TPM Ridge

TPM Interviews

Summary In this episode, the panel discusses the evolving landscape of interviews for Technical Program Managers (TPMs), particularly in light of recent changes due to COVID-19 and the rise of AI. They explore the importance of storytelling in interviews, the use of AI for preparation, and the significance of maintaining an achievement log. The conversation also touches on the differences in interview expectations between large and small companies, the balance of technical depth versus breadth, and strategies for demonstrating stakeholder management skills. The panel concludes with advice for candidates on how to navigate the interview process effectively. Keywords Keywords TPM, interview process, AI in interviews, stakeholder management, technical program manager, COVID impact, achievement log, hybrid work, interview preparation, career advice Chapters 00:00 Navigating the Evolving Job Market 01:36 The Anatomy of TPM Interviews 04:33 The Impact of AI and COVID on Interviews 12:24 Crafting Your Story for Interviews 18:06 Leveraging AI in Daily TPM Tasks 21:58 Interviewing in a Hybrid Work Environment 25:27 Expectations in Different Company Sizes 26:55 Interview Structures: Big vs. Small Companies 31:32 Technical Program Manager Expectations 37:41 Demonstrating Leadership and Stakeholder Management 43:18 Improving Interview Performance: Dos and Don'ts 47:16 Resilience in the Interview Process

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Interview with Elizabeth Harrin | Rebels Guide to PM

In this engaging podcast episode, Doron and Elizabeth Harrin discuss the complexities of project management in today's fast-paced environment. They explore the evolution of the Rebel's Guide to Project Management, the challenges of managing multiple projects, and the impact of AI on the role of project managers. Elizabeth shares insights on prioritization, stakeholder engagement, and the importance of emotional intelligence in fostering effective team dynamics. The conversation emphasizes the need for adaptability, creativity, and proactive strategies in navigating the ever-changing landscape of project management.Takeaways The Rebel's Guide started as a platform to amplify women's voices in project management. Managing multiple projects requires a shift in mindset and techniques. AI can automate mundane tasks, allowing PMs to focus on strategic roles. Prioritization is often poorly executed in organizations, leading to chaos. Creating visibility around workloads helps in effective prioritization. Stakeholder engagement is crucial for project success and requires active communication. Emotional intelligence is essential for building trust and rapport within teams. Setting boundaries and protecting time for deep work is vital for PMs. Informal connections can enhance team dynamics and collaboration. The landscape of project management is evolving with new tools and methodologies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Project Management and Elizabeth Harrin 03:26 The Evolution of the Rebel's Guide to Project Management 06:10 Managing Multiple Projects: Insights and Strategies 09:05 The Role of AI in Project Management 11:53 Prioritization: A Core Survival Skill for PMs 14:36 Protecting Time for Deep Work 17:21 Stakeholder Engagement: Building Relationships 20:11 Emotional Intelligence in Project Management 23:08 Conclusion and Resources

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Fractional Technical Program Management

We explore the emerging trend of fractional TPMing, where project managers work part-time across multiple organizations. The discussion highlights the benefits and challenges of this model, including the importance of building trust, navigating intellectual property concerns, and the potential for fractional roles to evolve in the future. The speakers share insights on the strategic versus tactical roles of TPMs and the skills necessary for success in a fractional capacity. "25% of companies use fractional executives." "Building relationships is crucial for TPMs." "Time boxing is a challenge for TPMs." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fractional TPMing 02:46 The Rise of Fractional Executives 04:56 Understanding the Role of Fractional TPMs 07:06 Comparing Fractional TPMs to Other Roles 09:34 Fractional TPMs in Startups vs. Large Companies 11:28 Use Cases for Fractional TPMs 13:26 The Tactical vs. Strategic Role of TPMs 16:09 Building Trust as a Fractional TPM 18:10 Challenges of Timeboxing and Expectations 21:59 Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Concerns 24:27 Financial Viability of Fractional TPMing 26:50 Future of Fractional TPMing 30:37 Consulting and Mentoring as a Fractional TPM 31:41 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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The State of TPMs

In this episode, the panel discusses the evolving landscape of Technical Program Managers (TPMs) in 2025, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the current job market. They explore the impact of AI on TPM roles, the importance of differentiation in skills, and strategies for navigating a lack of support in one's role. The conversation emphasizes the need for TPMs to invest in their program management skills and embrace cross-functional roles to enhance their career prospects.

#13 New Season New Beginnings

In this episode, the panel discusses the evolution of Technical Program Management (TPM) and the impact of AI on the industry. Each panelist shares their origin story, highlighting how they stumbled into the TPM role. The conversation shifts to the significance of AI in their work, exploring how it can enhance productivity and decision-making. They emphasize the importance of prompt engineering and understanding AI limitations for effective management. The episode concludes with thoughts on the future of TPMs in an AI-driven landscape. Soundbites: "AI is here to stay, it's not a fad." "AI can help you get unstuck." "Trust, but validate what AI tells you." Keywords: Technical Program Management, AI, Prompt Engineering, TPM Origin Stories, Industry Insights, Software Development, AI Limitations, Career Development, Engineering Management, Technology Trends --- TPM Craft: https://the-tpm-craft.beehiiv.com TPM University: https://tpmuniversity.com Technical Program Manager's Handbook: https://a.co/d/9A6pgrJ Email us at podcast@tpmevents.org

