By Teresa Torres · producttalk.org · @ttorres on X · LinkedIn
This interview-style post profiles Zaz Harris, a software engineer who moved into a product management role at her own company after her supervisors noticed her interest in product work and needed to fill a gap. The author argues that engineers wanting to become PMs often make the leap most easily inside their current organization, where they can build credibility through activities they already do, such as shaping UI or deciding what to build. Zaz describes the change as scary but worthwhile, since her frustration with having no product input was already significant. The piece is useful as a candid look at the transition, including the new management responsibilities and the difficulty of learning unfamiliar areas while fighting fires.
01Key takeaways
- Signal your product interests to leaders early so you are considered when opportunities open up.
- The easiest path into product is often inside your current company, where you already have context and trust.
- Expect the shift from individual contributor to manager to bring new people responsibilities.
- Protect time for learning adjacent disciplines like analytics, marketing and competitor research, even when fire-fighting.
- Acting despite fear and uncertainty is normal; the goal is to jump in and do your best.
02Key sections
- Why engineers move toward product
- Engineers who want more say in decisions and a whole-business view often seek product roles. The author suggests the most practical route is making the move at their current company.
- How Zaz made the jump
- Zaz had informally done product work for years and signaled her interest, so leadership recognized her as a fit when a founder departed. She accepted despite feeling it was a risky move outside her comfort zone.
- What changed in the role
- Moving from individual contributor to product lead meant managing people for the first time, including a designer and customer support, and working on a high-traffic site where results are visible.
- What she wishes she had prepared for
- She felt under-prepared in marketing, analytics and competitive analysis, and found it hard to find time to learn because she was stretched thin reacting to feature work.
- Teresa's reflections
- The author values Zaz's willingness to voice her interests early and to act despite fear, noting that bold career changers usually feel fear but proceed anyway.
03From the post
“This post is part of the So You Want To Be a Product Manager series. I hear from a lot of engineers who want to move into product management. Typically, they like writing code, but they want to get more involved in the decision making and have a good perspective”
Summary and takeaways written by PM Atlas; quotes are short excerpts. © the original author.