Get Clarity Before You Commit To a Career in Product Management
Announcing a free or low-cost online course that demystifies product management, separates myth from reality, and helps you decide if PM is truly right for you.
Product Management is one of the most misunderstood roles in tech.
Most people learn about PM through:
- Blog posts and social media.
- Bootcamps and certifications.
- Influencers and frameworks.
- “Experts” wanting to sell expensive trainings.
But what they don’t get is:
- A realistic view of the job.
- An honest discussion of the trade-offs and ambiguity involved.
- Clarity on what it actually takes to succeed as a PM.
- Help deciding whether this is a role they’ll thrive in.
As a result, many people end up disillusioned.
They chase Product Management for the wrong reasons
Expecting authority, control, and ownership the role rarely grants.
Spend thousands on training that doesn't prepare them
Frameworks and tools, but little real-world context or judgment.
Get into the role and feel lost, frustrated, or burned out
Because the job isn’t what they were led to expect.
This course is being created to change that.
You deserve to choose this career with your eyes wide open.
Product management can be a meaningful role for the right people.
But only when entered with realistic expectations, self-awareness, and intent.
Clear Expectations
Understanding what the role actually demands before stepping into it.
Informed Choice
Choosing the path intentionally, not based on hype or misinformation.
Career Fit
Choosing the role with your strengths, motivations, and goals.
I get it. Product management can seem confusing when everyone seems to be selling a different version of the job.
You want to make a smart career decision. In order to do that, you need you need a clear picture of the job. Not just the highlights.
The problem is, most information about PM is incomplete or misleading. Training and advice often focus on vague definitions, catchy buzzwords, Agile theater, or narrow contexts. That makes it hard to know what you’re truly signing up for.
I believe people deserve the truth before they choose a career. That’s why I’m building this course to share an honest, unfiltered view of what product management actually demands.
Why learn from me:
- 30+ years in product, technology, and business leadership across industries.
- Former executive in startups, growth companies, and Fortune 100s enterprises.
- Built and scaled the PM function across venture capital, private equity, small business, enterprise, M&A, IPO, and other contexts.
- Led, hired, coached, and promoted PMs, and mentored thousands more worldwide.
- I’ve seen product management done well—and badly—and carry the scars.
The goal isn’t to impress you. It’s to help you make a better career decision.
Executive Leader. Entrepreneur. Product Management Expert.
30+
Years in Product Management, Leadership, and Business
5,000+
Product Managers & Leaders
Served Worldwide
$100M+
Scaled products, teams, and businesses from zero to $100M+
Here's how it works
Sign Up For Updates
Join the interest list to get updates as the course takes shape.
Get Early Access
You’ll be among the first to access the course when it’s ready.
Decide Intentionally
Use the course to decide whether product management is right for you.
Be the First to Get Access
I’m validating interest before building the full course.
If this sounds useful:
- Join the early access list.
- Get updates as the course develops.
- Be the first to enroll when it launches.
“Shardul taught me strategies that spark action and drive real results!”
“Shardul embodies true leadership
excellence by combining practical
wisdom with strategic thinking, all
wrapped in a team-first approach that
empowers everyone around him.”
—Product Director, FinTech Company
“Working with Shardul is like having
a Product Management Jedi Master guiding your career. His insights completely transformed how I approach PM challenges.”
—Senior PM, Fortune 100 Company
“What sets Shardul apart is his
ability to cut straight to what
matters. No theoretical fluff—just
practical, actionable guidance
that delivers immediate results.”
—Senior PM, Digital Services Firm
“Shardul gave me so many tips of the trade that were easy to implement. He’s not just a great product leader, he’s mastered the art of RAISING great product leaders!“
—Product Manager, SaaS Company
“If you’re in product management and not following Shardul, you are greatly missing out on insights that will make your PM life much better. I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it. I really don’t.”
—Product Director, Real Estate Tech Platform
“Shardul is an absolutely one-of-a-kind product management leader. When facing a challenge, I’ll think to myself, ‘What would Shardul do?’ And it will always turn out to be the right way!”
—Sr Director, HealthTech Company
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“His authentic way of sharing experiences demonstrates his rare gift for making complex concepts accessible.”
“As someone who gets to interview hundreds of innovators for a living on my podcast, every once in a while I come across one who immediately lights up any stage they’re on and leaves everyone around them feeling inspired, motivated to take action, and full of ideas for the own journey. That person is 100% Shardul.
Shardul has a masterful ability to break down the parallels and “connect the dots” between seemingly unrelated pursuits — product management, entrepreneurship, leadership, and even improv — and bring an incredibly unique perspective to business and personal growth.
What truly sets Shardul apart is his genuine enthusiasm for generously sharing his insights in a way that resonates with people at all levels. He truly encompasses the principle of “a rising tide lifts all boats!”
Brian Lofrumento
The Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast
“Shardul’s no-nonsense approach cuts through the fluff to deliver pragmatic tactics that accelerated my career.”
“Working with Shardul transformed how I approach product management. I went from creating project plans that vanished into slide decks to building strategic plans that spark action and drive real results. His teachings are practical and adaptable for any industry.
The secret sauce is Shardul’s battle-tested experience—he’s navigated the same challenges we face. His no-nonsense approach cuts through the fluff to deliver pragmatic tactics that get stakeholder buy-in and move the needle on business goals.
By implementing his methods, I gained the confidence to own the room and make smarter decisions. Now I don’t just have roadmaps—I have game plans for delivering results that matter.”