#11 TPM Summit 2024 - Tuckman's Model

We talk about Tuckman's Model and the TPM Journey at GitHub, with Dylan Thomas of GitHub, live from the 2024 TPM Summit in Mountain View

#12 Aligned with Bruce McCarthy & Melissa Appel

Summary In this conversation, Doron Katz speaks with Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel, authors of the book Aligned. They discuss the critical importance of alignment in product management, the challenges of stakeholder management, and the techniques for effective communication and decision-making. The conversation highlights the significance of building rapport, understanding different decision-making styles, and the role of vulnerability in leadership. They also delve into the DACI model for decision-making and the importance of involving stakeholders in the roadmap process. Visit alignedthebook.com and get free tools and content.

#9 TPM Summit 2024 - AI Prompts for TPMs

James Dayhuff talks to us about AI Prompts for TPMs, live from the 2024 TPM Summit in Mountain View California.

#8 TPM Summit 2024 - The Lunch Podcast

We are live at the 2024 TPM Summit in Mountain View California, with Aman Bawa and Stefan Crespo, recapping the summit thus far.

#7 TPM Summit 2024 - Productivity Upgrade with Jane Chiu, Coda Engineering Chief of Staff

We talk with Coda's Engineering Chief of Staff, Jane Chiu live at the 2024 TPM Summit in California.

#6 TPM Summit 2024 - Harman Sharing his TPM Experiences

We talk with Harman Batra, Senior Director at McAfee about his experienes as a TPM, in our second interview, live at the 2024 TPM Summit.

#5 TPM Summit 2024 - Kickoff with Prasanthi Darbha

We are live at the TPM Summit with a quick Fireside chat with Prasanthi Darbha, a TPM at GitHub. We talk about the TPM Summit kick-off. Hosted by Michael Gotz

#4 Working Backwards with Colin Bryar

Colin Breyer, former Amazon executive and co-author of 'Working Backwards,' discusses the principles and processes that have made Amazon successful. He highlights the importance of customer obsession, long-term thinking, innovation, and operational excellence. Breyer explains the concept of single-threaded ownership and the need for leaders to say 'no' to unimportant tasks. He also discusses the annual planning process at Amazon and the role of TPMs in executing initiatives. Breyer concludes by mentioning Working Backwards LLC, a company that helps organizations implement Amazon's principles. Key Takeaways: Customer obsession, long-term thinking, innovation, and operational excellence are key principles that have contributed to Amazon's success. Single-threaded ownership ensures that a senior leader is fully dedicated to an initiative and has the necessary skills and resources to make it a reality. The annual planning process at Amazon involves setting goals, identifying initiatives, allocating resources, and gaining conviction in achieving desired outcomes. TPMs play a crucial role in executing initiatives and ensuring that dependencies are identified and managed effectively. Leaders should prioritize important tasks and learn to say 'no' to unimportant ones. Working Backwards LLC helps organizations implement Amazon's principles and processes. Resources: Working Backwards LLC: https://workingbackwards.com

#3 Scaling as a TPM with Paul Currivan

Paul Currivan, a highly experienced individual in technical product and program management, discusses the skills and tools necessary for scaling as a TPM. He emphasizes the importance of foundational skills such as project management and systems thinking, as well as the ability to adapt to organizational changes. Paul shares his favorite tools for large-scale projects, including Jira, Miro, and Microsoft Project. He also highlights the need for effective testing and the dangers of scaling without user feedback. Paul discusses measuring the effectiveness and ROI of applications used in program management, emphasizing the benefits and time-saving capabilities of automation. In this conversation, Paul Currivan discusses the importance of scalability in TPM and shares his insights on the three pillars of scalability: applications, processes, and technology. He emphasizes the need for TPMs to understand the technical aspects of the systems they work with, including architecture, scalability limitations, and communication protocols. Paul also highlights the significance of stakeholder management and the role it plays in ensuring successful scaling. He advises TPMs to be adaptable and open to innovation while maintaining a balance between technical knowledge and project management responsibilities. Paul Currivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcurrivan/ System Design Interview by Alex Xu: https://www.amazon.com/System-Design-Interview-insiders-Second/dp/B08CMF2CQF

#2 TPM Jeopardy with Josh and Zhanat

Doron Katz, Josh Teter, and Zhanat Abylkassym navigate various contemporary Technical Program Management topics in the form of Jeopardy. They discuss risk management and the importance of identifying and mitigating risks in a project. They also talk about change control and how it helps handle unexpected changes in project requirements. Finally, they touch on conflict resolution and the importance of mediating between team members with differing technical opinions

#1 The Lean Tech Tech Manifesto with Fabrice Bernard

Fabrice Bernhard, co-founder of Thedo and co-author of The Lean Tech Manifesto, discusses the principles of lean tech and its application in organizations. He explains how the Lean Tech Manifesto was inspired by the Agile Manifesto and the need for principles that can be applied at scale. Bernhard highlights the importance of value for the customer, tech-enabled networks of teams, and detecting and stopping defects early. He also discusses the role of technology, such as AI and the cloud, in enabling collaboration and improving quality.