Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, understanding the nuances of head of products is essential for success. Gillett previously co-founded and helmed Chronicle, a cybersecurity company acquired by Google in 2019. Earlier in his career, Gillett held executive roles at companies like Best Buy and Starbucks (SBUX). In 2016, a self-driving car project at Google spun out of the company to become Waymo, now owned by Alphabet.

Chief Product Officer

Mosseri joined Meta in 2009 and has held several roles, including director of mobile design, vice president of product management and head of product for Instagram. Notably, Mosseri last year led the launch of Threads, a microblogging platform to compete with Elon Musk’s X. The Head of Product Management leads the Product Management team with a focus on enhancing the definition and growth of the product in its market. The Head of Product Management is the primary driver of the group’s vision; overseeing the development and management of the product’s roadmap based on the adopted strategies and vision. A company with many products and management layers is managed by a VP or head of product who oversees the entire product line.

• While these are the standard roles in most technology firms, they are not restricted by their labels or titles.
• With more than a decade of experience at Apple prior to joining Instacart and several years working directly with our retail partners, Chris has honed deep expertise in strategic and commercial relationships.
• “At the heart of every product person, there’s a desire to make someone’s life easier or simpler.
• Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) is a critical aspect of assessing a Head of Product’s performance.
• The executive formerly worked at Google’s X division and has also spent time in GV, an Alphabet arm focused on venture capital investments.
• The product director oversees a team of PMs in charge of various features of a single, complex product.

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• Besides education, most recruiters expect prospective employees to have at least ten years of experience in product management, product analytics, or other related fields.
• He is the Founder of ProductTank, the Co-Founder and Curator of Mind the Product, and a Product Partner at leading venture capital fund EQT Ventures.
• An organization’s head of product manages other team members and oversees product development.
• They’re less involved with the day-to-day tasks related to the development of products.
• While the title might sound corporate, the impact they have on shaping products — and, ultimately, businesses  —is still reflected in details and very, very palpable.

They have a responsibility to ensure all products offer real value, are sustainable, and generate revenue for the company. They will have a sense of authority and experience but Head of Product job must have an approachable attitude too. Because other members of the development team, and those across other departments, will seek them out frequently.

Chief Product Officer vs. Chief Technology Officer

Furthermore, structured feedback mechanisms, such as 360-degree reviews and regular check-ins, can enhance the evaluation process by ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered. These decisions often involve trade-offs and require balancing user needs with business objectives. Understanding when to innovate and when to iterate is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the market. Additionally, the Head of Product must develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success and ensure alignment with overall company goals. A Head of Product not only contributes to the current product lineup but also identifies future opportunities, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth for the company. Their governance can significantly impact customer satisfaction and overall business performance.

The industry type plays a big role — highly regulated sectors like healthcare or finance require more focus on compliance, while fast-paced tech startups emphasize Coding innovation. Porat began her career at Morgan Stanley in the 1980s, where she eventually worked her way up to vice president and chief financial officer in 2010. Five years later, she left the investment bank to become the chief financial officer and Google and Alphabet. Starting off as a product manager in 2004 overseeing the development of Google Chrome and Google Toolbar, he was appointed CEO of Google in 2015 and took the helm of its parent company in 2019. Today, Alphabet is the world’s fourth most valuable public company with a market capitalization of more than $2 trillion. In 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin were still Ph.D. students at Stanford University when they launched a startup, called Google (GOOGL), dedicated to establishing an improved online search engine.