Product Management

During the course, we got a broad overview of the product manager role from a variety of experiences. The enthusiasm of the course leaders to share both their experience and to talk about their product and the problem it solves was particularly noticeable. What I liked most were the teachers who shared their personal, very specific experiences and product (failure) stories. All the presented theoretical material is well summarized and arranged in slides, which will be used and opened when I want to delve into one or another topic when a similar situation occurs in practice. Overall, the course was a good set, where the lessons flowed from each other. In summary, I would rate it as suitable for both those completely new to the product journey and a great refresher for those already experienced. The main takeaway I took away from the course is that the purpose of the product manager role is to identify the most important problems to be solved for your audience and to put together a winning strategy.

Since my school days, I have dreamed of establishing a community that would have a positive impact on the world around me. While working as a programmer in a product team, I saw that product managers are a part of the community that controls the levers of influence, which made me want to try this position myself. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t have to look far for opportunities, as The Atomic Garden was just recruiting for its first class of people who wanted to become Product Managers. What I expected from the course was a demystification of the producer role, heated discussions with teachers, and feedback-dominated mentoring. Expectations met. I know the difference between a Project and a Product Manager, I managed to pit teachers against each other, and I don’t even know where to put the amount of feedback I received from mentors and teachers. As someone with a fairly high quality standard, I was pleased with the competence of the teachers and the level of knowledge of their craft. The most important thing is that they did not lack empathy, which is especially important in the training of new knowledge and skills. During the course, we went through the product cycle, taking away 3 practical works that you can put in your portfolio. The teachers kept sharing different career stories with us. It was very useful in forming a multifaceted perspective of working in product companies.

For me, the course started at the same time with my new role as a Product Manager. This allowed me to put what I learned during the course into practice. The structure was well thought out, with an introduction and then delving into different areas. The teachers were experts in their respective fields, highly skilled and capable of adressing any queries, all the while making the 2-hour session seem like just 30 minutes. I also appreciated that the whole course was in English and all the course members made a great effort to maintain English communication throughout the course. Since everyone is eager to step into product management, the course is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people and expand your professional network. The course provided a strong foundation for my future role. Now it’s on me to check back on the slides sometimes and remember all the strategies, dos and don’ts. In case you’re still hesitating, sign up now.

Despite the name, most courses available in the Lithuanian market still focus on the delivery aspect and cater primarily to Project or Backlog Managers, rather than true Product Managers. These were different—covering the entire range of Product Management activities from A to Z, with a strong emphasis on the most important aspect of Product Management – “Product Discovery.” Professional teachers + a well-balanced mix of theory and practice + curious and motivated participants = courses were useful not only for beginners, or those looking to start their careers in Product Management, but also those already working in the field and willing to learn some new stuff. Another advantage – it was a great place to meet professionals in the PM area and discuss your daily challenges.