Micro-Interview: Mihail Iliev, Senior Product Manager
481 words.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Mihail (Misho) Iliev is a Sr. PM at Carry1st, the leading publisher of social games and interactive content in Africa.
In under 500 words, he shares:
How he starts his mornings…
His three most important learnings about product management…
His sources of staying updated on all things product…
And more…
Enjoy!
“How did you get into product management?”
I can say that my journey into the field of product management was a combination of fate and hard work. I was fortunate enough to receive a call from a former colleague who was looking for individuals to join his team and help develop a trading platform. With my experience in marketizing products and services, I was intrigued by the opportunity to move into product development. This was back in 2013 and at that time, resources were limited, so most of my learning was through trial and error and endless iterations.
“How do you start your mornings at work?”
I start my mornings at work by being proactive and anticipating the day ahead. As a product manager, I have a lot of responsibilities, and I need to stay ahead of the curve to ensure that my products are performing well and meeting the expectations of the users. I begin the day by checking the primary communication channels for news that may affect the product, checking for any alerts or anomalies, and syncing with my product team on the stability of our live products and the progress of ongoing development.
“What do you know about product management now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”
Looking back, I now realize that keeping an eye on the competition is important, but trying to always be on par with their offerings puts you always a step behind. I have learned to focus on my own plans and proposition and to take action only when necessary. This mindset and critical thinking have helped me avoid following the competition and instead, lead the trends.
“What did your biggest product failure teach you?”
I learned that taking calculated risks is essential to product success, as long as you have a plan in place to manage the potential impact. This experience helped me to develop my ability to assess and mitigate risk, which has been invaluable in my career as a product manager.
“What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your product management learning curve?”
As a naturally curious person, learning new things comes naturally to me. However, in the product role, it's essential to understand a wide range of fields, which can vary a lot from company to company or even within teams. That's why I find it crucial to find smart ways to fulfill my learning needs, and one of the best ways is through person-to-person communication with subject matter experts who can translate complex concepts into simple terms and direct me to the right materials.
“How do you stay updated on the best practices in product management?”
Staying updated on the best practices in product management is crucial for staying ahead of the curve. I believe that reading or listening to books is essential, but to stay up-to-date, I also engage in ongoing learning. This includes exchanging ideas and good practices with fellow product managers, attending online and offline conferences, watching webinars led by other product managers or service providers in the field, and reading articles. The value of exchanging practical experience and getting feedback on it is priceless, and it's one of the best ways to stay on top of the latest trends and best practices in product management.
Additional details related to sources of materials and inspiration:
Books:
For those who are just starting out or looking to dive deeper into the fundamentals of product management, I highly recommend "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries, "Inspired" by Marty Cagan, and "Empowered" by the same author.
Conferences:
When it comes to conferences, I've found that the INDUSTRY the Product Conference by Product Collective consistently provides insightful and actionable content. Another conference that I find worth attending, even though it is not solely focused on product management, is the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona. This expo brings innovators from across the globe into a single place and showcases everything from hardware to software solutions, disruptive startup ideas, the latest trends, and announcements from tech giants. I find it an incredibly inspiring experience that boosts the imagination and sparks creativity.
Webinars:
Product Collective is a fantastic resource for webinars and regularly hosts sessions that cover a wide range of topics. Their Industry on Demand portal is an excellent place to access this content and stay up-to-date on the latest product management trends and best practices.