60: Hardware Product Management

In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman welcomes Charlton Washington, MBA (Johnson & Johnson) and Jake Wallack (Axon) to talk about hardware product management. As a PM, you might have to choose between hardware vs. software. Knowing the difference between the two fields, the process involved, and the varying customer needs will allow PMs to get familiar with the systems should they wish to transition from hardware to software and vice versa.

Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.

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What to Listen For:

• 00:00 Intro
• 05:42 Metrics of success in hardware
• 08:22 Hardware vs. software
• 09:52 Other metrics 
• 12:40 Meeting the needs of different consumers
• 16:06 Inclusivity is necessary
• 18:59 Product management in hardware vs. software
• 21:11 Hardware has longer development cycles
• 24:42 Hardware or software as a PM?
• 26:47 More long term strategy
• 27:40 Check your skills and experience
• 28:40 Single threaded leadership
• 31:07 Stakeholder management with hardware vs. software
• 33:55 Stakeholders are more directly involved in product
• 35:01 What can make people in hardware PM angry?
• 38:16 Transition from software to hardware
• 40:11 How to navigate hardware PM in the medical space
• 42:16 Resources for PM
• 45:40 Final thoughts