across different countries: • USA: $21 billion approx • India: $3.75 billion (0.1% of GDP) approx • OECD countries: Average of 0.7% of GDP While India has increased its focus on early child education by introducing the New Education Policy in 2020, there remains a substantial need for further investment. ECD Market Dynamics 📈 The ECD market was valued at approximately $91.68 billion in 2023, with expected growth at a CAGR of 5.86% from 2024 to 2030. Key Innovators in the USA 🇺🇸 • BabySparks • Kinedu • Playfully India’s Rising ECD Champions 🇮🇳 In recent years, India has seen a significant increase in ECD awareness and initiatives, leading to a surge in startups addressing these needs: • BabyCloud ( Adwaita Educare Pvt. Ltd.) • iMumz • Prodigy Baby • BabyG • Mylo • FirstCry Parenting It’s vital for India to further invest in education, starting from early childhood, to lay a foundation for innovation, well-rounded, and happy citizens. Such investment will enhance not only the GDP but also the happiness index of the nation. #EarlyChildDevelopment #NEP #ChildDevelopment #Parenting #EarlyEducation #StartUp

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You know, this keeps coming up in my conversations lately. We recently hosted a CTO's roundtable in Bangalore, we were deep in discussion about engineering productivity. Metrics like deployment frequency, MTTR, and lead times came up, but the conversation kept circling back to one thing: Trends matter more than raw numbers. And it hit me because just a few days before, I spoke with Nathen Harvey from Google DORA on my engineering success podcast along with Rishi (our CTO at DevDynamics) . He said something that really stayed with me: "You don’t need perfect data to improve. What matters is whether things are getting better or worse over time. You need to look at the change in metrics" This perspective came up again and again. Everyone agreed: Numbers alone don’t tell the full story. Trends do. Here’s what more we discussed: [1] Look beyond the number. So, your deployment frequency is 5x a week. Sounds low? Maybe. But if last month it was 2x a week, that’s massive progress! That’s what actually matters. Same with MTTR, don’t waste time stressing about “what’s good.” Just focus on getting better. That’s it. [2] Context is everything. Change failure rate at 10%? So what? They don’t mean squat on their own. What’s breaking? Why is it breaking? What’s the bigger picture? Tusar Gupta was super clear on this during our roundtable. He kept saying, “Why are you measuring this? What’s the point? What’s the context?” Without that context, metrics are just... noise. [3] Progress beats perfection. If your deployment frequency is steadily going up? You’re winning. If your MTTR is dropping over time? Celebrate that. It’s not about hitting some mythical “perfect” number. Nathen put it perfectly on the podcast: “You don’t need to be an Elite performer. The goal is to be an elite improver.” Metrics aren’t the end goal. They’re there to show trends, to guide you. P.S. The podcast with Nathen Harvey is dropping soontrust me, it’s packed with real talk about how to use metrics the right way. Don’t miss it.

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When Gujarat’s leaders stepped onto the national stage, they brought the state’s vision, discipline, and growth-oriented mindset to India. Their leadership not only elevated Gujarat’s presence but also set the foundation for national transformation, proving that strong regional representation can lead to collective progress. Today, in the ICAI elections, Surat has a similar opportunity to shine. With dynamic and capable leaders like Jay Chhaira and CA Ishwar Jivani (Jivani Ishwarkumar Ramjibhai), Surat can bring its unparalleled spirit of innovation, resilience, and growth to the forefront of ICAI’s future. Just as Gujarat’s leaders transformed India, Surat’s representation can transform the ICAI, ensuring progress for members across the country. Let’s make this moment count—vote for Surat, vote for growth, vote for Jay Chhaira and Ishwar Jivani. #LeadershipMatters #SuratForICAI #ICAI2024Elections #VoteForProgress #JayChhaira #IshwarJivani #SuratLeadership #VisionForGrowth #FutureOfICAI #StrongRepresentation #SuratShines #EmpowerLeadership #ICAIChangeMakers #VoteForChange #GujaratToIndia #SuratToICAI #ProfessionalExcellence #LeadersFromSurat #ICAIInnovation #TogetherWeGrow

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