Micro-Interview: Maria Ivanova, Sr. Manager, Product Management | Progress

💬 "Product management is not a sea but an ocean. Much of the journey involves sailing through uncharted territories, where you can't anticipate or prepare for every challenge in advance."

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Maria Ivanova is a Senior Manager, Product Management at Progress, for Telerik and Kendo UI, the world’s leading developer tooling and UI component libraries.

Note: ProductTank Sofia will host a unique event with the Progress team titled “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Product Managers.” Find more info and subscribe here.

In under 500 words, she shares: 

• How she got into product management…

• How she starts her mornings for maximum productivity…

• Some of her sources of learning…

And more…  

Enjoy!

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“How did you get into product management?”

I am grateful I had the opportunity to start my product journey at Progress five years ago. My professional experience before was mainly focused on consulting and training in software and business areas: development and administration of Microsoft databases, web development, business analysis, project management, agile working, and optimizing organizational processes.

“How do you start your mornings at work?”

To manage multiple products in a dynamic environment, you need to plan on multiple levels (yearly strategy, OKRs, quarterly/monthly planning, and day-to-day execution) and prioritize in advance, but you must still recognize that each day may unfold differently.

I prioritize an early start on ideal mornings to set a positive tone for the day. This involves reviewing my schedule, identifying key priorities, and spending focused time tackling the most important tasks. However, there are days when the demands start rolling in as soon as I open my laptop. In those instances, adaptability becomes key, and I focus on selecting the right priorities and making the right decisions.

“What do you know about product management now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”

Reflecting on my journey, I wish I had known that product management is not just a sea but an ocean. Much of the journey involves sailing through uncharted territories, where you can't anticipate or prepare for every challenge in advance.

Customers always have new problems to be solved, new segments to chase, and new product areas to tackle. When you start working in a product-oriented environment, your mindset needs to shift from “knowing it all beforehand and then proceeding” to continual learning, exploration, and validation.

“What did your biggest product failure teach you?”

In the dynamic world of product development, thinking that one can do it all or learn it all is a recipe for failure. Success relies on collaboration within the product team, including developers, marketing, UX, sales, support, and more.

In other words, lack of collaboration and alignment equals failure. For me, the PM role needs to lead and ensure that everyone is chasing the same goal and is aligned at any given moment.

“What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your product management learning curve?”

The synergy of my intrinsic motivation and the support from my manager. I had a burning desire to delve into the field of product management and a passion for the products, and, especially in the first few months, I dedicated significant time to learning. Equally crucial was the guidance, hands-on opportunities, and mentoring provided by my manager, Stefan Stefanov. To this date, he is my go-to person whenever I need to tackle a new challenge, and depending on the situation, he might guide me, ask me questions that would lead me to a decision, suggest books on the matter, or we can brainstorm together.

“How do you stay updated on the best practices in product management?”

Recently, I've integrated ChatGPT into my routine, leveraging its capabilities to expedite research and speed up some tasks. However, I love personal networking with fellow product professionals across various industries and knowledge sharing within the PM teams at Progress. Because I believe that the foundation of successful product management lies in understanding and adhering to fundamental principles, I read and re-read product classics like Inspired, Crossing the Chasm, and The Innovator's Dilemma.