I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with two amazing women in our program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. They entrusted me with the opportunity to practise my leadership skills and supported my proposal to name our team The Dream Makers. Together, we built a relationship grounded in trust, transparency, and a safe haven for open discussion and collaboration. This experience has been truly inspiring and unforgettable.
I understand the value of time and the prevalence of meetings in product development, so I ensured our meetings were always well-structured with a clear agenda. This approach allowed us to stay focused on our discussions, track our decisions, and plan for future meetings effectively. It also provided us with the space to engage in meaningful conversations beyond the project, fostering real human connections. This balance of productivity and personal interaction made our meetings both efficient and enriching.
Product management thrives on creative collaboration and dynamic idea exchange across diverse teams. Miro proved invaluable in this process, enabling me to design and lead engaging activities that encouraged free expression of ideas. These sessions not only sparked creativity but also led to meaningful discussions about our collective insights, enriching our overall project development experience.
Product management heavily relies on data analysis, often facilitated through open discussions. Crafting insightful questions is the first step in gathering valuable data. As a product manager, I've learned that to formulate effective questions for respondents and interviewees, it's crucial to first consult with the team. Understanding why these questions are necessary and what specific information we're seeking ensures our research is targeted and beneficial. This clarity is essential for effective data gathering and successful product management.
Using Trello and being in charge of maintaining our Burn-up chart I kept our team on track with ongoing activities and completed tasks. This approach provided us with a clear view of our progress relative to our timeline, highlighting any challenges we faced. Identifying activities that were taking longer to complete offered an opportunity to support the team, whether by allocating additional time or providing extra help, ensuring we stayed aligned with our goals.
Although it wasn't required for our Capstone project, I took the initiative to write a summary report, delegated the task to my team to create a risk assessment summary based on our findings, and presented it to our client, LabourLend. This document clearly outlined the purpose and results of our study as his product development team. By doing so, I ensured clear communication between my team and our client, hoping it would serve as a valuable resource for strategic planning and continuous improvement in their product development efforts.
Lastly, I took on the task of organizing and editing our final presentation. As a product manager, I believe in trusting my team to excel and shine in their unique ways. Understanding each team member's personal growth goals allowed me to delegate tasks effectively. We discussed who would present each topic and explored their presentation styles through open, creative conversations. I offered feedback and suggestions while actively listening to their ideas. Together, we crafted a presentation that earned the highest praise from our instructors, who called it the "BEST EVER PRODUCT VISION THEY'VE EVER SEEN." This recognition is a testament to our collaborative effort and is a compliment I am incredibly proud of.
