Be Careful! Getting a Product Owner Certificate May Fool You
No certificate is enough to qualify a person to become a Product Owner.
In 2016, I got my first Product Owner Certificate, Professional Scrum Product Owner. I was proud of myself for reaching this milestone, and I thought this achievement proved I could excel as a Product Owner. However, nothing changed about my misconceptions. Day in, day out, I somehow contributed to delivering poor results instead of helping the business succeed by making our customers’ lives better.
Often, people from all over the world ask me, “Which certificate should I get, PSPO or CSPO?”. That’s not the question I’d like to receive because it implies you have to get one of these certificates. Well, you don’t. A better question would be, “How can I develop strong product management skills?”
Unfortunately, the certificate creates an illusion that you have validated your knowledge and can become a strong Product Owner. In theory, it might be true, but the practice is often different.
Let me elaborate more about the advantages and disadvantages of a Product Owner Certificate. I will also share my perspective on what it takes to succeed in your journey.
