The role of a product owner: Key responsibilities and skills

A product owner (PO) plays a crucial role in the product development lifecycle by setting a strong product vision, handling the product backlog, providing acceptance criteria, and managing stakeholders. Their responsibilities vary based on company culture, size, and type, but key tasks include regular stakeholder meetings, backlog refinement, user research, and data review. Essential skills for a product owner include business acumen, data literacy, continuous discovery, and people skills, which enable them to balance user needs with business goals, interpret data effectively, and manage relationships across the company. Successful product owners prioritize valuable backlog items, ensure team alignment on expected outcomes, and incorporate diverse perspectives in decision-making, making their role challenging yet rewarding.