34: Why Do PMs Need to Find Their Leadership Voice?

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman and The Product Management Center advisory board members Red Russak and Soumeya Benghanem welcome Ronke Majekodunmi (PayPal) to talk about finding your leadership voice. When you have a voice powerful enough to be a catalyst of change, then you are on your way to becoming an effective leader. Your leadership voice, when used correctly, will greatly benefit your organization and the people you work with.

Support for How to Succeed in Product Management is brought to you by Apptentive, which enables product managers to measure shifts in customer emotion and gather actionable feedback across the mobile customer journey. To learn more, go to Apptentive.com/UW.

What to Listen For:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:52 Why do you need a leadership voice?
• 08:53 You use your leadership voice to make a difference
• 16:35 How do you find your leadership ears?
• 21:38 Four things to focus on when talking about communication
• 28:14 It’s easier for engineers to transition into a PM role
• 31:39 Give as much time as possible in mentoring new PMs
• 34:51 How to settle in a new role/organization
• 38:18 Always try to build something
• 46:02 Follow the social accounts of the top people in the organizations
• 50:53 Get exposed and reach out to the right hiring people
• 53:43 Don’t let fear hold you back 
• 56:20 Don’t hesitate to use your leadership voice