

Working With Product Managers and Stakeholders
Sep 29, 2025
Collaboration is crucial for engineering managers, especially when working with product managers and stakeholders. The hosts emphasize the importance of clear communication and setting expectations. They discuss balancing technical debt with product goals and the need for engineers to think like product partners. Strategies for involving designers early in the process are highlighted, as well as the significance of relating engineering efforts to business outcomes. Tips for giving concise updates to leadership round out the conversation.
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Product Managers Shield Teams From Politics
- Kelly describes working with multiple product managers and syncing with them multiple times a week.
- She notes product management is mentally taxing and involves shielding teams from politics.
PM Role Is Politically Draining
- Emma recounts covering for her PM and realizing she didn't want that role due to politics and stakeholder juggling.
- She praises her PM for protecting team capacity and handling political conversations.
Sell Technical Debt As Business Risk
- Frame technical debt in business terms to win prioritization.
- Tie upgrades or fixes to revenue, security, or velocity to make the case.