Wyomi Ranasinghe’s Post

Why are we building this thing? That was my first question. Years ago, I stepped into the world of product management clueless. I had more questions than answers. Truly, it wasn't the technical skills that drove my success; it was curiosity, problem-solving, and a relentless drive to make an impact. So they told you the easiest side of Tech is product management, you were deceived too 😂 Product management isn't just about gathering requirements or managing deadlines. It's about understanding customers' needs and identifying opportunities and risks. It involves collaborating with engineers and designers and balancing customer goals with business goals. In my journey, I learned to ask: 💎Why are we building this? 💎 For whom are we building it? 💎 How does this align with our company’s vision? If you know how to influence without authority, experiment to validate assumptions, and lead with humility. Yes, you have a good chance at it. If you're starting your journey in product management, it is a path of continuous learning and curiosity. It's okay not to have all the answers. Have the right mindset, keep learning, and strive to create products that customers love and also work for the business. What is that one myth you have heard about product management and you want clarity on? #PMQueen #Productmanagement #Series

One thing I love about product management is the ability to take a vague problem or idea and distil it down into executable tasks, drive cross-functional clarity (by speaking the language each function understands), and have the capacity and foresight to own the process end-to-end, from discovery to delivery and evaluation. Such a powerful leverage!

It’s all too easy for Product Managers to say yes to every new request vs. pushing back. But the reality is, saying no is just as important (if not more so) than saying yes. Here’s why: 1. Focus is everything. Every yes dilutes your team’s ability to deliver on the core product vision. By saying no more often, you preserve the focus and quality that drive real value for customers. 2. Resources are finite. Time, budget, and development capacity aren’t limitless. When you say yes too often, you stretch your resources too thin, leading to delays, burnout, or a product that tries to do too much and does none of it well. 3. It forces prioritization. Saying no compels you to think critically about what matters most. It enables you to zero in on the initiatives that align with strategic goals, ensuring you’re working on what truly moves the needle. Tl;dr as a PM get good at gracefully saying no, and use your yeses sparingly. #ProductManagement

You're not failing as a PM. You’re playing wrong. After 3 years managing products, I learned the hard way that great products don't equal great careers... I spent my first year obsessing over features and timelines. Result? Built amazing products. Still got overlooked. Year 2: Focused purely on metrics and execution. Better, but still missing something. The breakthrough came in year 3: I discovered the PM Success Triangle. ->Impact: Numbers that make CXOs notice ->Execution: Delivery that builds trust ->Optics: Stories that travel up Here's the truth: Product Management isn't about managing products. It's about managing the triangle. Miss one corner, and the whole thing falls apart.

The ONE Skill Every Product Manager MUST Master Product management is a multifaceted role, but there's one skill that stands above the rest: Strategic thinking. Understanding the 'Why' Market Awareness Data-Driven Decisions Communication and Collaboration #productmanagement #strategicthinking #productstrategy #careertips #professionaldevelopment

Product management is often seen as a glamorous and prestigious role, but what people don't always see are the complexities that come with it. Here are just a few: Balancing stakeholder needs: We're constantly navigating the sometimes conflicting priorities of various stakeholders—from customers to executives to engineers. Managing the roadmap: It's like trying to solve a Rubik's cube while blindfolded—you have to prioritize, align, and communicate the roadmap while also leaving room for change. Adopting a customer-centric mindset: We’re constantly trying to put ourselves in the customer's shoes, but sometimes it feels like the shoes don't fit! Finding the right balance between customer needs and business goals is a constant struggle. Keeping pace with tech: Technology is constantly evolving, and we have to stay on top of the latest trends while also making sure our products are stable and reliable. Managing trade-offs: We have to make tough choices between speed, quality, and scope. Do we sacrifice one for the sake of another? Dealing with the unknown: We're often making decisions with incomplete or uncertain information. Whether it's a volatile market, a new competitor, or a sudden change in technology, we have to navigate these uncertainties without a roadmap. Product management isn't for the faint-hearted, but that's also what makes it so exciting! #ProductManagementChallenges #BalancingAct #StakeholderJuggling #TechFrontier

One of the challenges with the product management space over the past few years has been a lack of focus on developing core skills. The majority of conversations online have centered too much around feel-good topics instead of the meaningful development of key skills and competencies. Why? Well, like data science, product has been in a bit of a bubble; with 2 or 3 product managers essentially doing the role of 1 product manager. This is through no fault of their own of course. Companies flooded the market with PM roles for every single aspect of their product. This resulted in product people not being stretched in the right way, resulting in a situation whereby they lost the need to prioritise resources across products, think critically, make hard decisions and put the customer first. The result has become a conveyor belt of features, most of which probably should never have seen the light of day. Product management has become feature management. The lack of depth in product means people no longer need to, or maybe are even able to, talk about competencies and skills. All of this results in, as John Cutler phrased it "self-help, religous, personal-improvement" type topics. I hope I didn't misunderstand your post John. I won't lie, as an event organiser, I'm always reserved about having product managers speak. My worry being that the topic of discussion will be something that had been regurgitated to death.

I love sharing my thoughts about the challenges Product Managers face based on real experience and lessons I have learned. If you have a question or topic recommendation please share! I hope to make this a valuable resource focused on providing actionable recommendations that can be put into practice. You can see my previous posts here https://lnkd.in/d4NWqzf5

What I Wish I Knew About Product Management When I Started: Part III As I continue reflecting on the journey, here are more insights that I wish I’d known earlier in my product management career: 1. Roadmaps are Not Set in Stone: I used to think a roadmap was a strict plan. The truth? It’s a flexible guide. Roadmaps will shift as new insights come to light. Adaptability has been one of the most valuable skills I've developed along the way. 2. Stakeholders Speak Different Languages: One of the more challenging aspects is understanding that each team (engineering, marketing, sales) has its own priorities and language. Learning to adapt how I communicate depending on the audience has been key to driving alignment and buy-in. 3. Clarity Over Complexity: I used to think impressive product requirements meant long documents with complex details. Now, I focus on clarity and simplicity. The clearer your specs and requirements, the easier it is for everyone to move forward confidently and deliver high-quality work. For those stepping into product management: prioritize understanding over output, collaboration over control, and clarity over complexity. The best products are born from a solid foundation of trust and clear purpose. #ProductManagement #PMJourney #ProductLeadership #ProductLessons

We all say we're outcome-driven, user-centric, evidence-led, and laser-focused on solving real problems. Yet, these anti-patterns seem to creep in far too often: 1️⃣ Outputs over outcomes: Shipping features no one uses, but hey, velocity is up! 2️⃣ Opinions over evidence: Decisions made because someone really likes the idea (HiPPO effect, anyone?). 3️⃣ Prescriptive roadmaps: Rigid plans that crumble the moment reality kicks in. 4️⃣ Deadlines over goals: Delivering on time but missing the point. 5️⃣ Solutions over problems: Building shiny things with no clear problem to solve. What's the worst product management anti-pattern you've seen in the wild? #productmanagement