Why I Started A Program Managers Group

I’ve been on a Product Group for a while and noticed many questions came from Program Managers… so I posted a question to the group. In less than 1 day, I received over 160 requests!

In a startup, first there are engineers, then come along product managers, and finally, some small number program managers, if at all, join the company.

In larger companies, there may be more program managers in absolute number, but they are often “decentralized” to be part of a separate business or technology unit, making it difficult to learn from and grow with your peers.

Only the lucky few in larger companies with centralized PMO (Program or Project Management Office) have an easier access to coaching, training, and subsequently career progression. I had this privilege twice and it was tremendously helpful in my growth.

Recently a few friends of friends reached out to collect best practices and explore opportunities in Program Management, because they could not find this information from within their own company or immediate network.

In many companies, especially in startups, Program Management is not well understood. In my last 2 roles I had to effectively pitch to CEO to “justify” why they need Program Management team.

These are the reasons I started the Program Manager Facebook group.

Although proportionally the number of program managers is the smallest in a technology company, the impact of a program manager can be far reaching, because she works so extensively with cross-functional teams, with multiple product managers, to connect strategy and execution and take the product to market.

Join us — build a community, share, learn, grow our craft and our career together !