To People Calling Product Managers Mini-CEO, Please Stop

Brandon T. Luong
Jul 27, 2017 · 4 min read

Stop. Just stop this shit. I blame this rubbish on non-product managers wanting to simplify the notion PMs are mini-CEOs in this misguided analogy. The metaphor is spread across the net, which can be found in Scott Gordon’s article, McKinsey & Co being McKinsey, The Next Web’s contributor post, and the rabbit hole becomes deeper when Googling it. Yes, it’s easy to understand this comparison as the general public knows the gist of a CEO; however, is that truly the best way to explain a product manager’s role?

While product managers have to collaborate across different departments, communicate product value to target audience, and finding the X value in development cycle, their job is still different from a CEO. Ravi Vyas gives a listicle of the duties each job holds in Why Product Managers are no Mini CEO’s. If I do my own taxes, am I considered a certified public accountant? Hell naw, and I would not shame their job by saying I’m a mini-CPA. In Ale Carlos’s Stop saying Product Management is like being the CEO of your own product, she breaks down the differences further creating a clearer distinction between the two. Although Ale points to the fact product managers have no authority, Martin Eriksson drives the nail in Product Managers — You Are Not the CEO of Anything. An excerpt from the post:

Where the two roles differ completely is in authority. Product managers simply don’t have any direct authority over most of the things needed to make their products successful — from user and data research through design and development to marketing, sales, and support. Even today’s most senior product leaders only have hiring and firing control over their direct reports — other product managers. Does that sound like any CEO you know?

A CEO, on the other hand, stands truly alone, with ultimate responsibility for the success or failure of not just the company but every product in it. The CEO also controls all the resources of the company — with hiring and firing prerogatives across the company and final say on the budget. Does that sound like any product manager you know?

Not to degrade the product departments around the world, but that’s it. They’re a department, just like any other branch in an organization. A product manager does not sit on top of the food chain. Hell, Chief of Product Officers don’t perch at the pinnacle. In addition to Ale’s already amazing 4 Nots, I want to provide 3 more points for the slightly thickheaded readers thinking PMs are min-CEOs:

1. It’s easier to fire a PM

Just being honest. A PM can be replaced, added or fired by their higher ups compared to a CEO being pushed by the board of directors. Additionally, what happens when you have multiple mini-CEOs? Who get’s last say? Last time I checked, that would be the CEO.

2. Not needing to know every facet

Since I am not the CEO, knowing the details in HR, accounting, logistics, finance, or purchasing would be useless unless it’s tied to a new feature request, functionality, or product. As Ale pointed out, I don’t need to know about P&L; it’s nice to know and have in mind yet it’s not in my realm of work.

3. CEOs impact the stock, you don’t

When a company changes CEO, it can influence its stock value based on several factors like the market’s perception in the new commander. This also leads to the fact people have an eye on the captain, which could translate to the person’s esteem. Not many takes a second look at the crew member mopping the poop deck. Sorry, but a PM does not come close to this.

Last Word

Unlike Republicans, I can say repeal and replace the analogy with another plan: educate the public a product manager’s role. When it comes to the variations of a PM, allow people to discover that on their own similar to how there are different types of lawyers, doctors, accountants, and chefs. It may take a bit of time for this to become general knowledge, but it has to start somewhere. More workshops, panels at universities, conferences, Twitter chats (wink wink), the options are endless. So let’s make #BanMiniCEO a thing.


For my product managers out there, do you call yourself a mini-CEO? Don’t worry, we can have an intervention if needed.

Brandon T. Luong

Written by

Just a dude who loves blogging with no purpose.

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