Explaining my PM role has always been a bit tricky.

I’ll be honest—explaining what I do as a PM has never been easy. My mom still tells people I’m in marketing. An ex-boyfriend called me a project manager. And most of my non-tech friends? They just smile and nod when I try to explain.

But product management isn’t just about meetings, roadmaps, and deadlines. It’s a craft—a delicate mix of strategy, intuition, and collaboration that turns ideas into tangible products people love.

I fell in love with product management because it combines the things I value most: creative problem-solving, helping people, and bringing ambitious ideas to life. It’s not always easy—but it’s incredibly rewarding.

So, let’s break it down.

What Does a Product Manager Actually Do?

Imagine you're at a lake house with friends. You all decide to swim from the shore to a small island in the middle of the lake.

As a PM, you're the one in the kayak, guiding the group. Some people are swimming, some are floating on inflatable tubes, and others are in canoes. If someone veers off course, you steer them back. You don’t decide how each person swims—but you make sure they know why they’re swimming and where they’re going.

That’s product management in a nutshell: guiding the "pack," ensuring no one drowns, and keeping everyone focused on the end goal.

The PM's role is to define what needs to be delivered and why it matters. Engineers, designers, and marketers are the experts on how to build it.

I’ve learned that a good PM isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions, listening deeply, and creating clarity when everything feels chaotic. 😵‍💫

Where Does Product Management Fit in an Organization?

Product management sits at the intersection of three key areas:

User Experience (UX): Designers focus on crafting an intuitive and enjoyable experience for users. Think TikTok's seamless scrolling or Instagram's like button.

Technology: Engineers build the features, ensuring functionality and stability. They're the ones coding the magic behind the scenes.

Business: Teams like marketing, sales, and support ensure the product reaches users and drives revenue.

The PM’s role? To balance all three. You’re the glue that ensures these teams collaborate, stay on track, and build products that solve real problems.

Who Do PMs Work With Day-to-Day?

Most PMs operate within what’s called a Trifecta Model—a close partnership between:

Product Manager (PM): Represents the business side

Engineering Manager (EM): Leads the technical side

Product Designer: Owns the user experience

At Shopify, I worked in this model, where the three of us had to agree before key decisions were made. We met regularly to plan sprints, align on goals, and communicate progress to leadership and team members.

In larger organizations like Meta, some teams follow a Quad Model. This includes a fourth partner like a Data Scientist (for data-heavy projects) or a Legal Rep (for compliance-heavy work).

While every team member contributes to success, these "Trifecta" or "Quad" groups are your core partners in the trenches every day.

What Skills Do Great PMs Need?

A strong PM doesn’t need to be an expert in every area, but they must be experienced in at least one and passionate about all three:

1. User Experience & Design

What You Should Be Doing:

✅ Talk to customers to gather feedback on ideas and products.

✅ Collaborate with designers to create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that are user-friendly and intuitive.

Great products are designed with empathy—no one wants an app that feels clunky or confusing. 🫨

2. Technology

What You Should Be Doing:

✅ Partner with engineers to understand technical constraints and realistic timelines.

✅ Lean on engineers to brainstorm innovative solutions and identify potential roadblocks early on.

The best PMs know when to challenge technical assumptions and when to trust their engineering partners to build the right solution. 🦾

3. Business Strategy

What You Should Be Doing:

✅ Understand how your product makes money and aligns with company goals.

✅ Keep an eye on market trends, competitor actions, and regulatory changes to inform strategic decisions.

For example, at Shopify, we focused on building tools that increased merchant success—because their success directly impacted Shopify’s subscription revenue. At Meta, product engagement drove ad revenue, so engagement was a constant priority. 📈

The PM Balancing Act

Being a PM is all about balance. You’re constantly asking:

"Is this idea realistic?"

"Is it technically feasible?"

"Does this align with the company's goals?"

You’re the person who ensures what’s being built meets customer needs and drives business outcomes. It’s a craft that blends the art of intuition with the science of data and frameworks.

Lessons I’ve Learned as a PM

Early in my career, I believed being a PM was about knowing everything. I thought I had to have the best ideas, the sharpest insights, and the clearest vision.

I was wrong.

The best PMs aren’t the smartest in the room—they’re the ones who ask the right questions. They create space for their team to shine. They listen more than they speak. And they’re obsessed with finding the simplest solution to complex problems.

✅ Develop strong communication skills to align cross-functional teams.
✅ Cultivate empathy for both users and your internal teams.
✅ Learn to balance strategy with execution—don’t just dream big; focus on actionable steps to get there.
✅ Embrace flexibility—PMs often pivot, adapting to changing priorities and new insights.

💡 Have you ever guided a group of people—whether at work or in life—toward a shared goal? Reflect on what worked well and what challenges you faced.

💡 How can those skills translate into product management?

Thinking about a career in product management? Start by diving into one of the three core areas—UX, Technology, or Business—and build your skills from there. 🎯

The best PMs aren’t just experts; they’re passionate learners who bring ideas to life. 🍃