In my nine years as a PM, I’ve worn many hats.

At Facebook alone, I worked on three vastly different teams—Business Products (like appointment booking), Oculus VR, and Instagram’s teen safety initiatives. Each role required a different set of skills, priorities, and approaches to problem-solving.

The truth? There is no single definition of what a PM does. Product Management is fluid—it changes based on the industry, company, and even the specific product you’re building.

As you read through these PM archetypes, ask yourself the following:

❓ Which one sounds most like me? 

❓ Which type of PM role would I enjoy the most?

1. The "I Know How to Code" Product Manager

This is often someone with a software engineering background who realized coding felt too solitary. Maybe you wanted to work with people more, but becoming an Engineering Manager seemed too far away—so you pivoted into Product Management.

Your Superpowers:

✅ You build strong relationships with engineers and understand the technical trade-offs.
✅ You can tell when engineers are overestimating (or underestimating) timelines.
✅ You can jump into technical discussions without feeling lost.

Best Fit Roles:

🔹 Developer APIs & platform products (e.g., AWS, Stripe, Twilio)
🔹 Infrastructure & security (e.g., data privacy, internal tooling)
🔹 B2B SaaS tools for engineers

How You Solve Problems:

🛠️ “Let’s quickly build a prototype and see what works.”

2. The "It’s Beautiful" Designer-Turned-PM

You might have started as a designer, UX researcher, or customer support specialist—someone obsessed with how users experience a product. Your priority is making the product feel intuitive and delightful.

Your Superpowers:

✅ You have deep empathy for the customer.
✅ You notice every edge case and pain point.
✅ You care deeply about aesthetics, usability, and simplicity.

Best Fit Roles:

🔹 Consumer-facing products (e.g., Airbnb, Spotify, Pinterest)
🔹 Products requiring seamless UX (e.g., Oculus VR, Apple iOS design)
🔹 Early-stage start-ups where UX is a differentiator

How You Solve Problems:

🎨 “Let’s put this in front of users ASAP to get real feedback.”

3. The "Give Me the Data" Analytical PM

You don’t trust gut feelings—you trust data. You thrive on A/B testing, conversion funnels, and engagement metrics. If it can’t be measured, it doesn’t exist.

Your Superpowers:

✅ You back up every decision with data.
✅ You spot trends that others miss.
✅ You can run SQL queries in your sleep.

Best Fit Roles:

🔹 Growth & experimentation teams (e.g., Facebook Growth, TikTok Engagement)
🔹 Products with heavy A/B testing (e.g., e-commerce, ad tech, subscription services)
🔹 Fintech & marketplace optimization (e.g., Uber, Robinhood, Amazon)

How You Solve Problems:

📊 “Let’s run an experiment and let the data decide.”

4. The "Strategy Comes First" Business PM

You think in terms of market trends, competitive advantages, and business trade-offs. Your focus is on positioning the product for success, whether through monetization, partnerships, or compliance with regulations.

Your Superpowers:

✅ You understand the competitive landscape.
✅ You can predict where the market is heading.
✅ You know how to turn a product into a revenue driver.

Best Fit Roles:

🔹 Highly competitive industries (e.g., ride-sharing, e-commerce, social media)
🔹 Regulated markets (e.g., fintech, healthcare, data privacy)
🔹 Products seeking product-market fit (e.g., Facebook Dating, YouTube Kids policy)

How You Solve Problems:

📈 “Let’s analyze the market and find the best opportunity.”

Which PM Type Are You?

The best part about Product Management? You don’t have to fit into just one box. Many PMs develop hybrid skill sets, combining strategy with data analysis, or technical expertise with user empathy.

So, which PM type resonates with you the most? 💻