Key Topics Covered:
- What product ops is not—and why the role is often misunderstood
- Different models of product ops across organizations
- Product ops vs. product leadership: where’s the line?
- When to hire a product ops person (and when not to)
- The enabling team model from Team Topologies
- Why Teresa and Petra are wary of “methodology police” in discovery
- How product ops can support skill building, analytics, and communication standards
- The shipyard metaphor: keeping the environment healthy for empowered teams
- Coaching as a product ops responsibility—helpful or risky?
Key Takeaways:
- Product ops isn't a checklist hire—it’s a strategic move to fill specific gaps
- The best product ops folks blend a product mindset with another core strength (e.g. analytics, L&D, change management)
- Not all gaps should be filled by product ops—sometimes it’s about enabling HR, data, or leadership to step up
- Product ops is a great career path for senior PMs who don’t want to move - into people leadership but still want to shape the organization
Resources & Links:
- Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
- Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com
Mentioned in the episode: