S02E06 - Interview with Product Management Expert David Pereira

Engineering Advice You Didn't Ask For

In this episode, we dig into the often-overlooked world of product management, its partnership with engineering, overuse of AB testing, and the secret sauce for an effective product trio. We are joined by David Pereira, product leader with over a decade of experience & prolific writer on the subject, where he provided valuable insights into product management roles and skills. David talked about the distinct roles within the product management sphere, the unique challenge product managers often face – influencing without authority – emphasizing the need for setting clear context and constraints, and the importance of a close partnership between product and engineering managers, each contributing to the 'why', 'what', and 'how' of a project. The conversation also delved into various strategies, such as the 'three amigos' model, and how engineers can influence the product strategy effectively. We also talked about managing technical debt, the importance of proactive communication between the engineering and product managers, how to identify and act upon key product metrics, the not so appropriate use of AB testing in the industry today coined by Keyur Hindocha as “Rounded corners and 50 shades of gray. That will take your A/B testing all the way.”, and effective interview strategies for hiring product managers. David shared many personal experiences and anecdotes with practical, real-life implications and applications of effective product management.