Where Do PMs Go After They Peak?

It seems like the question might have missed the mark. I've never really seen PMs hitting a 'peak' in the traditional sense, because success in this field isn't about luck. My friends who are great PMs might experience huge years if they catch a break with market events on significant feature changes. Our team is stacked with incredibly smart people. Sure, everyone has years where their ideas really shine, but you don't see those dramatic falls off unless something major happens. The industry feels more stable in terms of movement between companies, likely because the hiring process and academic credentials are more reliable indicators of someone's long-term success compared to other fields. If someone's done standout work for their undergrad and wants to work with us, I'm pretty confident they'll continue to produce great work here. Let's be real: we're all here for the money, but the work we do isn't too far removed from reality. The most significant shifts within the companies usually come down to what the lower-tier companies are willing to offer or personal reasons, like seeking a less stressful environment. Over the years, there have only been a couple of hires I realized weren't a good fit for the industry. After about six months, I had a frank conversation with them, not to fire them, but to suggest they start looking elsewhere. Both found opportunities elsewhere eventually and let me know when they were leaving. And then there are those who retire early, having hit their financial goals, ready to do whatever they please... I mean you can disagree with it all you like but I've worked at the best Product companies in the world for the last 15 years. Its my job to build the best Products out there. If we were to blow up its my fault, I have hired PMs from other teams after they have been let go because the previous Product Head fucked up not because a single one of them was a bad PM. All my strategies are based in logic and reason and analysed to an insane amount of detail before they are put into production. If they drive impact then its not through luck, its because we have spent hours and hours finding inefficiencies and crafting strategies to benefit off it. In all honesty I also just dont think the perspective of people just getting laid off really holds up, the whole reason why the entire industry is heading in the data focused Product Management is that its 'proper impact'. Yes people come and go and they dont last forever but I have had many IIT+IIM grads working for me... we will come up with new ones.

They go to small startups and ruin them

Tbh, I don’t know. I’ve been a PM for 10+ years in what you’d call as very well known brands. PM as a function is relatively new in Indian companies, so we are pretty much the first generation who are going to see what’s it like. That said, I see there’s a difference in trajectories of a B2B PM vs a B2C PM. A B2B company which has struck gold and a clear growth path will be a great place to build a career. I’m now more or less done with product management and want to move out of this function. My target areas are marketing, strategy, and business development.

I've some 20+ exp in my company. They're directors and VP now and huuuge pay. Talking about skill, all are SMEs. PM is not a generalist role anymore, barring some exceptions where companies don't know what they're doing. I've worked with some great PMs and TBH it just made the process much easier, clearer and we know what we are building for. Ofcourse bad PMs are there but unlike @CheckOut I won't put anyone into a bucket and generalize

They become STG head or so

Where do software engineers go after they peak. This is not a question for the cocky new grad in the overvalued startup. Nobody has the true statistics but I will use the assumption that 75% of those who peak will get laid off within 2 years. The remaining will will progress to director of engineering or VP Engineering or CTO in same company or some other. Replace engineering, with sales, with marketing, with operations. Congratulations OP, you just discovered why it's called a rat race and climbing the ladder. It's a pyramid and there are few top spots. However, PMs & Sales are most likely to start their own starups atleast in India.

I have this curiosity too. Following post

Your first line 🤣🤣🤣 Got reminded of some names too

Have seen the career trajectory of 10 PMs who worked with me in Yahoo, Rediff etc in 2008 when I started as a noobie engineer Two of them ended as founders and has raised Series B Two of them are CPOs and their salary is upwards of 2 Cr + Stocks Three of them in US but are still in SPM / DOP rolez Three of them could not sustain as PMs and lost out. Ended up as Consultants

Not seen too many , and not worked in new age businesses. Still adding my two cents. I have seen PM do below stuff - Join a startup as founding member - slowly move towards execution roles , if non-tech background then COO. If tech background move to delivery role. - start teaching as visiting faculty in a B-school Lot depends on what all things you have done before eventually becoming PM. Also how is your network.

@CheckOut these managers won't understand what you're saying. I would refrain using Product Manager as a term it's nothing but a glorified micromanager who uses jargons and provide useless features or products overall. Actual fkin bootlickers.

we'll see after these elections, let's see where Modi goes to hide

Becoming Head of Products. Eventually transiting to Tech, Strategy, Executive roles. Early PMs have also become Founders as well

I'm not a PM but what I have seen is that PMs reach their peak and then they try to become subject matter experts, so a PM who is well versed in the Financial domain on topics like loans, mutual funds, credit cards, fraud detection is invaluable, similarly for retail, transport, traveling, airlines, hotels etc. We have to understand companies also go through a phase where revenues stagnate and at that point you need these subject matter expert PMs who can creat or atleast open new gates.

I have worked with PM with fantastic background but they all are 🤡 . Just comes and start talking just blabber

Shravan Bhaiya just announced he's starting his own

They retire