A Day In The Life Of A Senior Product Owner At Pacific Gas And Electric
A senior product owner's day involves monitoring product performance ("checking on your product status"), proactively identifying and addressing issues, and building relationships across departments to gather feedback and anticipate future needs. This necessitates a blend of technical expertise, strong interpersonal skills ("people skills of staying connected"), and a forward-thinking approach to navigate evolving technological landscapes and potential product obsolescence.
Product Management, Problem-Solving, Communication, Adaptability, Interpersonal Skills
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Jake Carlisle
Senior Product Owner
Pacific Gas & Electric
UCLA
N/A
Anthropology, Sociology
Energy & Utilities
Cyber Security and IT
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. A Senior Product Owner's day involves monitoring product performance, investigating issues like a sudden drop in usage, and proactively identifying and resolving problems.
2. Building relationships with colleagues across different departments is crucial for a Senior Product Owner, enabling them to gather feedback, beta test updates, and stay informed about the company's overall direction.
3. Staying ahead of technological changes and understanding the product's lifecycle within the company are key aspects of the role, requiring adaptability and the ability to anticipate future developments and adjust strategies accordingly.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a senior product owner look like?
The day in the life of this job varies, which is why I'm interested in it. I don't prefer overly formulaic or scheduled positions, as they don't really fit my personality.
If I had to describe an average day, I'd say you come in and ensure your product is functioning correctly. You check for incoming reports or any data feeds, such as how many times your product is launched daily.
Let's say you're accustomed to seeing your product launched 15,000 times a day, but one day it's only launched 2,000 times. You'd then investigate the cause: is there a problem, a bug, or a vacation impacting usage?
First, you check your product's status. I believe that even in technical roles, people skills and interpersonal skills can be highly valuable. In my position at a large corporation like PG&E, I've spent years developing key contacts across different business lines.
I've reached out to contacts in areas like electric, gas, sales, and marketing. When I encounter someone who seems approachable and interested in cutting-edge technology, I'll ask for their help. I can't test all 10,000 applications at the company, so I offer to send them early beta updates. I ask them to pilot these updates and provide feedback on their experience.
I also stay informed by reading blogs and forums to understand upcoming changes to my product. Sometimes, it's important to understand where your product fits into the company's larger lifecycle and ecosystem.
For example, if my product were a typewriter, I know that technology changes rapidly and products become quickly phased out. If I'm supporting a product that won't be supported past next year, I need to consider potential solutions. I'd explore ways to move forward, maintain my current role, or identify new products taking over its function so I can learn them.
It's about staying ahead of the curve and not being caught unprepared. I find it comforting that there are common themes here, but I believe those people skills are crucial. Staying connected and demonstrating a positive energy, attitude, and work ethic can be advantageous.
If your product is going to be phased out, having people know who you are and like you increases your chances of landing on your feet. It's a balance between keeping up with technical knowledge for your individual product and utilizing people skills to connect with customers and identify any issues they may be experiencing.
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