Today’s guest was a stunned business analyst who, when he was invited to join a new product management group at a company, did NOT ask: what’s product management? Nope, his first question  was a lot more practical than that.

Today’s guest is my friend and mentor, Kyle Jacobsen. Kyle has over 20 years experience in product management, from entry-level all the way up to head of product.

We cover a wide range of topics: what product management was like 20 years ago (spoiler: a LOT different than now), the non-linear path of success, how “product manager” is actually a misnomer , and more

Kyle's website: https://www.kylejacobsen.me/

Send me your success stories: pathintoproduct@gmail.com

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What do product managers, toddlers, and the Backstreet Boys have in common? The answer to that riddle is what drives my guest on Path into Product today. Meet Emily Holcomb, a senior product strategy manager with over 6 years experience. Today she shared how curiosity and questions lead her along the path from a part content manager, part business analyst to full product manager.

Send me your success stories: pathintoproduct@gmail.com

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Becoming a product management professional has never been more difficult. Just look at any entry-level job posting on job boards, and you’ll see hundreds of applicants within hours. That is an incredible amount of competition! No wonder we call it “breaking” into product!

But becoming a product manager is not impossible. 

The Path into Product podcast is here to help you find your path into a fulfilling product management career. If you are an aspiring PM, or maybe you’re only considering product management as a career, then you will hear stories from real, down-to-earth professionals about how they broke into product. I’ve interviewed dozens of product professionals, and I’ve found that there’s no single way to become a product professional, and you’d be surprised at how random some of these paths into product can be. My guests will walk alongside you, sharing their lessons learned, like a seasoned mentor showing you the ropes. No more wondering how to become a product manager.

I’m Aaron Airmet, a senior product manager with over 7 years experience in software product management. Join me as we dive deep into real professional’s real stories. I promise you will find your own Path into Product. Hit that subscribe or follow button, and listen today.

I'd love to hear from you! Email me at pathintoproduct@gmail.com

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Dan Barker, a self-described "recovering developer" found his way into product after various software developer and consulting roles. As a deep reader and experienced professional, Dan is very knowledgable about the craft of product management. He provides several recommendations for aspiring PMs—including several books to read.

Have feedback for the show? Email us at pathintoproduct@gmail.com.

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Chris Campos gained a love for business and customer relationships while working in the family business. He fell in love with products while working in an Apple Store. Now he’s a director of product at Ramsey Solutions. Hear his story, insights in how to become a product manager, and his recommended books for aspiring product managers.

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Logan Cottle has changed his mind about product management being a “cush” job. He was headed down the road of dentistry when a simple question began a journey into technology companies. First, starting as a Customer Success Manager, he gained a love for data and analytics and slowly made his way into product management. Logan’s story is a perfect example of making deliberate and iterative steps toward a career in product. 

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In episode 21, Sarah Dethloff shares her unconventional path into product. With a background in journalism, Sarah decides to follow somewhat of a family path into teaching. After spending two years with Teach for America, she winds her way from "product lite" into her first "real product" role. Sarah's story is a perfect blend of accidentally falling into product management, finding a job based on family needs, luck, and talent. Her story will resonate with so many of you. Sarah is now Head of Product Strategy at Campfire. 

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Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia recognized a gap. Trained in computer science, he was told he'd be an engineer. Later, in business school, he realized that the program was very high level. Could there be something in the middle, that bridged technology and business? Bridging that gap became the genesis of Product School, a community and training program that Carlos founded and runs to train the next generation of product managers.

Carlos discusses a wide-range of product management topics, including:

• Product is a mindset, not just a title
• What's changed for aspiring product managers trying to get in
• The future of product management
• Product manager portfolios
• How to invest your time to land the first product role
• Curiosity and always learning
• Strong opinions, loosely held
• Eating your own dog food (or as Carlos would say: drink your own champagne)
• And more

Check out Product School's free resources: productschool.com

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Reza Shirazi found himself in project managment roles, but always felt like something missing. Years later, while discussing his skillset with a new manager, the manager said, “Oh I get it, you’re a product guy.”

Reza, originally from Pakistan and India, felt like he had found a home in product management. He takes a principles-first approach to product, and is thrilled by the endless learning, curiosity, collobaration with other experts, and impact that a product management can bring.