—Head of Product, NASDAQ 100 Company
Don’t let misinformation shape your career choices.
Together, we’ll replace hype with clarity so you can commit with confidence.
What This Course Is
- An unvarnished Level 0 course on the realities of being a Product Manager.
- Focused on providing clarity about the role and the mindset required, not tactics and tools.
- Designed to help you make an informed go / no-go decision on whether to pursue a PM career.
- Taught from 30+ years of lived experience across many industries and roles.
- Affordable — free or low-cost by design.*
* Price to be determined.
What This Course Isn't
- A “How to be a PM” skills teaching course.
- A shortcut to landing a PM job.
- A framework-laden or tool-heavy training.
- A certification or credential.
- A hype-driven take on product management.
- How to develop “product thinking” or a “product mindset” or “product sense” or how to be “product-led” (because none of those actually matter).
- Expensive and inaccessible.
By the end of the course, you’ll have:
✅ A clear understanding of what Product Management actually is and isn’t.
✅ Realistic expectations of the day-to-day role.
✅ Clarity on the skills that truly matter (and which ones don’t).
✅ Insight into different PM roles, environments, and career paths.
✅ A grounded view of the psychological and emotional demands of the job.
✅ A confident go / no-go decision about pursuing a Product Manager career.
Because clarity beats certainty at this stage.
Course Outline
The course is under development. Here’s a high-level preview of what it will cover.
This isn’t the actual course curriculum. It’s an overview of the topics that I plan to cover. Join the interest list to help shape it.
1. INTRODUCTION & FUNDAMENTALS
- What Product Management actually is.
- What is the real job of a Product Manager.
- Why people become a Product Manager.
- Background and history of the role.
- Types of PM roles and contexts.
- Product Manager career paths.
- The fundamental skills required.
2. REALITY CHECK ON THE ROLE
- Myths, misconceptions, and hard truths.
- Where most PMs actually sit in the heirarchy and decision tree.
- Execution vs. strategy reality.
- Skills you’ll use vs. skills that get overemphasized vs. the skills that actually matter.
- Real talk on authority, empowerment, and expectations.
- Common gaps among current PMs that keeps them stagnant.
- What daily life is really like on the job.
3. MAKING THE CAREER TRANSITION
- How to get the job.
- Interview realities and prep.
- Managing your PM career.
- Psychological readiness and emotional resilience.
- What it actually takes to succeed.
- Is this role, and career, right for you?
How This Course Is Different
Most “Become a PM” Courses…
- Glorify the role.
- Are trying to sell you a framework that falls aparts in real world contexts.
- Are overly focused on tools, tactics, or Agile.
- In reality teach you to become a backlog manager.
- Are taught by people with limited experience or narrow contexts.
- Cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
This Course…
- Tells the unfiltered truth — no sugar coating.
- Is grounded in decades of hiring and leadership experience across a variety of domains, company sizes, and industries.
- Is based on first principles.
- Is intentionally accessible.
Who This Course Is For / Isn’t For
This Course Will Be For You If:
- You’re considering product management and want the truth, not the pitch.
- You’re an aspiring PM or early-career PM feeling uncertain or misaligned.
- You want to avoid costly career mistakes and false assumptions.
This Course Will NOT Be For You If:
- You just want to learn how to build products. (PM is not a builder job. It’s a business role.)
- You want to learn Agile, Scrum, or SAFe. (Knowing those doesn’t make you a PM.)
- You’re looking for a credential or certification.
- You’re looking for a FAANG / MAANG job. (I haven’t worked in those companies, and I don’t talk about things I haven’t experienced.)
- You’re want to develop “product thinking,” “product sense,” or a “product mindset.” (They’re buzzwords that don’t make you a PM.)
“Most people don’t fail in product management because they lack skills.
They fail because they didn’t understand what they were signing up for.”
Understand what you’re really signing up for.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the course launch?
I’m developing it incrementally based on interest and feedback. Join the interest list to get updates and be the first to know.
How much will it cost?
Free or low-cost. The goal is accessibility for anyone considering a career or early in their journey in Product Management, not profit maximization.
Will this help me become a Product Manager and get a PM job?
It will help you decide if pursuing a PM job makes sense for you, and how to think about the path. It’s not a PM training course.
Is this relevant for a specific industry or domain?
The course is intentionally industry- and domain-agnostic. The only thing it won’t cover is getting a PM job at a FAANG / MAANG company, because that’s the only context I haven’t worked in (yet).
Why are you planning to offer this course?
This is the advice I wish I had when I had started out.
After speaking with thousands of PMs and product leaders across the world confused by the myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings about the role, I’ve decided to tackle this head on to help the next generation of PMs avoid the mistakes of their predecessors.
I absolutely love product management and have enjoyed a rich career because of it. I want that for you too if it’s truly the right fit for you.
Why are you planning to offer it for free or a low price? Don’t you want to make money?
Sure I do. But putting this information behind an onerous paywall means it’s less accessible, which in turn will perpetuate the myths and misconceptions that plague our profession. It’s time to put a stop to that.
I haven’t decided on a price yet, but the plan is to make it free or very low cost. If I do charge a price, it will be to recoup unavoidable costs.
GET FIRST ACCESS
Make This Decision With Clarity, Not Guesswork
- Know what the job really involves.
Day-to-day realities, tradeoffs, and expectations—no sugarcoating.
- Decide if this path fits you.
Based on your goals, strengths, and tolerance for ambiguity.
- Avoid costly career missteps.
Save time, money, and energy by choosing intentionally.
