Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth

A framework for PM skill development | Vikrama Dhiman (Gojek)

May 12, 2024

AI Summary

5 min read

Vikrama Dhiman, a product leader at Gojek, shares a framework for product manager career growth based on observing high performers over 15 years. He emphasizes that success comes not just from impactful products but from consistent execution, quality contributions, and effective collaboration, regardless of the product area.

The Three W's of PM Growth

Dhiman outlines growth across three dimensions: what you produce, what you bring to the table, and your operating model. High achievers excel in at least two, and top risers master all three. What you produce starts with tangible outputs like shipping features, running experiments, or preparing briefs—early-career PMs should prioritize these over strategy. As skills build, shift to outcomes (owning goals) and direction, but always maintain outputs to stay grounded in individual contributor work. What you bring involves high-quality artifacts like PRDs, product notes, strategy docs, and experiment plans, demonstrating skills in data/metrics, design/research, technology, and strategy. These show "impact on impact," proving your direct contribution to results.

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What you'll learn

1 **[00:04:03] (04:03) **Intro and high-performer traits overview**
2 **[00:05:51] (05:51) **What you produce: Outputs to outcomes**
3 **[00:15:43] (15:43) **What you bring: Artifacts and impact multipliers**
4 **[00:18:31] (18:31) **Operating model: 3 tenets for collaboration**
5 **[00:27:15] (27:15) **Career stalls: Pitfalls and fixes**
6 **[00:37:54] (37:54) **Feedback, prioritization, and PM transitions**
7 **[00:46:56] (46:56) **PM role clarity and 8 key attributes**

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Show Notes

Vikrama Dhiman heads all things product at Gojek, including product management, design, program management, and research, across Indonesia, Singapore and India. He has over 16 years of experience building internet products, consults with Fortune 500 companies, and is among the most well-known and respected product leaders in all of Asia. In our conversation, we discuss:

• The most common traits among successful product managers

• The 3 W’s framework for PM career growth

• The Four A’s of leveling up in product management

• The right way to push back as a PM

• Common pitfalls that stall PM careers

• Vikrama’s advice for transitioning into product management

• Why intent alone is not enough

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