Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to chat with a ton of people - via The Product Experience podcast, in communities, at conferences & talks, and through everyday work - and I have learned a ton from all of them

Two of the things I’ve learned have coalesced into the launch of CPO Circles:

1. Being a product leader is a hard, lonely job

You’re dealing with problems, situations & opportunities that no one else in the company is. There are things you can’t discuss or figure out with members of the leadership team, and other things you can’t share or discuss with members of your own team.

Every senior Product person I know has these issues. They all have doubts, bouts of imposter syndrome, and worries about how to handle at least part of the job.

2. But it doesn’t have to be

We’re also a great tribe, with people willing to share their expertise and experience… but also looking for others who will do the same. Finding those people - trustworthy, smart and open to sharing - and a reliable, safe place to have those conversations is tough.

Over the last 5 years, I’ve created & curated a number of similar Communities of Practice and Communities of Interest. This is the first one that is dedicated to a specific role and the issues that are unique to it. I decided it was time to do so because it’s one of the hardest things to do in a company is to create an environment where the Product function can survive and thrive…

If you’ve read Marty Cagan’s books (or even if you haven’t), you know what the best companies do to create and protect a culture of growth and innovation. You’ve probably  seen the gulf between that and what we see practiced at our own firms.

CPOs have both the opportunity and the responsibility to create the conditions for success. When you’re in the role, it can feel like you should already have the answers. If you don’t, where can you turn?

There are a lot of places, actually - coaching is a great option, as are personal Boards of Directors (see Barry O’Reilly’s take on this), courses & accelerators, and your own network. CPO Circles isn’t a replacement for any of those, but rather a complement: CPO Circles is designed to expose people to a wider network, with a greater depth than they already have access to.

It’s the start of the journey. The community is still forming, and the Circles offering will - in the spirit of any great product-led offering! - iterate and evolve. I hope you’ll join us on the journey.

If you’re a Chief Product Officer, apply to join the community at CPO Circles.

How you can help:

1. Share the news - send this post to the CPOs in your network. You can also share it with any other C-level execs or Product leaders who may want their teams to evolve.

2. Share the LinkedIn post on social media 

3. Hit me up with any feedback or questions - it’s all very much appreciated.