The good, bad, and ugly of product management

Product management is a sought-after profession that offers significant benefits, such as competitive pay, ownership, and a dynamic, interdisciplinary work environment, making it appealing to many aspiring professionals. Product managers often enjoy a high degree of autonomy and have a significant influence on strategic decisions, as they are deeply involved in understanding the product, its business model, and its cross-departmental dependencies. However, the role also comes with challenges, including high pressure, ambiguity, and the potential for external factors to heavily influence outcomes, which can make it a stressful job. Moreover, product managers frequently face situations where they must disappoint stakeholders and navigate situations beyond their control, as demonstrated by external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, which can dramatically impact a product's success regardless of the manager's efforts.