Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

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

May 12, 2024

01:12:19

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Vikrama Dhiman, Head of product at Gojek, shares insights on traits of successful product managers, a career growth framework, pushing back as a PM, and common pitfalls. Emphasizes balancing outputs and outcomes, career growth challenges, and the multifaceted nature of product management roles.

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Quick takeaways

Focus on producing outputs early in your career to establish a strong foundation for growth and recognition within the team.

Showcase your impact through high-quality artifacts like PRDs and communication content to demonstrate value and essential contributions.

Prioritize skill development and execution at all career stages to drive continuous improvement, adaptation to challenges, and career advancement.

Deep dives

Focus on Execution and Output in Career Growth

It is crucial to focus on executing tasks and producing outputs early in your career, rather than solely obsessing over strategy or impact. By prioritizing output, such as launching products, analyzing experiments, and contributing to strategies, you lay a strong foundation for career growth. Emphasizing the continual improvement in producing outputs and outcomes, even as you progress to senior levels, ensures a well-rounded skill set and fosters recognition within the team.

Product Manager's Operating Model

02:05

Product Management Skills and Growth Ladders

03:02

Three W's for Product Manager's Career Growth

00:37

Focus on What You Can Control

02:01

Introduction

2min

Career Growth Framework for Product Managers

5min

Balancing Outputs and Outcomes in Product Management

20min

Navigating Career Growth as a Product Manager

18min

Navigating the Ambiguity of Product Management Roles

6min

Unlocking the Role of a Product Manager

15min

Innovative Chinese TV Series Delivery on Short Video Apps

3min

Encouragement, Food Recommendations, and Networking Support

3min

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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Brought to you by:

• Uizard—AI-powered prototyping for visionary product leaders

• Webflow—The web experience platform

• Coda—The all-in-one collaborative workspace

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Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-framework-for-pm-skill-development

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Where to find Vikrama Dhiman:

• X: https://twitter.com/vikramadhiman

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikrama/

• Website: https://www.vikramadhiman.com/

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Where to find Lenny:

• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com

• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/

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In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Vikrama’s background

(03:56) Three common traits among great PMs

(07:09) The first W: What you produce

(15:40) The second W: What you bring to the table

(18:58) The third W: What’s your operating model?

(20:36) Three traits that make you a great PM to work with

(21:49) How to improve the quality and quantity of your outputs

(23:26) The art of the pushback

(26:55) Common factors that impede career growth

(33:39) Vikrama’s personal reflections

(39:33) Choosing which skill(s) to focus on developing

(46:28) The ambiguity of the PM role

(51:47) The 8 axis for PM growth

(56:57) Contrarian corner: Why intent alone is not enough

(59:30) Lightning round

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Referenced:

• Taxi mafias, cash vaults, and 100% MoM growth: The story behind Southeast Asia’s biggest startup | Kevin Aluwi (Gojek): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/taxi-mafias-cash-vaults-and-100-mom

• How to scrappily hire for, measure, and unlock growth | Crystal Widjaja, Gojek and Kumu: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-hire-for-measure-and-unlock

• Gojek: https://www.gojek.com/en-id

• SQL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL

• Oracle: https://www.oracle.com/

• Crystal Widjaja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalwidjaja

• Raditya Wibowo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raditya-wibowo-a0845436/?originalSubdomain=id

• Sidu Ponnappa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidup

• Leveraging mentors to uplevel your career | Jules Walter (YouTube, Slack): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/leveraging-mentors-to-uplevel-your

• Kevin Aluwi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaluwi/

• Workday: https://www.workday.com/

• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/

• Small Data: The Tiny Clues That Uncover Huge Trends: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Data-Clues-Uncover-Trends/dp/1250080681