In the world of product management, your network is your net worth.
Engaging with a community doesn’t just connect you with peers – it plugs you into a vital source of new ideas, perspectives, and strategies that can propel both your products and career forward. Here’s why tapping into these networks is crucial:
- Networking: Connect with like-minded professionals who can not only become catalysts in your career but also act as sounding boards for your ideas.
- Continuous Learning: The learning curve in product management never flattens. Communities provide a stream of workshops, discussions, and resources that keep you updated with the latest trends and technologies.
- Mentorship Opportunities: Whether you’re giving or receiving advice, mentorship is a cornerstone of professional growth. Engaging with experienced leaders can help you navigate challenges more effectively.
- Career Growth: Expanding your professional network through communities can lead to new job opportunities, collaborations, and ways to advance your career path that you might not find elsewhere.
With these benefits in mind, I’ve curated a list of 8 diverse communities that every product manager should consider joining. These platforms range from highly specialized groups focusing on niche aspects of product management to broader communities where the sky’s the limit on the subjects you can explore.
Whether you’re a seasoned PM or just starting out, these communities offer gateways to enrich your professional journey and expand your understanding of what it means to create exceptional products. Let’s dive in.
Our Recommended Online Communities for Product Managers
1. Lenny’s Newsletter Slack Community
Platform: Slack
Membership: Paid, 15,000+ members
In the digital age, where every click brings a new opportunity for knowledge, Lenny’s Newsletter Slack Community stands out as a prime gathering spot for those deeply embedded in product management, growth, and startup ecosystems.
Key Features:
- Real-Talk Discussions: Engage in unfiltered conversations about the nuances of product management, growth strategies, and career advancement. This community fosters a culture where real challenges and experiences are discussed openly, providing members with actionable insights.
- Mentor/Mentee Programs and Mastermind Groups: Whether you’re seeking guidance or ready to give back, the structured mentorship and group sessions provide a scaffolded approach to professional development, ensuring you’re both supported and challenged.
- Global Meetups: The power of connection goes beyond digital. With monthly meetups across five continents, members have the unique opportunity to strengthen ties with peers in a face-to-face setting, enriching the community bond.
How to Join:
Joining Lenny’s Newsletter Slack Community requires a subscription to Lenny’s Newsletter. After subscribing, check your welcome email for an invitation link to the Slack community. If you can’t find the email, contact slack@lennyrachitsky.com with your subscription details to get access.
For more information or to subscribe, visit Lenny’s Newsletter. Engage with a global network of like-minded professionals eager to share knowledge and grow together.
2. Product School
Platform: Slack
Membership: Free, 30,000+ members
Product School stands as a beacon for aspiring and established product managers aiming to sharpen their skills and expand their professional networks. This community serves as a vibrant hub for educational enrichment and practical industry insights.
Key Features:
- Access to AMAs: Participate in Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with some of the brightest minds in product management. These sessions provide an invaluable opportunity to gain direct advice and insights from seasoned industry leaders.
- Job Portals: Whether you’re seeking your first role in product management or looking to advance your career, Product School’s job portal connects you with top companies looking for talented individuals.
- Networking Opportunities: Engage with a vast network of over 30,000 product professionals. This community is an excellent resource for building connections that can lead to mentorship, collaboration, and career advancement.
How to Join:
Access to Product School’s Slack community is through a simple registration process on their website. Once registered, an invitation to join the Slack group is sent, providing access to a wealth of resources and networking opportunities.
For registration and more information, visit Product School. Join today to benefit from the educational tools and networking opportunities that Product School offers, enhancing your ability to build successful products.
3. Mind the Product
Platform: Slack
Membership: Free, 45,000+ members
Mind the Product is a highly popular hub for product managers across the globe. It caters to professionals at every stage of their career, fostering a culture of continuous learning and mutual support among its vast network of members.
Key Features:
- Global Meetups: Experience the unique opportunity to connect with peers in person at one of the many global meetups organized by Mind the Product. These gatherings are held in over 175 cities worldwide, enabling you to network and share insights face-to-face.
- Daily Newsletters: Stay informed with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in product management through daily newsletters curated by industry experts. These communications are designed to keep you ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
- Vibrant Discussion Forum: Dive into discussions that matter in Mind the Product’s active Slack community. Whether you’re looking to debate ideas, seek feedback, or simply learn from others’ experiences, the forum buzzes with knowledgeable contributions from around the world.
How to Join:
Joining Mind the Product requires completing a registration process on their website. Post-registration, you will receive an invite to their exclusive Slack community. This invitation opens the door to a world of opportunities to engage and collaborate with fellow product professionals.
For more details and to register, visit Mind the Product. Enhance your product management journey by becoming part of a community that is genuinely passionate about pushing the boundaries of what it means to build great products.
4. Product Manager HQ
Platform: Slack
Membership: One-time fee, 7,000+ members
Product Manager HQ is a dynamic community designed to support product managers through every phase of their career, from newcomers learning the ropes to seasoned veterans refining their strategies. This community prides itself on offering a wealth of resources tailored to the multifaceted demands of product management.
Key Features:
- Access to PM Resources: Unlock a comprehensive library of product management resources that can help you enhance your skills and knowledge. These resources include templates, best practices, case studies, and much more.
- Job Boards: Looking for your next opportunity? The job boards at Product Manager HQ connect you with leading companies in the industry, offering roles that can accelerate your career progress.
- Discussion Channels: Engage in meaningful conversations across various topics in product management. These channels are a great place to ask questions, seek advice, share insights, and learn from the experiences of your peers.
