Transitioning from Software Engineering to Product Management

What are the ideal options out of the PM roles and what kind of profile is required for the same considering I've started my career being a PM only? Is an MBA required for these roles?

Sharing some reflections on this: 1. Product is not a function with a large hierarchy / multiple levels in the ladder. Managerial responsibility comes in very late in the product career and the spans are typically small (relative to other functions like engineering, sales, operations). This also means a steeper funnel to the top and only a handful VP Product roles in the industry. 2. Product is centered around technology and digital consumer trends, both of which are fast changing. This requires constant unlearning and relearning. But more critically, this also means that previous knowledge/experience hits a plateau on marginal value beyond a basic threshold (where you have developed some essential product semse and skills). 3. Product managers are also much higher-paid vs other functional peers, at comparable years of experience. This means that a PM gets to a very high salary (say, 1+ crore) by the age of 40 (15-20y into their career). Tech functions in non-tech companies (like FMCG, banking) cannot offer that kind of pay, meaning salary growth beyond a point is limited to tech-first companies / limiting addressable market for lateral moves. All of these considererd, how should PMs think about the longevity of their careers? Unlike traditional roles, this does not seem like a "retire at 60" job. What would be the realistic age one should plan for, at which career growth and salary growth will stagnate? What are ways in which a 80%ile PM can extend their career (eg: also taking up engineering management or P&L responsibility or growth function etc., to increase scope)? PS: this post is not for the top 5-10% PMs. They will always find roles at VP level etc, this is for the 50-90%ile bucket of PM talent.

Hi, I'm currently working as a Product Analyst at a promising startup, where I've been working on enhancing product delivery processes, keeping a check on deadlines (part of PMO), and driving client adoption for the past 1.5 years. Here my primary responsibilities involve conducting data analysis of projects and tickets, identifying trends and patterns, and providing insights to inform product decisions. However, I'm not directly involved in the core decision-making processes that shape product strategy. This is my first job and I feel there will be nothing specific that I will own in project management and/or process excellence, there is nothing much to grow in this field, and pretty much anybody can replace this task, *please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm particularly fascinated by the prospect of building solutions that will directly impact our clients hence the real world, developing innovative product strategies, and bringing impact to the business. I have some questions and seeking guidance. Insights, personal experiences, or any guidance will help me a lot. Thanks in advance. - Should I consider pursuing a product management role? - Or should I step toward product strategy? - If I need to get into product strategy, how can I do that? is an MBA a must for this kind of role? - Or are there other avenues that might be more suitable for my current skillset and experience?

Hi everyone I just wanted to take some guidance from you guys, currently I'm working as a Software Engineer but as I found my keen interest more towards Product roles sides like Product Manager. Please guide me with the steps what all steps should I do to achieve this role without MBA?

Hey everyone, excited to be doing this AMA! A brief about me, I work currently as a Director of Product at an Indian unicorn startup About my career: - Did my undergrad from IIT and then masters from an Ivy league school - Have been in product for almost 10 years now - across 2 Indian unicorn startups and a publicly listed company Would love to take questions on what it means to be a PM, growing within the role, building your career, and other things :) Will be back here at 4 pm and start replying Shoot away!

i’m from engineering but i wanna move to product, is there a pathway that i should follow? is a mba degree the only way to get there? if not how do i transition?

Hey grapeviners, I am a software engineer and earning pretty good, but I have always dreamt of becoming a product manager. I don't hold any MBA. So How do I transition from a software engineer to a product manager.

Most of the product managers I have interacted with have MBA/PGDM degrees. With an experience of 12 yrs in the service company, what would be my prospects of cracking a PM role in start up/other companies

Say you are a spectator and this seems like the next best thing to get into.. is that the right thought? And if you’re a non tech bachelors with an mba degree from tier two college, Is it possible to break in product management? And if you’re seriously considering product still, are the fellowship programs, the boot camps and everything else advertised worth spending money? Looking for answers, personal journeys and anything that can help!

Hi there, I have 3.5 years of IT engineering experience and am considering transitioning to consulting. However, I don't have an MBA. Is this switch feasible? If so, what skills and experiences should I highlight on my CV? Are there any certifications or courses that would help? I appreciate any advice or insights!