In this engaging discussion, Thor Mitchell, Chief Product Officer at Balderton Capital and former VP of Product at Miro, shares his insights on establishing a robust Associate Product Manager program. He emphasizes the vital role of soft skills in candidate selection and the significance of mentorship in nurturing talent. Thor also explores the importance of diversity in leadership, highlighting how both introverts and extroverts contribute to team dynamics. With innovative recruitment strategies and structured training, he illustrates the pathway to fostering future product leaders.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
APM Program Experience
Thor Mitchell worked with Google's successful APM program.
He tried replicating it at Crowdcube but struggled due to low product management awareness.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Defining APM Programs
Associate Product Manager (APM) programs are structured programs designed to train individuals in product management.
They often involve rotations through different teams and provide support structures like coaching and training.
insights INSIGHT
APM Success Factors
APMs can be successful with proper support and a strong recruitment process.
Many successful tech CEOs began as APMs.
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The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Susan Cain
In 'Quiet', Susan Cain presents a comprehensive argument that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people. She charts the rise of the 'Extrovert Ideal' and explores how it permeates various aspects of society, including workplaces, schools, and social interactions. Cain draws on research from biology, psychology, neuroscience, and evolution to demonstrate that introversion is common, normal, and valuable. The book offers advice for introverts on functioning in an extrovert-dominated culture and advocates for changes to support and recognize the contributions of introverts. It also distinguishes between introversion, shyness, and anti-social behavior, and highlights the unique strengths of introverts, such as deep thinking, persistence, and excellent negotiation skills.
We welcome back Thor Mitchell, who shares his journey from being a CPO at CrowdCube to becoming a VP of Product at Miro, where he established an Associate Product Manager (APM) program. Thor discusses the importance of structured APM programs, the qualities to look for in candidates, and the benefits of bringing fresh talent into companies.
Featured Links: Follow Thor on LinkedIn | Miro | Apply for one of Miro's graduate programs
Our Hosts Lily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She’s currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She’s worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.
Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury’s. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group’s Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He’s the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager’s Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon’s music stores in the US & UK.
The Product Experience 