Okta Product Director on Building Confidence and Curiosity in Product Management

How can product managers develop the courage to make bold decisions and stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Justin Leibow, Okta Director of Product for Identity Management Vijay Pitchumani shares his insights on building confidence and curiosity as a product manager. Vijay discusses his journey from cybersecurity to product management, the importance of bridging the gap between product and sales, and the evolving landscape of identity governance and security. He emphasizes the value of mentorship, team growth, and staying ahead of the curve in an industry driven by rapid technological advancements. Vijay’s advice to aspiring product managers highlights the significance of continuous learning, embracing mistakes, and cultivating the confidence to make impactful decisions.

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Show Notes

1. Vijay’s journey from cybersecurity to product management, leveraging his background to excel in the identity and security space.
2. The importance of being clear and honest with sales teams about product capabilities and target customers.
3. Bridging the gap between product development and sales by providing regular updates, refining messaging, and enabling the sales team.
4. The evolving landscape of identity governance and security, driven by the rise of AI and sophisticated security threats.
5. The need for a unified approach to security and a strong security posture to combat modern threats.
6. The critical role of protecting identities, both human and non-human, to secure data and maintain a robust security strategy.
7. The exponential growth and impact of data and AI in the security industry, requiring continuous adaptation.
8. Vijay’s emphasis on creating an environment that allows his team to learn, make decisions, and grow.
9. The value of having mentors and learning from their experiences to guide one’s own career development.
10. Celebrating team successes and being honest about challenges to build strong relationships and trust.
11. Vijay’s belief in the cyclical dependency between a manager’s success and the success of their team.
12. Advice on building confidence in decision-making by anticipating potential questions from managers.
13. The importance of learning from mistakes and continuously improving through practice.
14. Vijay’s recommendation to maintain a curious learning mindset and be open to new information.
15. The value of debates and discussions with the team to learn and improve decision-making.
16. The significance of staying ahead of the curve and being prepared for future trends in the industry.
17. The challenges of navigating a non-traditional product management path within a consulting-focused organization.
18. Vijay’s emphasis on authenticity and originality in decision-making, rather than solely relying on industry best practices.
19. The importance of building confidence and curiosity and not being afraid of failure, as it leads to valuable learning experiences.
20. Vijay’s overall advice to aspiring product managers: stay curious, continuously learn, and cultivate the courage to make impactful decisions.