Micro-Interview: Yordan Vasilev | Principal Product Manager | Halo Precision Diagnostics
💬"You can do everything right and still fail. Failure doesn't define you; your effort does. If you did your best, you should wear the failure with pride."
INTRO NOTE:
Yordan Vasilev is a Principal Product Manager at Halo Precision Diagnostics, a healthcare company providing comprehensive precision diagnostics through hereditary cancer gene testing and advanced imaging.
In under 500 words, he shares:
How he got into product management…
How he starts his mornings for maximum productivity…
Some of his sources of learning…
And more…
Enjoy!
“How did you get into product management?”
My university major set me as “the bridge between business and technology.” I held various positions and did much product work even though the titles didn’t mention it. I guess I was drawn to it and lucky enough to be given the freedom to pursue it.
“How do you start your mornings at work?”
I don’t believe in routines. There, I said it.
Routines can make you set in your ways. A true PM should be flexible and adaptable. I have a goal for the day, week, etc., and I reverse plan for it. Some days, I get up early for some focused work, followed by meetings and daily tasks. Some days I do calls with stakeholders in the evening, find out something exciting that gives me the itch and I end up working till midnight. The next morning can be tough – no energy for the small things, so I stick to priorities, not routines.
“What do you know about product management now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”
Technological problems are usually not that difficult to solve. However, “people problems” can be tricky. Always look for people problems and learn how to solve or navigate around them.
Pay attention to key stakeholders. Ensure everyone is aligned. Keep it simple (KISS) and leave no room for interpretation. If you need to influence someone, use leverage.
“What did your biggest product failure teach you?”
I can’t point out the biggest, but I have a few “good ones.” Here are the lessons:
You can do everything right and still fail. Failure doesn't define you; your effort does. If you did your best, you should wear the failure with pride.
Manage your risks, but be biased toward action. Sometimes, a bad decision at the right time can be better than a great decision made too late.
There is always a people problem lurking somewhere.
“What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your product management learning curve?”
When you are about to do something, and you are unsure, accept that you will do it wrong. Do it fast and sketchy. People tend to point out mistakes much more easily than giving good directions when starting from scratch. You learn a lot by doing things wrong.
“How do you stay updated on the best practices in product management?”
There are many fancy tools and frameworks nowadays, but I keep “returning to basics.” I find that applying a basic principle (with a twist) is just as good and often more time-efficient.
Books and podcasts are preferred, but they could be in any format. Recently, I noticed I am into personal growth and health, which I believe helps me be better at product management.
List of sources:
The product podcast also has some good hits
Great interview, wish you'd get more into the details of how to apply for the job, get the job, etc. :)