Your Product Management Career is Not Dead

Welcome and Introductions

Roger Snyder | 00:00–03:00
Hi everyone, and welcome to Productside’s webinar, “Your Product Management Career Is Not Dead.” I’m Roger Snyder, and I’m thrilled to have you with us. We’ve seen a lot of anxiety lately in the PM community—layoffs, AI disruption, job uncertainty. But we’re here to talk about why your career isn’t dead—it’s evolving.

Tom Evans | 03:00–04:00
Thanks, Roger. Hi everyone, I’m Tom Evans from Productside. I’ve been coaching and training product managers for more than a decade, and I can confidently say—this is one of the best times in history to be in product. It’s just different. The skills that mattered five years ago aren’t the same ones that will define your success now.

About Productside and Today’s Session

Roger Snyder | 04:00–06:00
If you’re new to Productside, welcome! We’re an outcome-driven product partner helping PMs and leaders level up through training, frameworks, and community.

Today, we’ll talk about three things:
1. What’s actually changing in the PM role.
2. What companies now expect from product leaders.
3. How to future-proof your career—whether you’re mid-level, senior, or a head of product.

Poll #1 – How Are You Feeling About PM Right Now?

Roger Snyder | 06:00–07:30
Let’s start with a pulse check. How are you feeling about product management right now? Optimistic, uncertain, or burned out?

Tom Evans | 07:30–08:00
Looks like the majority are “uncertain but hopeful.” That’s honest—and it’s exactly what we’re here to address today.

The Myth of the “Dead” PM Career

Tom Evans | 08:00–12:00
Let’s be real. Every few years, headlines claim that product management is “dead.” First, it was Agile. Then Lean. Now it’s AI. But PMs are not going extinct—they’re evolving.

AI won’t replace PMs—it replaces repetition. What it can’t replace is judgment, empathy, and the ability to connect business context to customer needs.

What’s Really Changing in PM

Tom Evans | 12:00–17:00
We’re moving from product managers as “feature owners” to **outcome orchestrators.** The job is less about shipping and more about aligning. PMs are now expected to integrate data, AI insights, and strategy seamlessly.

If you’re stuck writing Jira tickets, that’s not the future. The PM of tomorrow designs the *system* that decides what to build.

Poll #2 – What’s Been Hardest to Adapt To?

Roger Snyder | 17:00–18:30
Poll time! What’s been hardest for you to adapt to? Is it AI, fewer resources, changing stakeholder expectations, or role ambiguity?

Tom Evans | 18:30–19:00
Over half say “role ambiguity.” That tracks. The lines between PM, PO, and Strategy keep blurring, and it’s stressing people out.

The 3 Roles of the Modern Product Manager

Tom Evans | 19:00–25:00
There are three hats every modern PM must wear:
1. **Strategic Connector** – Linking product vision to business outcomes.
2. **AI Collaborator** – Using tools to expand insight, not replace thinking.
3. **System Designer** – Building repeatable, data-informed processes for decision-making.

If you master those, you’ll outpace 90% of the field.

How AI Is Redefining PM Work

Tom Evans | 25:00–31:00
AI isn’t here to take your job—it’s here to give you leverage. AI can handle tasks like summarizing user interviews, analyzing logs, or generating hypotheses. That gives you more time for strategy and influence.

AI doesn’t make PM irrelevant—it makes lazy PM obsolete.

Poll #3 – Do You Currently Use AI in Your PM Work?

Roger Snyder | 31:00–32:30
Quick poll: are you currently using AI to support your product work? Options: Daily, occasionally, or not yet.

Tom Evans | 32:30–33:00
Wow—70% said “occasionally.” That’s the sweet spot right now. It’s about being curious, not overwhelmed.

From Task Manager to Strategic Translator

Tom Evans | 33:00–38:30
PMs who thrive in this new era are translators. They don’t just collect requirements—they translate between customer signals, data insights, and business intent. It’s part analyst, part storyteller, part diplomat.

If you can make data emotional and strategy actionable—you’re future-proof.

Case Study – How One PM Used AI to Drive Strategy

Tom Evans | 38:30–43:00
We worked with a PM at a SaaS company who used ChatGPT to analyze NPS verbatims. She identified a pattern—enterprise users struggled with setup time. That insight led to a workflow redesign that increased retention by 12%.

That’s how you turn AI into impact.

Poll #4 – What Skill Do You Want to Level Up Next?

Roger Snyder | 43:00–44:30
Poll time—what skill are you most focused on leveling up? Strategy, storytelling, data fluency, or leadership?

Tom Evans | 44:30–45:00
Strategy wins again. And that’s exactly what PMs should double down on right now.

The New PM Career Ladder

Tom Evans | 45:00–50:00
Career paths are shifting. The old ladder—Associate PM → Senior PM → Director → VP—is flattening. What matters now is *influence radius*.

Some PMs stay ICs but gain massive influence through systems, AI literacy, and strategic leverage. It’s not about title—it’s about impact.

Poll #5 – What’s Holding PMs Back Right Now?

Roger Snyder | 50:00–51:30
What’s the biggest thing holding PMs back right now? Lack of clarity? Poor tools? Leadership alignment? Or fear of AI?

Tom Evans | 51:30–52:00
Looks like “leadership alignment” wins. That’s the root of most PM frustration—when the company says “outcomes,” but still rewards outputs.

How to Make Yourself Indispensable

Tom Evans | 52:00–57:00
Here’s the secret—PMs who make themselves indispensable do three things:
1. Quantify impact relentlessly.
2. Build systems that scale clarity.
3. Show emotional intelligence in conflict.

Your value isn’t in writing tickets—it’s in creating alignment that moves markets.

Case Study – Surviving an AI Reorg

Tom Evans | 57:00–01:02:00
We coached a PM who survived an org restructure that replaced half her team with automation. Instead of resisting, she learned how to *teach* AI her framework. She ended up leading the automation initiative. That’s career resilience in action.

Poll #6 – How Confident Do You Feel About PM’s Future?

Roger Snyder | 01:02:00–01:03:30
Our final poll—how confident are you feeling now about your PM future? More confident, same, or still unsure?

Tom Evans | 01:03:30–01:04:00
Good to see most of you say “more confident.” That’s progress right there.

Q&A and Closing Remarks

Roger Snyder | 01:04:00–01:09:00
Let’s get to a few audience questions. One from Priya: “How do you balance AI experimentation with delivery pressure?” Tom?

Tom Evans | 01:09:00–01:10:00
Great question. You balance by making experimentation visible—tie AI tests to measurable hypotheses. It’s about learning velocity, not shiny tools.

Roger Snyder | 01:10:00–01:12:00
Perfect. Thank you, Tom—and thank you everyone for joining. You’ll receive the replay, slides, and follow-up materials in your inbox tomorrow.

Tom Evans | 01:12:00–01:13:00
Keep learning, stay curious, and remember—your product career isn’t dying; it’s upgrading. Thanks everyone!