How to Join:
Joining Product Manager HQ involves a straightforward one-time fee that grants lifetime access to all the community’s features. This one-time investment is designed to provide continuous value without the need for recurring subscriptions.
For more information on how to join and to take the next step in your product management career, visit Product Manager HQ. Step into a community where each member is equipped to succeed and driven to share their journey with others.
5. Women in Product
Platform: Facebook
Membership: Free, 2,000+ members
Women in Product is a dedicated community created to empower women in the product management field. By providing a supportive network tailored specifically for women, this group fosters an environment where members can flourish through collaboration, mentorship, and shared knowledge.
Key Features:
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with other women in product management roles to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build professional relationships that can enhance your career trajectory.
- Mentorship Programs: Gain access to mentorship opportunities where you can either mentor others or receive guidance from seasoned professionals. This feature is crucial for personal and professional growth, helping members navigate the challenges and opportunities in the product management landscape.
- Focus on Women in Product Roles: This community specifically addresses the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in the product management field, aiming to increase visibility, influence, and success for its members.
How to Join:
To join Women in Product, you need to request access to their Facebook group. This process ensures a safe and supportive environment, maintaining a network that’s focused on the empowerment and advancement of women in the industry.
For more details and to request access, search for “Women in Product” on Facebook or visit Women in Product. Join a community of inspiring women dedicated to making significant impacts in the product management arena.
6. Agile Coaching
Platform: Slack
Membership: Free, 2,500+ members
Agile Coaching is an essential community for product managers who are looking to enhance their understanding and implementation of agile methodologies. This community serves as a vibrant forum for discussing agile practices, providing a nurturing ground for both seasoned agile practitioners and those new to the agile approach.
Key Features:
- Discussions on Agile Methodologies and Coaching: Dive into detailed discussions and explorations of various agile methodologies. This feature is invaluable for anyone looking to refine their agile practices or solve specific challenges in agile project management.
- Focused Coaching: Benefit from coaching sessions that can help guide your agile journey, whether you’re looking to implement scrum, Kanban, or other agile frameworks effectively within your teams.
How to Join:
Access to the Agile Coaching community is granted via invitation, which ensures a committed and knowledgeable membership base. To request an invite, prospective members must express their interest and briefly outline their background or needs in agile methodologies.
For more information and to request an invitation, interested product managers should visit Agile Coaching on Slack or contact the admin directly through associated professional social media channels. Engaging with this community can significantly enhance your agile skills, ensuring you’re well-equipped to manage dynamic and fast-paced product development environments.
7. Modern Agile
Platform: Slack
Membership: Free, 3,000+ members
Modern Agile is a thriving community centered on advancing and evolving agile practices to meet the complexities of current project management and product development landscapes. This community is ideal for those who are eager to explore innovative and efficient ways to apply agile principles in today’s fast-paced environments.
Key Features:
- Focus on Modern Agile Practices and Frameworks: This community delves deep into the latest agile methodologies, providing a rich forum for discussing contemporary agile practices. It’s a great resource for staying at the forefront of agile innovation.
- Knowledge Sharing: Members can share their experiences, challenges, and successes in applying agile practices, creating a collective knowledge base that benefits all participants.
- Community Support: Whether you’re a novice or an experienced agile practitioner, you’ll find support and guidance from a network of peers who are also navigating the agile world.
How to Join:
For registration and more information, please visit Modern Agile Registration to access the community’s official sign-up page. Engage with a community that’s dedicated to refining and redefining agile practices to better suit the needs of modern teams and projects.
8. Product Marketing Alliance
Platform: Slack
Membership: Free, 15,000+ members
The Product Marketing Alliance is an essential community for those focused on the intersection of product management and marketing. This group brings together professionals from around the globe to share, discuss, and enhance their product marketing skills.
Key Features:
- Dedication to Product Marketing Techniques and Strategies: This community is a goldmine for those looking to dive deep into product marketing. It covers everything from the fundamentals to advanced strategies, helping members improve how they position and market their products.
- Resource Sharing: Gain access to a wealth of resources such as case studies, marketing tools, and strategy templates that can help you execute effective marketing campaigns.
- Community Expertise: The group hosts a diverse mix of product marketers and managers, offering a broad spectrum of insights and experiences. This makes it an ideal place for both learning new techniques and sharing proven practices.
How to Join:
Membership to the Product Marketing Alliance is accessible through an invite after completing a simple registration process. This ensures a community of engaged and dedicated professionals who are serious about mastering product marketing.
For more information and to register for an invitation, visit Product Marketing Alliance. Joining this community will connect you with a network of experts and peers who are as passionate about product marketing as you are, fostering both personal growth and professional development.
Conclusion – Which Communities Will You Join?
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of product management, staying connected with like-minded professionals is not just advantageous – it’s essential. These communities serve as hubs of knowledge exchange, where industry leaders, seasoned professionals, and aspiring product managers converge to share insights, discuss best practices, and support each other’s growth journeys.
By joining these communities, you’re not just accessing resources and networking opportunities; you’re becoming part of a dynamic ecosystem that fosters collaboration and innovation.
Whether you’re seeking advice on navigating a particular challenge, looking for career advancement opportunities, or simply eager to stay updated on the latest trends and developments, these platforms offer a wealth of resources and connections to help you thrive in your role.
At Atarim, we recognize the importance of community engagement in driving personal and professional growth.
That’s why we’re committed to supporting initiatives that empower product managers and foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. As you embark on your journey of discovery and growth within these communities, we invite you to join our own Atarim Community on Facebook, where you can hear the latest news, share tips and advice with others, and discover new ways to use Atarim to strengthen your business even further.
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