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Prime Product Supervisor Values with Microsoft Senior PM


Final week, Product Faculty hosted Maria Olekheyko, Senior Product Supervisor at Microsoft, for a particular #AskMeAnything session. Maria has loads of knowledge on what makes a fantastic PM, together with values, abilities, and problem-solving abilities.

Meet Maria

Maria Olekheyko, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft

Maria Olekheyko is a Microsoft Senior Product Supervisor with over 15 years of managing groups the world over. She is at present main Microsoft’s Be taught Cloud Video games. She began with Microsoft in 2018 as a Program Supervisor for the Minecraft Schooling Studying Applications.Earlier than becoming a member of Microsoft, she labored as a PM for Studying and Improvement at EF Schooling First. All through her time with the corporate, she labored on the event framework for hundreds of staff throughout totally different international markets and re-evaluated and improved the shopper expertise after intensive market analysis.

When it comes to onerous abilities and delicate abilities what are prime qualities that separate a mean PM from a fantastic PM in response to you?

Smooth abilities are a should. I’d say a fantastic PM is listening very intently to every part that stakeholders must say and is aware of learn how to navigate this suggestions.

What are the highest values a PM wants?

a closeup of a cat on the grass looking at a butterfly

Prime values are:

  • Intense curiosity
  • Skill to work with knowledge & insights
  • Being comfy with ambiguity

Need assistance defining your skilled values? Take a look at Product Templates: PM Profession Imaginative and prescient Planner

What do you want you had recognized earlier than taking up a PM position?

I want I had recognized learn how to have more durable pores and skin :cara_ligeramente_sonriente: Product Supervisor is the one who doesn’t handle folks instantly, nonetheless receives every kind of suggestions from all of the stakeholders.

When you’re hiring a Product Supervisor, what do you search for in a stand-out candidate?

I feel I wish to see the best way the candidate thinks by the issue, what questions they must ask me and approaches to options.

What does your everyday seem like?

My days are busy: stuffed with conferences with engineering, producers, clients. Lots of time is spent prioritizing options/backlog/suggestions, loads of time is spent listening or watching clients work with the product + blocked focus time.

What ought to a PM do each day?

What I do each day is have a look at the product knowledge, discuss to clients or watch focus teams & discuss to manufacturing crew.

One other nice learn: 10 Weekly Habits of Product Managers That Make a Massive Distinction

close up of a lined spiral notebook with the word

Has the Product Manger position or positions reached saturation?

Thanks on your query! In case you are speaking about Product Supervisor position inside Microsoft – I’d say that we’re within the interval of transition proper now. Microsoft began dividing Program Administration & Product Administration tracks not so way back and now we have very clear distinctions proper now.

Any recommendation for a new graduate who is beginning on the PM journey?

I feel previous to becoming a member of Microsoft, I joined a neighborhood library and browse every part that I may discover on Product Administration. A few of my favorites are Excessive Possession, Hooked, and others. I feel being curious and studying about what’s new in the marketplace is fairly essential and can at all times be my suggestion.

Any recommendations on learn how to develop from PM to Senior PM?

I’ve this precept, every time I’m within the position I’m searching for necessities for the following degree position and browse them very rigorously. I attempt to strategize on how I can get to the following degree even being in my present position. Acting on the extent that’s greater than yours exhibits the administration which you could develop into the position.

Take a look at this Product Podcast episode: Abilities to Take You From PM to CSuite by Fb VP of Product

The way you run discovery and observe up supply? Any ideas for brand new PMs do a fantastic discovery and actually ship worth for patrons?

Discovery is figuring out gaps {that a} new product can cowl. I have a look at what the corporate has in the present day, what rivals are doing on this area, what clients need and do by jobs completed course of after which make a wager on a product. I hope we delivered on that hole with the brand new product that simply bought launched. Take a look at Cloud Video games with Microsoft Be taught, that is my product.

person carrying 2 cardboard packages in an indoor space

Simply checked out Cloud Video games. Seems like an incredible product. Is that this built-in with the recruitment course of at Microsoft, the place the crew displays the actions of a participant and use their efficiency and scores to find out their ability degree?

