S2 - Episode #1: Mirza Beširović - Group Product Manager - Dixa
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About Mirza:
Mirza Beširović is a Group Product Manager at Dixa, a B2B SaaS customer service platform. As a poetry translator turned tech professional, Mirza's career journey has been non-linear and unique. He began his journey a decade ago translating poetry, but eventually found his way to Germany and a part-time student gig at a tech company. This opportunity later led to a team leadership position and a full-time role in the tech industry. Though his initial focus was on data management and working on machine learning, his career path also included roles in business development and consulting. Eventually, he discovered his passion for product strategy and moved into product management, rising to a group product manager role at Dixa, where he currently leads teams in the development of automated customer service software and messaging products.
Synopsis:
In this episode Mirza Beširović discusses growth in Product Management and leadership roles. He explores the two tracks in Product Management: being an individual contributor, where the focus is on becoming an expert in the craft of Product Management and a more management based track focused on people management, strategy, and mentoring. Mirza emphasises the importance of self-realisation and active self-growth to progress in Product Management and leadership roles.
Key Takeaways:
Learn about different routes into Product Management and how many people find themselves in the role by accident or recognition of transferable skills.
Understand that there are two tracks in Product Management: as an individual contributor or a manager.
Consider why moving into a leadership role in Product Management requires different skills and focus than working as a product manager.
Get tips on how to find a mentor, be part of a community, and educate yourself to improve in a Product Manager role with a zest for learning and growing, not only in Product Management, but in life in general.
Understand why strategy and metrics - for example financial metrics such as annual recurring revenue and net retention rate - are important for Senior Product Managers to understand.
Learn more about how a business develops a strategy and how it trickles down to each department and how it impacts Product Management.
Hear why due to the current economic climate, companies may be hiring less and being more selective in their hiring process and in this context how to move into a leadership role at your current company by being proactive and explicit about your career goals and growth plans with your manager.
Find out how to seek mentorship from networks such as ADP list, the mentoring club, mentor mesh, and My mentor path to get value input in how to evolve into leadership roles.
Understand how to be proactive and intentional in communicating and working cohesively with other teams such as sales and marketing.
Episode Outline:
[00:24] Meet Mirza
[01:42] How Mirza got started in tech
[06:36] Understanding leadership and management
[11:08] Advice for people moving into leadership
[13:37] The importance of up-skilling yourself
[18:23] Advice for Senior Product Managers
[22:14] Breadth of experience vs. depth of experience
[24:47] Advice on how to hire for a leadership role
[29:52] The importance of speaking to your manager
[34:15] Advice for people who want to become Product Managers
Follow Mirza:
Mirza recommends:
Books:
Strong by Petra Wille
Empowered by Marty Cagan
Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres
Good Strategy / Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
Mentorship networks:
ADPList: https://adplist.org/
MentorMesh: https://mentormesh.io/
Mentoring Club: https://www.mentoring-club.com/
My Mentor Path: https://www.mymentorpath.com/