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John Franck found his way into product management through many experiments, starts, failures, and successes. When he felt computer security was not for him, he knew something out there had to suit him. John's story offers helpful insight into how to provide value while networking and offers practical examples of being in the right place at the right time.  John's Book Every Product Manager's First 90 Days: A Workbook for New Product Managers can be found here on Amazon. Have a product question of feedback for the show? https://forms.gle/BbHwHtfE62ccG8e16 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pathintoproduct/message

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Gretchen Rodriguez, originally from Cuba, started doing product-management-like work in Spain before joining eBay's marketing team. While at eBay, she discovered product management, and made deliberate decisions to "network with intention" in order to land her first product role. 

You will love Gretchen's positive and generous spirit; and the tips she provides aspiring managers are practical and impactful.

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We often hear that people's path into product management is one part effort ten parts luck. Trevor Bruner shows us that it can be equal parts hard work and equal parts luck. Trevor has the most diverse work background of any of our previous guests. From an oil rig supervisor to a salesman, he has a great story that shows what doors determination can open for someone looking to get into product management.

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Daniel Falabella, Senior Director of Product at Duolingo, was on a path to be a business consultant, until he realized, as he says, consulting was a "scam." That insight led him to try his hand in a start up, eventually transitioning into product management.

You'll find Daniel's contrarian and bombastic insights to be pragmatic and down to earth. He'll give you recommendations of books not to read and companies not to work for, and provide some really practical advice for being one of the top 10% of product managers.

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Alicia French has a get-it-done approach to life and solving problems. After taking a difficult customer call while working in client success, Alicia has 24 hours to solve her customer's problem. This leads her to talk to all the people she can and presses forward, seeking an answer. Her tenacious journey ultimately led her to product managing the experience this customer was facing.  Have a product question or feedback for the show? Let us know by clicking here  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pathintoproduct/message

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A self-described “maker,” inspired by digital encyclopedias and science fiction novels, Lance was awed by the potential that digital technologies could unleash for humans. When mentors finally convinced him that he was a product manager, he learned all he could through conferences, books, and thought leaders.

Lance describes various paths into product, specializations or related role to product managers, flavors of product leadership, how to transition into product, and more!

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Matthew Lace has a passion for solving the world’s problems. But in the early days of his career at the UN and other global non-profits, he realized he needed a discipline and skillset in order to bring his passion into reality. While in a job interview for a project manager position, the interviewer suggested that Matt look into product management. Since then, he has found the skillset he needs to build solutions and solve problems.

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Clement is never content. In his own words, he says, "If I see a pain, I want to go and solve it." Throughout his story, you see this idea play an important role. Eventually, his CEO convinces him to become an Associate Product Manager. From the moment Clement Kao speaks, you sense that he is a teacher and mentor; well, he is! He started his own company called Product Teacher, where he helps people break into product management or improve and succeed on the job.

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Path into Product goes international! Robert Drury started in professional sports, tried his hand at managing a cinema, and eventually landed in sales and business development. While there, he developed a knack for listening to customers needs and figuring out how to solve them while delivering value for the business.

Robert is also founder of Getting Started in Product, where he shares content and services for people trying to, well, get started in product. You can find great content at https://www.gettingstartedinproduct.com.

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Justin Knutson, senior product manager at O.C. Tanner, is no stranger to failure. After dropping out of high school (and never completing a GED), Justin started and failed eight small businesses. Yet he credits those failures with teaching him to approach business, product management, and life with an insatiable curiosity, humility, and willingness to learn.

Justin shares his insights on questions like:

• What is at the core of being a good product manager?
• Do you need a formal education to be a successful product manager?
• What non-traditional learning experiences prepared Justin to be a product manager?
• Why should someone not choose to be a product manager?
• And so much more!

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Steve started as a cocky college student ready to change the world. After being told he was unemployable and then getting fired, he managed to pull himself together and continue to find opportunities to solve some incredible problems. He found himself in several different roles and leaned in when no one owned the customer's voice. During their career day, he teaches Product Management at his children's school every year. He is also CEO of a seed round startup called Campfire. This episode felt different to record and edit. He was thoughtful, clear, and inspiring. We kept it long so you, too, could experience all that Steve had to offer.

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