How to Move Up in Product Management
In my Six Levels of Product Management framework, I break down the responsibilities across roles, from Associate PM to Chief Product Officer. But definitions are just the starting point.
What product managers and team leaders really want to know is:
“How do I move from one level to the next?”
This guide walks you through what changes at each stage so you can build your career, grow your team, or develop stronger product leadership inside your company.
From Associate Product Manager to Product Manager
Shift From Support to Ownership
You’re not just helping anymore. You’re leading.
Show you can:
- Independently manage a small feature or area
- Conduct basic customer research and apply it
- Keep work moving through design, engineering, and launch
To stand out: Take full ownership of a slice of the product and run with it.
From Product Manager to Senior Product Manager
Shift From Managing a Product to Thinking Cross-Product
You’re no longer just building. You’re thinking strategically.
Show you can:
- Prioritize based on impact, not just requests
- Lead discovery and define strategy
- Guide peers and influence without authority
To stand out: Drive a product outcome, not just a release. Coach others while delivering results.
From Senior Product Manager to Director of Product Management
Shift From Individual Impact to Team Leadership
Now you’re shaping strategy across products and people.
Show you can:
- Mentor and develop other PMs
- Align roadmaps across the portfolio
- Connect product efforts to business goals
To stand out: Lead product strategy, not just execution, and guide a team through it.
From Director to VP of Product Management
Shift From Managing a Team to Leading a Function
You’re setting the vision and building the system behind great products.
Show you can:
- Build and lead a high-performing team
- Align product with company strategy
- Partner cross-functionally at the executive level
To stand out: Scale the product org and deliver business-wide impact.
From VP to Chief Product Officer (CPO)
Shift From Team Leader To Business Leader
You’re accountable for product-market success at the highest level.
Show you can:
- Set long-term product vision and innovation strategy
- Collaborate across the executive team
- Represent the voice of the customer in board-level decisions
To stand out: Drive transformation, not just performance. Align product with company growth and future markets.
Final Thought: Growth Happens When the Path Is Clear
When expectations are fuzzy, careers stall.
When progression is clear, people grow faster, with more confidence.
If you’re managing a team or planning your next step, this level-by-level guide gives you the structure to grow with intention.
Helping people grow is one of my favorite parts of the job.
If you’re thinking about how to support your team or grow in your own role, I’d be happy to share what’s worked across other manufacturers.
Just click here, and we’ll set up a time to talk.
Posted in Improve Product Managers | Tagged Management, Leadership, Skills
