In this episode of Product Unfiltered, we sit down with Taruna Vardha, TPM at Trepp to discuss the art of technical product management and her experience transitioning from engineering to product management.
Follow us on Spotify, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts:
Summary:
Product Unfiltered: A Discussion with Taruna Vardha, Technical Product Manager at Trepp.
Technical Product Management is a critical role in today's digital age, where technology is at the forefront of almost every industry. In this podcast episode, we were fortunate to have Taruna Vardha, a Technical Product Manager at Trepp, share her insights and experiences about the field. She emphasized the importance of having a technical background, being coachable, and constantly learning, among other skills.
Key Takeaways:
Importance of Being Coachable:
Taruna highlights the importance of being ready to question and say "I don't know, teach me" to be a successful product manager. The ability to learn and adapt quickly is crucial in a constantly evolving field like Technical Product Management.
Benefits of Pursuing a Master's Degree in Product Management:
Taruna emphasizes the benefits of pursuing a master's degree in product management, as it provides exposure to both the business and technical aspects of the field, helping TPMs to better understand both sides and make informed decisions.
Skills Required for a TPM Role:
Taruna discusses the skills required for a TPM role, which include the ability to communicate with business, exposure to design and technology, and curiosity and coachability.
Tips for Gaining the Trust of the Engineering Team:
Taruna shares tips for gaining the trust of the engineering team, which include building a relationship of mutual respect, understanding the engineering team's perspective, and being transparent in communication.
Balancing Scalability and User Functionality:
Taruna discusses the balance that technical product managers need to strike between scalability and user functionality. She explains that there needs to be a decision point on whether scalability or user functionality is more important, and this depends on where the product is in its life cycle.
Challenges of Managing Rapidly Changing Technology:
Taruna discusses the challenges of managing rapidly changing technology and emphasizes the importance of being curious and utilizing the numerous resources available.
Responsibility for Product Failures:
Taruna addresses the tricky question of whether technical product managers should be held responsible for product failures, even if the fault lies with the engineering team. She emphasizes that it is a group effort and a learning experience and that blame should not be the focus, but rather what can be learned from failures.
Involvement in Hiring and Firing Decisions:
Taruna discusses whether technical product managers should be involved in hiring and firing decisions of the engineering team, highlighting that the decision lies with the engineering manager, but technical product managers can provide indirect feedback based on their interaction with the team.
Conclusion:
Technical Product Management is a challenging yet rewarding field that requires a combination of technical and business skills. Taruna Vardha's insights and experiences provide a useful guide for aspiring TPMs, emphasizing the importance of being coachable, constantly learning, and building strong relationships with the engineering team.
