Breaking into Product Management can be intimidating. Transitioning from the military to a civilian career is scary. Keegan Evans, former PM at TiVo, shared how leading teams of Marines prepared him to be a Product Manager, where he focused to quickly fill in his own technical gaps, and why Agile is EXACTLY like being a pilot. He also discussed how he faced his fears, successfully deliver products to delighted customers, stumble along the way, and know every day that he has so much more to learn.

1. Breaking into Product Management by
former TiVo Senior PM
www.productschool.com

2. FREE INVITE
Join 22,000+ Product Managers on

3. COURSES
Product Management
Learn the skills you need to land a product manager job

4. COURSES
Coding for Managers
Build a website and gain the technical knowledge to lead software engineers

5. COURSES
Data Analytics for Managers
Learn the skills to understand web analytics, SQL and machine learning concepts

6. COURSES
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
Learn how to trade cryptocurrencies and build products using the blockchain

7. Keegan Evans
TONIGHT’S SPEAKERS

8. Breaking into Product
Management
Keegan Evans
Former TiVo Senior PM and
Major, United States Marine Corps

9. My Path to Product Management
● USMC
● M.S. Global
Leadership and
Veterans Internship
● Product Roles at
TiVo and Ridecell

10. What We’ll Be Talking About and Takeaways
● Use Boyd’s OODA loop as a simple
structure for Agile thought
● Focus on humility and learning to
successfully transition into Product
Management from a non-technical
career
● Apply leadership lessons from the
Marine Corps to become a better
Product Manager
● Comparing Boyd’s OODA Loop and
Agile development methodology
● Knowing the Marine Corps
Leadership Traits and Principles
● Discussing common themes in
Marine Corps teams and Product
Development Teams
Enabling Learning Objectives (ELOs) Terminal Learning Objectives (TLOs)

11. How is Product Management
EXACTLY* like
Being a Pilot?
*ok, not “exactly” but more similar than you might think

12. How is Product Management
EXACTLY* like
Being a Pilot?
*ok, not “exactly” but more similar than you might think

13. How is Product Management like Being a Pilot?
Boyd’s OODA Loop
● Observe - Gather Data
● Orient - Interpret Data, account for
biases/pressures, and determine options
● Decide - Select an option
● Act - Test that option (to gather data and
Observe again)

14. How is Product Management like Being a Pilot?
Selected Agile Principles
● Welcome changing requirements, even late
in development. Agile processes harness
change for the customer's competitive
advantage.
● Simplicity - the art of maximizing the amount
of work not done - is essential.
● At regular intervals, the team reflects on
how to become more effective, then tunes
and adjusts its behavior accordingly.
The situation will change
Be ready to adjust quickly with
sound decision making
Do only what you need to do
extremely well
Continue to orient yourself for
improvement

15. Product Management
and
Marine Corps Leadership

16. Marine Corps Leadership Traits
Justice
Judgement
Dependability
Integrity
Decisiveness
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Enthusiasm
Tact
Initiative
Endurance
Bearing

17. Marine Corps Leadership Traits
Justice
Judgement
Dependability
Integrity
Decisiveness
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Enthusiasm
Tact
Initiative
Endurance
Bearing

18. Marine Corps Leadership Principles
Train your Marines as a team
Make sound and timely decisions
Develop a sense of responsibility
among subordinates
Employ your command in accordance
with its capabilities
Seek responsibility and take
responsibility for your actions
Be technically and tactically proficient
Know yourself and seek self-
improvement
Know your Marines and look out for
their welfare
Keep your Marines informed
Set the example
Ensure that the task is understood,
supervised, and accomplished

19. Marine Corps Leadership Principles
Train your Marines as a team
Make sound and timely decisions
Develop a sense of responsibility
among subordinates
Employ your command in accordance
with its capabilities
Seek responsibility and take
responsibility for your actions
Be technically and tactically proficient
Know yourself and seek self-
improvement
Know your Marines and look out for
their welfare
Keep your Marines informed
Set the example
Ensure that the task is understood,
supervised, and accomplished

20. Knowledge Tact
Integrity
Be technically and tactically proficient
Know yourself and seek self-improvement
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions

21. Product Development
and
Marine Corps Helicopter Aircrew Teams

22. Product Development and Aircrew Teams
Aircraft
Commander
Copilot
Crew Chief
Observer /
Gunner
Corpsman
Product
Manager
Business
Analyst
Engineering
Manager
Developers
QA

23. Final Thought:
Culture and Product Managers

24. Q & A

25. Part-time Product Management Courses in
San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, New
York, Austin, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Denver,
London, Toronto
www.productschool.com