Before becoming a Product Manager, were you in Engineering, Design, or Business? Unless you came from the first group, many PMs battle imposter syndrome that they are “not technical enough.” Contrary to this belief, you don’t have to have a technical background to learn about new technologies. My friend and former colleague, Michael Lee, is proof of it.

Mike studied Economics as an undergrad and got a Masters degree in Interactive Media. He’s never worked as an Engineer, and yet he’s now built two proof of concept apps with machine learning and computer vision. How did this Analyst turned Product Manager teach himself about these hot new technologies? Read more to learn about Mike’s strategies on how PMs can be fluent with new technologies, even if you’re feeling a little technically timid.

What do you want to be when you “grow up”?

What are you doing to make it happen?

In today’s post, I’m sharing the Product Decagon framework that I created. It’s a tool for product managers to clarify your vision of what you want to be when you grow up, assess your skills and gaps, and plan your career development. I hope you’ll give the Product Decagon a try, and would love to hear what you think in the comments.