Product means a lot of things to a lot of people. Here’s what it means at Hex.

Great PMs are fundamentally storytellers. They synthesize what’s true and interesting, and share it in a way that’s clear and inspiring. They form an opinion on what problem to work on, and what a solution could look like. And then, when it’s done, they help tell the story to the world.

They create clarity from ambiguity. In a space as big as data, and a product as complex as Hex, it can be hard to know where to focus. What problems should we solve, for whom? In what order? What’s critical vs. nice to have? It’s on PMs to find answers.

They are deeply ingrained with users and their real-life workflows. They understand the details and nuance. They don’t outsource product research or feedback to someone else – they know it’s the core of their job, and their license to have credible opinions.

They are adept at translating their understanding back to the team, generating cogent artifacts that get everyone aligned on which problems to solve. The whole company has a better sense of our customers, and how we can help them, because of their work.

They know their job is not to come up with every solution, or pass finished requirements to engineering or design. Instead they see their role as empowering **the brilliant people around them, pointing out opportunities and providing feedback. They know that the number one killer of velocity is thrash and uncertainty.

They also know the number two killer of velocity is too much process, and do whatever they can to embrace creativity, discovery, and ownership within their team. They don’t spend a lot of time moving tickets around, or holding big meetings, or implement overhead that’s only useful for them – in fact, they do whatever they can to get out of the way.

They partner closely with GTM, working hand-in-hand to deliver for customers. They are the focal point for input from the field, and have a handle on what’s working, what’s not, and validate ideas with customers. They understand the growth motion, positioning, and what wins deals. A great PM can pinch-hit for a Sales Engineer on a moment’s notice.

Finally, they think about how to tell the world about their product. They’re intimately involved in the product launch, field enablement, pricing, positioning and messaging, docs authoring, and promotion. They know their job isn’t done when the feature ships, and fully own the outcome through to measurable customer impact.