THANK YOU! You’re giving me nice concepts! We heard that sentiment from a few clients that they wish to use it as a hiring program train. It’s not at present built-in with recruitment. We attempt to ability up our huge learner neighborhood.

I did my certification for PM from Product Faculty, and now I’m working in a product distibution position. How can I place myself as a PM for a new position the place I’m truly constructing the merchandise?

I discuss to potential clients so much and after a few of these conversations 4 bought employed in Microsoft, not all of them into PM roles. Nevertheless, what I’m attempting to focus on is it is very important insert your self into the roles or processes that you simply wish to be part of. I feel truly working facet by facet with somebody so that folks see the way you method issues will get into the position you wish to be in.

I’d love to maneuver into Product Administration at an EdTech firm. Do you could have any recommendations on learn how to mix my background in schooling and tech to attraction to EdTech roles?

a child seated at a wooden table with a laptop and notebook open in from of them

I feel being a PM would possibly imply totally different factor for every firm, as I’ve not labored for EF in fairly a while, it’s onerous for me to advise notably about EF PM roles. Having mentioned that, my background is in schooling and I naturally discovered myself in Product Administration. I discover although that being a PM is like being a lifelong learner, quite than an educator. You might want to keep curious and that is actually what bought me into the position. I saved speaking to the purchasers and asking them “Why? Why is that this essential for you?” This led me to speaking about potential adjustments within the product after which transitioning right into a PM position.

Do product bootcamps add important worth to an individual’s profile or would you think about an individual self-studying the ideas equally eligible to be thought of for interviews?

I’d say something which you could add to your CV provides worth – the primary screening that occurs, occurs by recruitment, nonetheless in a while when you find yourself speaking to the hiring supervisor, I consider in studying books but additionally getting actual life expertise by connecting to the product.

With a view to construct product that solves actual life issues, what are some good sources and ideas that you possibly can recommend?

Speaking to individuals who use the product 🙂 They’re the very best sources of inspiration!

See our Product Supervisor Certifications

I’m beginning a Product Operations Job. How do I enhance present processes and create extra comfortable moments (automate) inside the operations division?

My greatest suggestion is to stroll in your buyer footwear and to really feel the “ache” after which interview the purchasers and see should you all are on the identical web page. I really like “strolling” in buyer footwear after which prioritize, prioritize, prioritize and be ruthless about reducing issues that don’t work.

What are a few of your finest methods, instruments or processes and so on in working throughout disciplines for instance with designers? E.g giving enter into their work, making requests?

group of people seated at a wooden table. All have either a laptop or a tablet device. two members of the group are seated next to each other and looking at a tablet screen together

As a PM you might be required to work throughout disciplines and you wouldn’t essentially be an skilled in all these disciplines. I strongly consider in establishing the rules for the product between totally different disciplines and every time the request comes up, we at all times verify in opposition to the rules, then with design particularly I strongly consider in person focus teams.

What’s subsequent? What’s Microsoft doing to remain related within the trade?

Microsoft is certainly engaged on implementing hybrid (mesh) throughout the board: schooling, gaming, work and cybersecurity.

What are the important thing issues I ought to take note of as a Product Supervisor in an early stage firm?

  1. Be taught the product, be sure to absolutely perceive the way it features and why
  2. Take a look at the consumption knowledge vs expectations
  3. Discuss to the purchasers that began utilizing the product, discuss to the purchasers that both stopped utilizing the product or by no means began utilizing it

You may additionally be considering: The Distinction Between Startup PMs & Massive Company PMs

Anything?

Thanks all for all of your questions! We shall be searching for extra great PMs in my crew within the subsequent fiscal yr (begins on July 1, 2022). In case you are searching for a job, keep tuned to listen to extra and also you at all times can attain out to me instantly. I’m on WorldWide Studying crew (World Tech Studying).

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