Company Values

It's been 18 months since we set our values, and they are still relevant and capture our team culture really well. It's a good sign. Here are our four values: ADAPTABILITY, TRANSPERANCY, OWNERSHIP, and EMPATHY. We still use the language in our day-to-day conversations, and it helps us gain focus and direction in moments of ambiguity.

Adaptibility: We are about adjusting based on the situation and learnings; being ok with change and having flexib... read more

"How We Roll" Team Activity

Looking for a team-building activity that's both enjoyable and beneficial for better connections and understanding among your team?
Let me share with you an activity called "How We Roll" that originally came from the book "Team Up" by Keegan Luiters. Then I made a couple of tweaks to the template and the activity to make it even more engaging.
This team activity not only brings joy and laughter but also helps team members discover the best ways ... read more

The Future of Product Managers

The news of product managers being removed from teams at companies like Dovetail and Airbnb has generated intrigue and speculation about the future of this role. Some argue that successful products can be developed without product managers. However, whether to include or exclude product managers depends on various factors, including company culture, talent, organisational structure, and product size.
As the industry continues to evolve, it will ... read more

A Start-Up Morning Routine

Working from home has become increasingly common, especially in the era of small, remote-first start-ups. But remote work can be hard! Particularly when it comes to fostering team cohesion and maintaining a sense of connection.
Here at Backpocket, we have 3 team members who work remotely on a full-time basis and our morning routine helps us build stronger relationships (and keeps us sane)!
In many companies, morning stand-ups are an opportunity ... read more

Building a Two-Sided Marketplace

Two-sided marketplaces demand precision and strategy. Balancing buyers and sellers is the core challenge.
The "Seed and Scale" approach solves the "chicken-and-egg" problem. Start with high-quality sellers - your pioneers. Support them to attract initial buyers. Then, use targeted campaigns to draw buyers with compelling value. As buyers grow, sellers follow, drawn by opportunity.
Create a virtuous cycle where buyers and sellers thrive together. ... read more

Ambiguity & Decision Making

Navigating ambiguity can be one of the toughest parts of making product decisions.
The sense of ambiguity is often more intense in startups, where there is a new problem space or niche to explore, no users or customers, no strategy in place, and fewer people on the team to speak with. If you are a product person in a startup, you are probably on your own, and you might feel a bit anxious when facing ambiguity.
It's okay to feel anxious. Everyone... read more

Agile vs Strategy

The word agile has been hijacked.
Once a mindset rooted in adaptability and collaboration, it's now a corporate buzzword. Tossed around in meetings. Slapped on slide decks. Used to explain, excuse or justify decisions that have nothing to do with actual agility.
Somehow, agile started meaning “we change our minds a lot.” Or “we don't need a plan.” Or worse, “we build things quickly without thinking.”
That's not agility. That's chaos in disguise.... read more

The Purpose of a Strategy

I had to read a 30-page strategy document when I just started working as a software engineer.
I couldn't understand it.
I was lost.
Only later in my PM career did I realise that it wasn't my fault. The document itself was the problem. It lacked a clear vision, a logical structure, and a summary.
A strategy isn't supposed to be a complex, convoluted mess that only the chosen few can understand.
👉 The purpose of a strategy is to provide clarity a... read more

No-Reply Emails

Have you ever received an email from a service or business that you wanted to reply to because you had a burning question? But then discovered it came from a "no-reply" address?
Did a mixture of "Argh!" and "F*ck!" escape your lips? And the idea of going to their website, finding the "Contact Us" section, and filling out a form felt like yet another task you don't need in your life.
I can't help but wonder why businesses still opt for these impe... read more

SCQA Framework: Examples and How to Use It

The SCQA (Situation, Complication, Question, and Answer) framework, also known as the Minto Pyramid Principle, is a communication and problem-solving tool that breaks down complex ideas into simpler, more manageable parts.
SCQA is often used in a business context where time is limited and decision-makers have to quickly grasp important information.
The SCQA format has four components:

Here are some of the benefits that you can enjoy by using th... read more

Product Strategy Canvas Notion Template

Are you having trouble defining and communicating your product strategy? The Product Strategy Canvas Notion Template is just what you need to get started.
Inspired by Melissa Perri's article "What is Good Product Strategy?", the Product Strategy Canvas Notion Template is designed to help you plan and visualise your product strategy in a way that's easy to understand and implement. It's like a roadmap for your product, but with more colours and f... read more

What Makes a Good Product Manager?

Product management is a challenging position that calls for a broad skill set and familiarity with several aspects of business. Being a good product manager requires more than just having a specific set of technical skills. You also need to have some personality traits and soft skills that can make a huge difference in a product's success. Learn the top 7 qualities of a successful product manager.
Customer-centricity: Being customer-centric is c... read more

The 3 Leadership Books Every Product Manager Should Read

Being a product manager presents a difficult task since you don't have any subordinates. Achieving success means finding methods to persuade and guide individuals without the power of the organisation backing you up.
To steer both the product and the team, you'll need to express the vision, strategy, and product roadmap. Listening to others, cultivating valuable connections, and creating an environment that motivates your team to perform at their... read more

This is what happens when a colour blind person gets a DJI Mavic Pro.

Product Management Coach

Product Managers grow faster with pressure and clarity.
You've nailed the ceremonies. You ship reliably. You manage delivery like a pro. But the question is - are you growing?
Most Product Managers stall because no one's pushing them to think bigger. To shape the right bets, not just execute them. To own the number, not just the roadmap.
That's where I come in.
Ten years leading products taught me this: the fastest growth happens when you're give... read more

Product Development Roles and Responsibilities

The product doesn't build itself.
People do. And too many teams forget that roles aren't just titles - they're levers. Each one pulls weight differently. And when they're not clear, the whole machine wobbles.
Let's break it down.
The process of introducing a new product or service to the market is commonly known as product development. The process entails multiple positions, each with its unique duties. Below are some of the distinct roles involv... read more

"The Mom Test" - Book Summary

Just finished reading a book by Rob Fitzpatrick "The Mom Test: How to talk to customers & learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you". It's an excellent book - short, practical and to the point.
This book can be very helpful for Product Managers, User Experience Designers, someone who is planning to launch their own business and tech guys who are learning how to talk to customers.
Talking to customers is one of the f... read more

Changes at Basecamp

Basecamp went big this week!
There's a lot of hate and negative vibes around the recent Basecamp's corporate policy changes. See the announcement “No more societal and political discussions on our company Basecamp account”. People were quick to accuse DHH and Jason Fried of eliminating freedom of speech.
I'd like to share four points.
I respect DHH and Jason for being very clear on what they believe the right thing for Basecamp is. There's nothi... read more

Jobs To Be Done (JTBD) in Purpose Statements

While scrolling through a number of lists outlining the ‘purpose', ‘vision' and ‘mission' of organisations, I spotted a pattern – some of them reference all three types of jobs from the "Jobs To Be Done" (JTBD) framework: Functional, Consumption and Emotional/Social jobs.

Here's how the three jobs are defined according to the JTBD framework:
Functional job - This is defined as the underlying process that the job executor is attempting to underta... read more

Product Management FAQs

Product managers decide what to build next. They are accountable for the overall success of the product.
Product Managers drive the vision, product strategy, user experience, execution, and success of the product or one of its areas. Product Managers are trusted by the organisation to make prioritisation calls.
Product Managers and their teams work on a product or feature that impacts the wider business, from customer support to finance. They mus... read more