Ryan Feldhoff, former Product Manager at HSBC, talked about how to navigate a large corporate environment as a Product Manager, how to establish accountability and process at a start up and what makes a great Product Manager.

1. What’s the Career Path to Product
Management Like by former HSBC PM
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7. Ryan Feldhoff
TONIGHT’S SPEAKER

8. What Makes a Versatile
Product Manager?
Ryan Feldhoff

9. About me
I build great products that disrupt industries, efficiently solve complex problems and
work with creative teams that challenge mediocrity
I have nearly 10 years of experience with management consulting, business
analysis, project and product management in various industries, strategizing and
building innovative digital experiences, evolving institutional platforms and more for
both mobile, wearable and desktop applications at small startups and the world’s
largest companies
I grew up in Quincy, MA (city of president’s), did all of my various schooling in New
England, spent 9 years in Manhattan and just moved to Denver. I love hockey,
skiing, helping charitably and...
I’m excited to learn about each other today!

10. Why are you here?

11. 1) Enjoy diversity?
2) Need a challenge?
3) Need a change?
4) More money?
5) Like being the center of
attention?
6) Thirst to learn?
7) Or because it looks
good on your dating
app profiles?

12. All are great to seek...but,
success = innovation

13. Truly happy and successful product
managers drive innovation via any
avenue given

14. Academic Background for Context
Majors:
Economics
Sociology based-Human Relations
Sports:
Hockey (NCAA)
Rugby

15. Professional Background for Context

16. I’m clearly finance heavy, so…
1932 --------> Today

17. Product Management at a Large
International Co.
vs. Startup Co.

18. Large International Company
Pros Cons
-Stability
-Job role is clearly defined, metrics
of success are clearly defined
-Resourcing
-Community involvement
-Travel freedom
-Guaranteed cultural exposure
-Not your money being spent
-Mobility (location/career)
-Career prestige
-Exposure on large names
-Breaking the mold can make a
career
-Time to market/release cycles
-Bureaucracy
-Time zone management
-Remote development
-Legacy infrastructure
-Redundant employees through
acquisitions, different goals
-Integration effects on QA
-Conformity to formalities and
process
-Busy decision makers stifle
creativity

19. Startup Company
Cons Pros
-Instability
-Job role rarely defined
-Resourcing is a struggle
-Isolated to your small group
-Work life balance is altered
-Often left on your own
-Your money is on the line via
equity
-They often fail, work is unnoticed
-No exposure unless it’s successful
-Best efforts may not matter
-Time to market/release cycles
-No bull environment
-Freedom to work as you please,
merit based success
-Close knit teams, fun atmosphere
-Brand new technologies
-Everyone has the same goal
-Limited formalities or structure
-Fail fast mentality, make quick
decisions

20. What do you do?

21. Leverage your strengths to acquire new
skills and relationships
Find issues from which an innovative
resolution is profitable
Use situational awareness to thrive in any
environment and constantly assess

22. Want an example?

23. Thomson Reuters Eikon
Main platform. Speak to customers for feedback for your
products requirements. Integrate into the larger platform
for mobile and desktop
Eikon Messenger
Maintain customer, overall platform and business unit
roadmap satisfaction while delivering additional
transcendent ideas

24. People Search in Messenger
Gather usage statistics, see the problem, kindly speak to
customers for feedback fora PoC, come up with ideas to
take market share
Eikon Directory
See the issue, spitball the solution, pitch the idea with
the associated financials and projections, deliver and
show success metrics

25. What if I am transitioning from another
field?

26. Build an app
Write requirements specifications (JIRA or
Pivotal Tracker).
Learn to code if you do not (Coursera)
Use a mockup tool for workflows
(Balsamiq)
Write a business
plan
What gap in the industry are you
solving
How much would it cost to begin and
what are the projections
Talk to people who have been there
and create an elevator pitch
Stay genuine!
Constantly learn & evolve!

27. Contact
Ryan Feldhoff
ryan.feldhoff@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/ryanfeldhoff
/
Questions?

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