I'm a product manager for Lightcloud, a next-gen wireless lighting control system. I'm a generalist—undergrad in Architecture with a minor in Poetry, masters in

I'm a product manager for Lightcloud, a next-gen wireless lighting control system. I'm a generalist—undergrad in Architecture with a minor in Poetry, masters in technological art (ITP at NYU), self-taught programmer since elementary school (thanks Dad!). My product management position grew out of a freelance job, where I was contracted to build a proof-of-concept for the products that we now install on sites all over the US. At first I was managing EVERYTHING, but gradually we spread things out effectively and I now do R&D for new products, high-level UX design of the software and as much of the hardware as I can, and coordinate engineering, sales, CMs, execs, etc. and whatever else needs doing to make sure the products get made and launched with the best possible UX. > What skills must be demonstrable? 1. Talk to users/customers/salespeople. Understand the product, understand the customers, understand the market. 2. Understand your engineering team(s). Get them excited about the product and make sure they understand WHY the product is being designed/executed in the way that it is. 3. Be an innovative designer. Think laterally. Experience art. Invent new ways of addressing the customer's needs. Don't take 1 step back, don't take 10 steps back, take 100 steps back. Think about what the product is really doing and what the customer really needs. Strip it to the core and imagine the perfect solutions to the problems. Throw out how things are "normally" done (then reconsider them later). If you can't, then I guess at least hire an experienced, professional, creative UX designer. 4. Communicate exceedingly well. Reply to people immediately. Make sure they realize that you care about their needs and opinions. Be extremely accessible.