Leveraging Data-Driven Insights to Shape Product Success

The ProductTank Pune session was a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone in the product management ecosystem. Hosted by Amit Godbole ,managed by Abhiyash Jain and kicked off by Paresh Teredesai, the panel featured stalwarts like Dr. Easwar Krishna Iyer (MIT), @Rahul Jain (GM & SVP Products/Co-Founder Pendo.io), and Sushil Choudhari Choudhari (Founder of Travelx.ai - Most Rewarding Travel Membership ). The discussion revolved around critical themes shaping product management and its evolving role in a world dominated by technology and data.

Is Product Management Dead?

This provocative question set the tone for an engaging dialogue.

• Sushil emphasized the importance of solving the right problems. With the proliferation of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in Pune, the focus should remain on creating impactful solutions rather than chasing trends.
• Rahul added that storytelling and curiosity are indispensable. Asking the right questions, driven by genuine curiosity, fuels a better understanding of user needs and product dynamics.

Metrics: The Guiding Light

The panel delved deep into the metrics that define success.

• Leading vs. Lagging Metrics: Understanding where your product is headed (leading metrics) is as important as knowing where it has been (lagging metrics).
• Vanity Metrics vs. Value Creation: Rahul warned against the trap of vanity metrics like DAU (Daily Active Users) if they don’t drive real value. Instead, focus on breadth (stickiness), depth (organizational reach), and frequency (daily engagement).

Qualitative and Quantitative Synergy

Dr. Easwar Iyer highlighted the power of a tinkering mindset—experimenting with A/B testing to derive both qualitative and quantitative insights. A brilliant analogy came up during the discussion:

• Hedonic vs. Utilitarian Metrics: The utilitarian aspect might ensure the tea tastes the same, but the hedonic element—serving it in fine chinaware—enhances the overall experience.

Also had a great time hearing Dr. Easwar & his analogies, would love to hear more form you sir. Academicians are the pros and the building blocks for the society.

Cannot agree more, with Pune tech ecosystem there is a lot to talk more & also needs to be done more as well. Want to bring back the old charm of Pune.

AI: The Signal-to-Noise Ratio Game

AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.ai can help product managers sift through data noise and focus on actionable insights. Leveraging AI for qualitative analysis, sentiment tracking, and customer feedback can refine the product's direction.

Startup Culture and Speed

• Sushil, sharing his journey with @TravelX and its successful exit, emphasized paying it forward. Startups thrive on culture, and creating an environment of speed and credibility sets the foundation for sustainable growth.
• Sushil noted that US VCs often have a higher appetite for risk, influencing how startups approach product validation and market entry.

Validation and Design Thinking

Rahul advocated for quick validations using low-fidelity tools like @Figma and collaborating with design partners to ensure early buy-in. The process is as much about speed as it is about reducing risks through iterative testing.

Future Trends for Product Managers

The panel highlighted emerging areas of opportunity:

1. DevOps and Security: These are critical as products scale.
2. LLMs (Large Language Models): These tools are reshaping industries and demand specialized domain knowledge.
3. Domain Expertise: Beyond generic skills, product managers must develop expertise in specific verticals to stand out.

Closing Thoughts

Product management is far from dead—it’s evolving. The intersection of storytelling, data-driven insights, culture, and emerging technologies creates exciting opportunities. As Sushil aptly put it, “Work on the right problems.” Whether it’s building tools that delight users or refining processes that drive efficiency, the future of product management lies in adaptability and vision.

This session was a testament to how insights from industry leaders can reshape our approach to product management. Let's continue to learn, iterate, and build for a better tomorrow.

Of Course, there were some good questions from the attendees including Bynry Inc. 's founder Sandeep Sonkusale on hiring. Pat came the reply from Sushil, depends what stage your product is in initial it will be a product generalist although as the product matures & seed funds or series then require an experienced seasoned professional who has worked on similar experience or lines.

As usual it's always good to catch up with regular folks @Pranav @Yogesh Farin Shaikh Vaibhav Chandratrey and glad meeting some of the new faces as well Alisha B. Rohini Pangrikar Vishakha Shah Gaurav Girdhar Matias Toye Prashant Mungare Sonal Jain Taniya Jain Sahil Kandhari Arpit Shrivastava Arnnab Paul

Missed meeting you Shreyas Waghmare sir. Next time for sure will catch up.

Also missed some quality inputs from Bansidhar Deshpande sir & Charu Jaju Nevatia maam.

Book reading suggestion by Sushil Choudhari on "The MOM test " by Rob Fitzpatrick for every Product enthusiast.

PS: Credibl is looking to hire a Director Product Manager role, kindly reach out to them for specific JD. Do connect with Tanya Gupta more on this.

Also do follow or join Product tank and follow me for all things for Pune Tech ecosystem at PuneDAO

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