Powerful product managers are increasingly critical to a company’s growth strategy. To be a competent product manager, it’s imperative to understand that it’s all about the bigger picture, and not just about getting a product out the door and unleashing it as quick as possible to the market, but rather with a long-term scope that helps solve…
In business, nothing remains constant. Fluctuating markets, unpredictable turnover, and structural reorganizations can take their toll on even the most successful companies. Managerial instabilities, however, can be one of the most challenging situations for employees to grapple with. When the person in charge is changing as often as your calendar, common workplace struggles are amplified….
As a child, you must have heard the term curiosity killed the cat. From a young age, we were told that curiosity has a negative connotation to it and that we shouldn’t ask too many questions. We were told that too much curiosity can put us in dangerous situations, be perceived as a weakness, or even…
In the post-secondary world, the spotlight is on teaching practical skills. Communications students are taught how to write a media release, engineering students learn how to program micro controllers and business students are shown how to implement a business strategy. But there is one practical skill, applicable to almost every field, that is missing from…
Starting a job interview process is very similar to going on a first date. You want to portray the best version of yourself possible to seem like a suitable candidate. Your posture is impeccable, there’s a permanent smile pasted across your face, and you regale them with stories about your life adventures—exaggerated a bit to make…
It’s pretty common to get the impression—from Hollywood, from press coverage of startups, etc.—that only the most brazen startup CEOs keep their ventures afloat and headed towards billion dollar valuations. Inside Silicon Valley, arrogance runs rampant and investors seem to reward ruthless behaviour with piles of cash. – Business Insider. Maybe it’s not specifically what startup CEO’s…
A Product Manager’s role involves understanding complex problems that arise, and identifying opportunities to solve these problems through a logical and creative process. Seems simple enough. When you marry that concept with their key mission, which is to maximize the return on product investment—the challenge of hiring a truly effective product manager gets even more…
Unless you’re like Amazon, and have hundreds of dedicated internal professional recruiters who are solely focused on evaluating candidates for job openings, chances are you’ve experienced one, if not many, bumps in the road when it comes to attracting top talent to fill open positions at your company. There are pros and cons to consider when comparing the…
Social media started as a way to easily share and talk to friends, but the increased usage over the past decade has taken a great deal of privacy away from our everyday lives. According to Pew Research Center, 90 per cent of young adults in North America use social media, compared to 12 per cent in…
The traditional career path is now dead. Not only is it increasingly uncommon to find someone who has worked at the same company their entire life, but it is also no longer the end goal. Until as recently as 10 years ago, a desirable career trajectory was the path of least resistance. This often meant…
Hiring a new employee is an investment in your business that you can’t afford to take lightly. At the heart of a talent acquisition strategy is a drive for long-term growth and stability, a desire to foster a high-performing culture and a commitment to promoting leadership accountability. Hiring a new member of your team just…
When we think of successful folks, by and large we typically view their socioeconomic status as a major contributor into how we measure success—but we don’t take into account their community involvement, how they treat others, and how much importance they place on family values. These are all important variables that indicate a true leader,…
Whether you’ve been searching for a while, or a friend just sent an opportunity your way, it feels good when a job offer comes through the door. A different company is recognizing the talent you have and a welcomed change to your routine lies ahead. But how do you know if this opportunity is the…
Preparation: noun: the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something. The underlying principles of every business are focused on delivering value and driving growth. If you’re heading into a job interview – how well prepared are you to answer and cite specific examples on how you can contribute to both?…
A great product manager is not just someone who can wear many hats—they know specifically when to wear which. It’s a hybrid role that requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, technical capability, and impeccable communication skills. Hiring a product manager who will drive your business forward can be a daunting task. Consider these 7 aspects of great Product Managers before…