About the Book
A father wrote this book for his daughter Carlota. She was stuck in operations, understanding the product deeply, but unable to break into Product Management. "How do you get experience without having experience?" she asked. This book is the answer.
The Central Question
Breaking into PM is hard. Job postings demand 3-5 years of experience. Advice is everywhere and contradictory. The path is unclear. But the industry is also changing. There's the traditional PM path at established companies. And there's a new path: the Product Engineer model, powered by AI. Which should you pursue? This book answers both questions.
What Makes This Book Different
- ✓ Written as a father-to-daughter conversation—personal and honest
- ✓ Covers both traditional PM AND the emerging Product Engineer model
- ✓ 30 real PM mistakes to avoid—from strategy to career
- ✓ Practical frameworks: OKRs, roadmapping, stakeholder management, prioritization
- ✓ Templates and exercises you can use immediately
Book Structure
Prologue: The Question
Carlota's text message: "Dad, I want to be a Product Manager." A conversation that changes everything.
Part I: The Traditional Path (Chapters 1-10)
Core PM skills. Frameworks. Stakeholder management. How to thrive at established companies.
Part II: The AI-Transformed Path (Chapters 11-16)
Product Engineer model. AI tools. New workflows. How startups and AI-native companies operate.
Part III: Your Career (Chapters 17-22)
Breaking in. First 90 days. Career growth. Long-term strategy. Which path is right for you?
Appendix A: PM Templates
PRD template, roadmap example, OKR framework, prioritization matrix
Appendix B: Glossary
PM terminology explained. No jargon left behind.
Appendix C: Interview Prep
Common PM interview questions. How to answer them. Case study walkthroughs.
Appendix D: Case Studies
Real PM examples from Slack, Figma, Linear, and other companies
Who Should Read This Book
- Aspiring PMs stuck in support, ops, or QA wondering how to break in
- Career Changers from engineering, design, or other fields
- Junior PMs building your foundation in your first year
- Senior PMs adapting to AI-era changes
- Engineers considering the Product Engineer path
- Mentors and Managers helping PMs grow