From Product Manager to CEO
Why Great Product Managers Make Even Greater CEOs
Can a Good Product Manager Become a Great CEO? I Believe So. Profiles with product management experience acquire key skills to understand users, prioritize developments, and iterate quickly. And well, it’s widely known that in the startup ecosystem, 90% of projects fail. (Yes, I know. It’s disheartening). But why does this happen?
In my opinion, most of these so-called "failures" occur due to a disconnect between the product and the real needs of the market. Founders without product experience tend to build solutions without validating hypotheses or deeply understanding their users. The result? They launch products that, in most cases, fail to gain traction.
However, founders with a Product Manager background have a key advantage: we apply user-centric thinking. This means we prioritize essential features, test hypotheses, and optimize the customer experience. Simply put, we truly understand the importance of iterating fast, validating assumptions, and listening to the customer.
That said, it would be naïve of me to think that this alone would guarantee a startup a place in the 10% that actually “succeed.” The reality, as you might imagine, is far more complex. In an ever-changing environment, the ability to create, test, and improve products quickly is crucial—but it’s not the only piece of the puzzle.
One thing is clear though: finding Product-Market Fit is the first piece. Without a solution that truly solves a problem, the rest of the puzzle falls apart.
What pieces are key to launching a Startup?
Listen to the user: The best ideas come from real problems.
Prioritize Product-Market Fit: Before scaling, make sure users need your solution.
Iterate quickly: Launch MVPs and gather constant feedback.
Once you have these pieces, add a large and scalable market, prove the traction of your validated hypotheses, build a solid and complementary team, craft a clear and concise pitch, and leverage networking to spread your solution. With patience and strategy, you’ll be able to put all the pieces together to succeed in the market.