How to Become a Product Owner?
- blogs, product management
- 4 min read
Authors: Rashmi Shashidhar – Consultant at Vitrana
I’m Rashmi, and I have 10 years of professional experience. I currently work as a consultant at a private firm.
As I think about the next stage of my career, I have a clear aspiration. One year from now, I want to see myself as a confident professional who owns a product and works as a product owner in a good company.
For me, becoming a product owner is about preparing for the responsibility of owning a product and developing the confidence to perform that role.
Defining My Product Owner Career Goal
My immediate career goal is to move into a product owner role.
Having a specific goal helps me understand the direction in which I want to grow. I am not simply looking for a change in designation. I want to reach a position where I can take ownership of a product.
Confidence is an important part of this aspiration. I want to feel prepared for the role and be confident in my ability to work as a product owner.
My consulting experience forms the professional background from which I am making this transition. After 10 years of experience, I am now looking towards a career in product leadership.
Choosing a Product Leadership Program
I chose the Executive MBA program at the Institute of Product Leadership because it focuses purely on product leadership, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Since my goal is to work as a product owner, the focus of the program was an important consideration. I wanted my learning experience to be connected directly to product leadership rather than being part of a broader online program.
This specialised focus aligned with the career direction I had already identified for myself.
Why Offline Learning Mattered to Me?
The offline format was another major reason behind my decision.
The program is not conducted only online. It gives me the opportunity to attend in person and meet people. This was one of the two unique aspects that stood out to me when I was choosing the program.
For me, meeting people is an important part of the experience. An offline product leadership program creates opportunities for direct interaction with others in the learning environment.
The combination of in-person learning and a dedicated focus on product leadership made the program relevant to my goal of becoming a product owner.
Returning to School
Being back at school feels really nice.
Returning to a learning environment after gaining professional experience is an important part of my current journey. I am entering this phase with 10 years of experience and a clear idea of the role I want to pursue next.
The classroom also gives me the opportunity to meet people while concentrating on the product leadership skills connected to my career aspiration.
A Lesser-Known Part of My Journey
One fact that most people do not know about me is that I previously worked with and helped lead an NGO.
The NGO worked with children and elderly citizens. Although the organization was later dissolved, my involvement with it remains a lesser-known part of my journey.
This experience came during the earlier years of my career and represents another side of my life beyond my current work as a consultant.
My Path Towards Product Ownership
My answer to how to become a product owner begins with having a clear career goal.
I want to own a product, work as a product owner, and approach the role with confidence. To work towards that aspiration, I chose a program focused entirely on product leadership and delivered through an offline learning experience.
The specialised program, the opportunity to meet people, and the experience of returning to school are all part of the path I have chosen.
One year from now, I hope to see myself confidently working as a product owner and taking responsibility for a product in a good company.
