July 31, 2024
How can product leaders navigate large organizations? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, JPMorgan Chase & Co VP of Product Rashmi Ketha discusses her journey from data science to product management. Rashmi shares insights on navigating large organizations, building successful products, and the skills needed to break into product management. She emphasizes the importance of relationship building, communication, and taking small steps to explore new opportunities. The discussion also covers virtual work etiquette and advice for aspiring product managers.
Subscribe to the Product Talk podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and catch every conversation with leading product executives.
Show Notes
- Rashmi Ketha is a VP of Product at JPMorgan Chase, responsible for customer acquisitions on the mobile app.
- She pivoted from a pre-med background to data science and eventually found her calling in product management.
- Joining Toastmasters was a pivotal step in Rashmi’s career transition, helping her overcome public speaking anxiety.
- Understanding the end-to-end product lifecycle, from idea to launch, was a key driver for Rashmi’s interest in product management.
- Balancing the technical and business aspects of product management was a challenge, which Rashmi navigated through Toastmasters and team collaboration.
- Relationship building and stakeholder management are crucial skills for product managers, especially in large, global organizations.
- Regular one-on-one calls and virtual coffee chats help build relationships with remote team members.
- Virtual communication etiquette, such as video quality and background cleanliness, can make a significant difference in product management roles.
- Product managers should seek candidates who can demonstrate the impact of their technical work on business outcomes.
- Understanding Agile processes and Scrum Master roles can help candidates transition into product management.
- Rashmi advises taking the first step, even if it’s just 1% of effort, to explore new opportunities and areas of interest.
- Finding the right Toastmasters club that aligns with one’s growth and comfort level is important.
- Rashmi has coached and mentored numerous students and professionals interested in product management.
- Connecting with Rashmi on LinkedIn is a great way for listeners to stay updated on her journey and insights.
- Neha expressed interest in attending a local Toastmasters meeting, inspired by Rashmi’s experience.
- Rashmi’s advice to listeners is to take that first step and follow their curiosity, regardless of the outcome.
- Product management is not limited to a specific background, and professionals from diverse fields can transition into the role.
- Prioritizing ideas and building a roadmap using a data-driven framework is a key aspect of product management.
- Navigating large organizations requires understanding core customer problems and the gap between the current state and the desired outcome.
- Effective product management involves a combination of technical skills, business acumen, and strong communication and relationship-building abilities.