Methods to Outline KPIs with Former Expedia Product Lead

Final week, Product College hosted Riah Sathe, Former Product Lead at Expedia, for a particular #AskMeAnything session. Riah has loads of helpful frameworks and technique tricks to share. Learn on to study her strategy to metrics and see her favourite Product sources.

Meet Riah

Riah Sathe is an enthusiastic Product Chief who focuses on the shopper to create key outlined outcomes. She lately labored as a Product Lead for a world product line at Expedia Group. Her buyer care platform supported thousands and thousands of vacationers all around the world every year. She additionally labored as a Product Supervisor in Expedia’s first APM cohort and as a International Product Supervisor intern earlier than that.

What are the highest 3 duties a PM ought to prioritize?

1. Discuss to customers! That is initially.
2. Technique – I spend time doing aggressive analysis & keep updated on new tendencies.
3. Trying on the proper knowledge. It’s essential to outline the proper metrics and give attention to 3-5 KPIs and regularly measure these.

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Particular methods to outline KPIs?

• It’s good to have a mixture of main and lagging indicators. You’d need to have the ability to proactively monitor knowledge in addition to reply to alter.
• I say 3-5 KPIs as a normal guideline so that you’re wanting on the highest precedence gadgets.
• Additionally outline a North Star.

What instruments and frameworks do you suggest for creating roadmaps?

I’ve used a number of instruments up to now, proper from JIRA portfolio, to easier instruments like Google sheets or powerpoint. I’d first establish the purpose of your roadmap. Some roadmaps are supposed to be extra strategic, whereas others are tactical. I discover JIRA portfolio nice for tactical roadmaps the place you possibly can immediately monitor work. For management/buyer dealing with roadmaps that are extra strategic, I imagine figma can be nice to observe.

When launching a brand new function in your Product or strategic enterprise unit, how do you outline which occasions to trace?

I like to make use of a framework after I’m approaching metrics known as Purpose-Query-Metric (GQM).

• Begin with 1-2 excessive degree objectives
• Hone in on questions you’re on the lookout for solutions to. What’s it that you just need to accomplish with the launch?
• As soon as what you need to measure, you’d establish your metrics. 3-5 of these can be your key metrics (or KPIs) and also you may need further metrics to provide the full image.
• I’d strategy analytics/engineering on getting the proper occasions and monitoring these solely after you’re clear on what must be measured for fulfillment.

What technical abilities are required as a PM?

PM roles fluctuate throughout the board so the extent of technical abilities wanted fluctuate as effectively. If working in a expertise firm nonetheless, it’s greatest to have a excessive degree understanding of the structure of the product you’re taking a look at.

It’s worthwhile to grasp upcoming expertise tendencies so you may make essential strategic choices as effectively. For Platform Merchandise, sturdy technical abilities would positively be a plus. For instance, with the ability to perceive APIs, primary technical structure and so on. System design is often not requested within the interview course of aside from a couple of corporations.

How ought to I customise my CV per job description?

I’d do a couple of issues:

• Determine what issues the position is particularly going to be centered on.
• When you have related expertise to that particular area, I might spotlight that in your resume. Typically we might not have the very same expertise, however have labored on the same drawback house, comparable trade or with the identical person segments. In that case, I’d additionally spotlight that.

I would not have any examples to share, however these are normal pointers.

I’m a brand new Product Proprietor. Ought to I get licensed?

Thanks in your query. Product College gives an amazing program & there are a lot of free sources accessible. I’ve up to now seen Product Homeowners or TPMs get a PMP certification, nonetheless it’s associated to Undertaking Administration & not Product particular. Generally, I discover that certificates are usually not necessary or an anticipated normal for PM roles. I’d give attention to the abilities you’d need to develop and go from there.

New Product Managers have restricted sources or time to study the enterprise. How can they greatest study the enterprise of the product?

A method I prefer to strategy issues is by doing a little preliminary market analysis.

• Begin with the enterprise first. Determine rivals, the panorama, geographies, and so on. Determine the highest 3 issues confronted by your organisation as a complete.
• Get into your particular person product house & repeat this. That is exhaustive nevertheless it helps to start out with probably the most urgent issues first and take it from there.
• Discuss to customers as early as attainable! Dive into former person research and check out frequent assist tickets. This could let you know what’s the largest buyer want.

This takes time and is all the time a altering panorama. Typically corporations like Gartner or consulting corporations are additionally an amazing place to begin as they’ve achieved the preliminary analysis in that subject. Their studies are often accessible.

I’m trying to pivot from operations to Product. What studying sources would you suggest?

It’s nice to be curious and develop that, as you come throughout merchandise in your day-to-day. Operations is usually a good place to begin, as you’d be sturdy within the execution side of issues. I’d suggest constructing a give attention to technique & Product Design to enhance that ability set. I like to recommend Stratechery as a weblog for constructing technique abilities. I’ll put up an inventory of Product books in the direction of the tip of this chat.

Learn subsequent: Transitioning to Product Administration From ANY Background

I’ve been aiding my present PMs from the place of software program engineer. I would like steerage on whether or not it’s higher to shifting internally to the PM position vs outdoors immediately?

That’s a good way to start out, by shadowing PMs round you. I discover that transferring internally may help because you already perceive the product/enterprise and may focus completely on honing Product abilities. Nonetheless, generally, exterior applications (like an APM program) allow you to cowl a number of dimensions in a extra structured and intentional approach. I might say it is dependent upon what stage of profession you’re at.

I’m evaluating one of the best path to get into Product Administration. I’m considering I can begin as a Tech Program Supervisor (TPM) after which transfer to Product Administration. Have you ever seen folks make this transition?

I’ve seen a number of folks transition by way of the TPM route so it actually is usually a stepping stone. That being mentioned, you’re already in Program Administration and when you really feel prepared to use, I’d encourage you to take action! I might give attention to constructing Product design & technique abilities and showcasing that in interviews as you’ll probably already be sturdy in execution along with your present background. Good luck!

How do you get your foot within the door? Most roles I see name for somebody with expertise.

There are a number of APM positions these days which can be designed for people with 0-3 years of Product expertise. I’d suggest making use of to these because the interview course of is extra centered round Product sense and lesser in your former background. One other approach is to maneuver inside your present group. Discover an attention-grabbing drawback to unravel and see if the product workforce can be open to a rotation.

Any remaining suggestions?

My recommendation is to go forward and apply/don’t be afraid of creating the shift. It will probably seem tough however I’m positive with the proper strategy you possibly can break into the sector!Some sources I personally like for technique & design:

1. The Stratechery weblog by Ben Thompson
2. Hooked by Nir Eyal
3. The Design of On a regular basis Issues
4. All issues Product College! You’ll discover tons of nice sources on the YouTube channel for all these subjects.

I’ll attempt to reply all of the remaining questions! Be at liberty to attach on Linkedin.