Product managers (PMs) occupy a pivotal role within product development. They are often referred to as the “CEO of the product,” but the reality is far more nuanced. Unlike a CEO, a product manager has immense responsibility but no direct authority. Their job is to create clarity and alignment where ambiguity reigns, ensuring teams work together effectively toward a shared vision. This requires not just technical and business acumen but also an adept understanding of interpersonal dynamics, storytelling, and empathy. This essay will explore what product management entails, the skills required, and how this course—CS 177: Human-Centered Product Management—prepares students for the challenges of this dynamic role.
Who I Am
As your lecturer for CS 177, I bring a wealth of experience spanning decades in the tech industry. My journey began as a front-end developer and evolved through roles in information architecture, design management, and startups, eventually leading me to product management and general management. I’ve worked at the intersection of design, technology, and business, witnessing firsthand the joys and frustrations of creating meaningful products. My career eventually led me to teaching—a decision born from the belief that equipping others with the tools for success is one of the most impactful ways to create change.
Please call me Christina. I am not a professor, but a lecturer—and a human, just like you. In addition to teaching, I write books, give talks, and coach professionals navigating the complex world of product development.
This course is my way of synthesizing years of practice and hard-earned lessons into a structure that will help you understand the unique role of product management. CS 177 is not just a class on business, or process, or ethics—it’s all of these things and more.
What is This Class About?
Product management is messy because it sits at the intersection of business goals, user needs, and technology constraints. Matt LeMay captures this duality perfectly when he says, “In theory, product management is about building products that people love. In practice, product management often means fighting for incremental improvements on products that are facing much more fundamental challenges.” This class embraces that messiness. Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises, you’ll gain a deep understanding of:
- The Business of Technology: We’ll cover frameworks like Agile and Lean, as well as practical tools like OKRs and roadmapping. These are not just buzzwords—they are the lifelines of effective product development.
- Interpersonal Dynamics: Working in teams requires navigating diverse perspectives, resolving conflicts, and finding common ground. These skills are as crucial as technical know-how.
- Tech Ethics: Every product impacts the world in ways both obvious and hidden. We’ll explore how to build with integrity, ensuring that the products you create align with both user needs and societal values.
The Role of a Product Manager
So, what does a PM actually do? Product managers are held responsible for business outcomes, yet they lack formal authority over the teams they lead. This paradox is at the heart of the role. Success requires collaboration with UX designers, engineers, and stakeholders, bridging gaps between different disciplines while ensuring everyone moves in the same direction.
The product manager is a storyteller, weaving a compelling narrative that aligns customers, teams, and executives around a shared vision. They must have empathy—not only for users but also for internal stakeholders with competing priorities. A PM must understand the entire customer journey, from discovery to retirement, and align this with strategic business goals. They need to interpret data to uncover insights, validate ideas, and project long-term customer value.
But above all, a product manager must own outcomes. This means shifting from a mindset focused on outputs—what gets built—to one centered on customer and business impacts. It’s a monumental task, and no single person can do it perfectly. What they can do, however, is learn how to prioritize, adapt, and lead with purpose.
Skills for Success
In this class, we will focus on eight core skills for product management:
- Storytelling: Craft narratives that inspire action and align stakeholders.
- Empathy: Understand the motivations and needs of users and teammates alike.
- Whole-Product Experience: Think beyond features to the end-to-end customer journey.
- Strategic Alignment: Connect product decisions to broader business objectives.
- Data Insights: Collect and interpret data to guide decision-making.
- Discovery and Validation: Engage deeply with customers to uncover real problems.
- Customer Value Projection: Predict the long-term impact of your solutions.
- Outcome Ownership: Focus relentlessly on the results of your efforts, not just the activities.
During our sessions, you’ll assess your strengths and weaknesses in these areas, creating a personal development plan. This reflection is critical; no one is strong in all these areas, but knowing where you shine and where you struggle will help you succeed.
Culture is Context
One of the most challenging aspects of product management is navigating cultural differences—both within teams and across organizations. As Amy Edmondson writes in Teaming, “We tend to assume that our framing represents the truth, rather than merely presenting a subjective ‘map.’” Understanding these cultural frames is essential to effective collaboration. In this class, we’ll use tools like influence maps and cultural gap analyses to identify points of misalignment and develop strategies for bridging them.
For example, when working with a technical lead who prioritizes scalability over speed-to-market, a PM must find common ground. Is there a way to achieve both? Or does the team need to make a strategic tradeoff? These exercises will help you practice this kind of analysis, preparing you to handle real-world conflicts with grace and confidence.
How This Class Works
This course is designed to mirror the rhythm of product management itself: structured yet flexible, grounded yet iterative. Here’s what to expect:
- Canvas: Your source of truth for assignments and course materials.
- Slack: Your primary communication channel for questions and collaboration.
- Weekly Blog Posts: A chance to reflect on what you’ve learned and apply it to real-world scenarios.
- Office Hours: An opportunity to connect with me and the teaching team. Whether you want to discuss assignments, career paths, or board games, we’re here to support you.
Empathy is at the core of this class. The world is unpredictable, and so are the challenges you’ll face as a PM. Be kind to yourself and others as you navigate this journey.
Conclusion
Product management is not for the faint of heart. It’s a role that demands both strategic thinking and emotional intelligence, technical understanding and creative vision. CS 177 is your opportunity to build these skills in a supportive, challenging environment. Together, we’ll explore what it means to build products that truly matter—products that not only solve problems but do so ethically, effectively, and with empathy.
Welcome to the world of human-centered product management. Let’s get to work.