Main takeaways: -What to expect about Product Management -Busting a few Product Management myths -Transitioning into Product Management

1. JM Coaching & Training © 2020
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Lateral Growth: From Dentist to PM by
Zalando Product Leader

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5. Dr. Anamika
Knowledge Product Manager, Zalando SE
Lateral Career Move: From Dentist to PM

6. Hi, I’m Dr. Anamika
I am a qualified dentist by education, hold three degrees in three different fields and am
passionate about building great products that make people’s lives easier.
I have over 6 years strategizing innovative digital experiences across 2 continents and 3
industries spanning B2B, B2C and enterprise products
This is the most frequently asked question I face in my professional life.
“Anamika, How did you go from dentistry to
product management?”

7. Today
● WHAT: Doctor to PM - The
Journey
● Why Product: My Reasons
● How Product: The transition
● Busting some PM Myths

8. From Dentist to PM: The Journey
Registered Dental
Surgeon
Simla, India
2011
MBA (HAHC)
Symbiosis International
University
2013
Founded My Company
Life Skills Development
March 2013 - September 2017
Product
Watabid, POPXo, Zalando
April 2017- Present
eCommerce
Flipkart, Amazon
September 2013 - February 2017

9. Why I chose this area of work
HealthCare
Business Management
E-Commerce Tech

10. Why I moved into
Product
Management
Connecting the dots
● Curiosity
● Continuous education
● Mentorship
● Product Mindset
● Career Graph
● Natural Inclination

11. How I moved into Product Management
● Detail oriented.
● Empathy
● Scientific approach:
Experiment
● Diagnostic ability:
Identifying the problem
to solve
● Entrepreneurial Skills
● Prioritization
● Interpersonal &
Negotiation skills
● Business and financial
acumen
● Market research and
evaluation
● Working with data
● Time Management
● Strategic Thinking
● Understanding Industry
Insights and KPIs
● Design and User
Experience Knowledge
● Analytical Thinking
● Agile Concepts

12. How I moved into Product Management
● Detail oriented.
● Empathy
● Diagnostic and
Scientific
approach:
Identifying the
problem to solve
and Experimenting
● Entrepreneurial
Skills
● Prioritization
● Interpersonal &
Negotiation skills
● Business and
financial acumen
● Market research and
evaluation
● Working with data
● Time Management
● Strategic Thinking
● Understanding
Industry Insights
and KPIs
● Design and User
Experience
Knowledge
● Analytical Thinking
● Agile Concepts

13. Busting Product
Myths
What NOT to expect from Product
Management

14. MYTH #1
“The Product Manager is the CEO of the
Product.”
ORIGIN OF THE MYTH
PM responsibilities
A LITTLE CLOSER TO REALITY
"If the project succeeds, it's a team
win. If it fails, it's your failure"

15. MYTH #2
“Product Management is more or less like
Project Management for Software.”
ORIGIN OF THE MYTH
PM Role description - ‘Manager’ title
A LITTLE CLOSER TO REALITY
"Similar goals, slightly different
approach, extremely different
responsibilities and deliverables"

16. MYTH #3
“PMs call the shots and get to make the
big decisions.”
ORIGIN OF THE MYTH
Myth number 1: PM as CEO of Product
A LITTLE CLOSER TO REALITY
PMs are more like the facilitators that
help their team make the right
decisions.
Recommendations > Decisions

17. MYTH #4
“Product Managers get to manage and
lead people”
ORIGIN OF THE MYTH
PM as a leadership role
A LITTLE CLOSER TO REALITY
Manage relationships more than
people.
Thought leadership > People
leadership
Expectation Management > People
Management

18. MYTH #5
“Product Managers are Problem Solvers.”
ORIGIN OF THE MYTH
PM responsibilities
A LITTLE CLOSER TO REALITY
"It’s not about solving the problem,
it’s about identifying the right
problem to solve"

19. Contact
Dr. Anamika Datta
animorphika@gmail.com
animorphika@yahoo.co.in
@animorphika

20. www.productschool.com
Part-time Product Management Training Courses
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