If you know me, you know I love wine. What’s so fascinating about it? For me, it’s the blend of science—grapes, soil, climate, fermentation, maturation—and the art of producing and marketing the final product. The process is both tangible and complex, and of course, I enjoy tasting wine and navigating a wine list confidently enough to recommend something others will love.

Being a Product Manager (PM) is a lot like being a sommelier. Like a sommelier/ winemaker, a good PM balances both science and art, using analysis and creativity.

The Science and Art of Product Management

A skilled winemaker follows essential steps in the winemaking process—harvest, crush, ferment, mature—but as they gain experience, they might experiment with the details: adjusting the yeast, sugar, or fermentation process to create something unique. Similarly, a great PM knows the fundamental processes but isn't afraid to adapt or experiment.

Great PMs often:

- Trust their market knowledge: Sometimes, they’ll skip detailed customer research and make a quick call on a feature based on their understanding of the market and customer behavior.

- Take calculated risks: They might launch a feature without extensive testing if the potential payoff outweighs the risk.

- Adapt processes to fit the team: If traditional backlog management or Scrum/Kanban doesn’t serve the team, they’ll customize a process that does.

- Experiment with new ideas: This could mean trying a different design sprint format, gathering customer feedback in creative ways, or exploring new problem-solving methods.

Product Innovation and Differentiation

In a crowded wine market, winemakers have to be innovative to stand out. They need a clear vision: Is their wine a budget-friendly, high-volume option? A natural wine from a small family vineyard? What makes it unique? Are they selling directly to consumers or through wholesalers?

Great PMs share this focus on differentiation and the go-to-market (GTM) strategy. They:

- Understand the competition and trade-offs: They know what makes their product unique and the GTM implications.

- Prioritise uniqueness: They invest time and effort into developing distinctive features instead of just meeting the industry standard.

- Innovate: They’re not just replicating others; they’re finding genuinely new ways to stand out.

- Collaborate with marketing: They work closely with marketing teams so that GTM insights shape product decisions and priorities.

The T-Shaped PM

To succeed, winemakers need to know a bit of everything: geology, finance, engineering, sales, and more. Similarly, PMs are "jacks of all trades," with basic skills across strategy, finance, marketing, engineering, design, analytics, and customer research. They serve as the “conductor” for experts in each of these fields, bringing everything together.

However, the best PMs are "T-shaped." They have in-depth knowledge in one area, like strategy, design, or engineering, and a broad understanding of the others. Top PMs often combine creative and analytical skills, like a former engineer who loves design or an ex-consultant who taught themselves to code. This blend of creativity and analytical thinking is a PM's “secret sauce.”

So what?

Why does this balance between analysis and creativity matter? It’s essential for hiring and coaching. When I see strong analytical abilities combined with creative pursuits—like music, dance, or art—on a PM’s CV, it’s a huge plus. I make a point to ask about both during interviews. And as you guide your team, encourage both scientific thinking and creativity.

And, hey, bonus points if they have a passion for wine!