Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Decoding the Roles

Last updated by Divyashree on Sep 02, 2024 at 12:05 PM | Reading time: 7 minutes

Welcome to the World of Product Management

In the evolving realm of product management, the growth product manager vs product manager debate is more relevant than ever. These roles, though often confused, play unique parts in a product’s lifecycle. From driving initial product development to scaling growth, understanding these roles can help you make informed decisions about your career or business strategy.

Understanding the Roles

roles of a product manager

In product management, the Product Manager (PM) and Growth Product Manager (GPM) have distinct yet complementary roles. While both are essential, they focus on different aspects of the product journey. Understanding the differences in the growth product manager vs product manager roles can provide valuable insights into how each contributes to a product's success.

Role Breakdown:

Product Manager (PM): The PM is the mastermind behind product development, responsible for guiding a product from conception through to launch. They handle everything from defining the product vision to managing cross-functional teams and ensuring the product meets market needs. Read about the product manager roles and responsibilities.
Growth Product Manager (GPM): Unlike the PM, the GPM focuses on scaling user acquisition and engagement. They are the growth hackers, leveraging data-driven strategies to drive exponential growth and optimize user experience. In the debate of growth product manager vs product manager, the GPM's role is centered on accelerating growth and refining user interactions.

Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Who Does What?

Imagine you’re leading a product team and notice a sudden drop in user engagement. Would you prioritize fixing the product’s core features or experimenting with growth strategies?

The approach you take depends largely on the role you carry.

PM Responsibilities: As a PM, you would likely dive into understanding why the product isn’t meeting user expectations and work on improving core features. Your goal is to refine the product and ensure it aligns with user needs and business objectives. To become a product manager go through our blog which give insights on how to become a product manager.
GPM Responsibilities: Conversely, a GPM would experiment with various growth strategies, such as A/B testing marketing campaigns or optimizing user onboarding processes, to boost user engagement and drive growth.

Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Skills Required

Tools for Product Managers

When comparing the skills for a growth product manager vs product manager, each role demands a unique set of abilities:

PM Skills: A Product Manager needs to be a strategic thinker with strong leadership and project management skills. Effective communication with stakeholders and the ability to guide diverse teams are key to turning a product vision into reality.
GPM Skills: A Growth Product Manager, on the other hand, thrives on data analysis, growth hacking, and user acquisition strategies. They excel at experimenting with different tactics and measuring results to fuel user growth.

In the growth product manager vs product manager debate, it’s clear that while both roles are crucial, they each bring different strengths to the table.

Also read: Essential Growth Product Manager Skills to Drive Business Growth

Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Tools and Techniques

The tools and techniques used by growth product manager vs product manager vary:

PM Tools: Product managers often use tools like JIRA, Asana, and Trello for project management, along with product analytics tools like Mixpanel and Amplitude to track product performance.

GPM Tools: Growth product managers leverage tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, and Optimizely for data-driven insights and experimentation. They also utilize marketing automation platforms and A/B testing tools to optimize growth strategies.

Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Metrics and KPIs

Growth product manager vs product manager also differ in the metrics they focus on:

PM Metrics: Key performance indicators for PMs include product adoption rates, user feedback scores, and feature utilization. These metrics help evaluate the product’s success and areas for improvement.
GPM Metrics: GPMs track metrics such as user acquisition costs, conversion rates, and retention rates. These KPIs are critical for understanding growth performance and optimizing strategies to enhance user engagement.

Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Career Pathways

The career paths for a growth product manager vs product manager can take very different directions:

PM Career Path: As a Product Manager, your career path might lead to senior PM roles, Head of Product, or even executive positions like Chief Product Officer (CPO). Your journey typically involves taking on more responsibility in product strategy and team leadership.
GPM Career Path: For a Growth Product Manager, the career path often leads to roles like Growth Lead, VP of Growth, or Chief Growth Officer (CGO). The focus here is on driving user growth and refining marketing strategies.

In the growth product manager vs product manager discussion, the career path each role follows reflects their distinct focus areas and growth opportunities.

Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager: Challenges and Opportunities

Both roles in the growth product manager vs product manager comparison come with their own set of challenges:

PM Challenges: Product Managers often struggle with balancing stakeholder expectations, managing intricate product roadmaps, and ensuring projects are delivered on time.
GPM Challenges: Growth Product Managers face the intense pressure of hitting aggressive growth targets, fine-tuning marketing strategies, and adapting quickly to shifts in user behavior.

With the demand for top product marketing manager jobs on the rise, it's clear that navigating these challenges successfully can set the stage for exciting career advancements in both the growth product manager vs product manager paths.

Excel as a Growth Product Manager or Product Manager with Interview Kickstart

Whether you're aiming to become a Growth Product Manager or a Product Manager, Interview Kickstart is your go-to resource for specialized training to help you succeed.

Interview Kickstart’s Growth Product Manager course is designed by experienced professionals from top FAANG+ companies, focusing on both technical and strategic aspects crucial for growth roles. You’ll dive into topics like growth hacking, user acquisition strategies, and data-driven decision-making, equipping you with the skills to excel in high-pressure environments.

Our expert instructors, who are seasoned GPMs themselves, will guide you through everything from mastering A/B testing to optimizing onboarding flows. They’ll also help you build ATS-clearing resumes, optimize your LinkedIn profile, and sharpen your interview skills to crack even the toughest growth PM interviews at FAANG+ companies.

Explore our course to see how Interview Kickstart can help you elevate your career, just like we've done for countless others who have landed their dream jobs in product management.

FAQs: Growth Product Manager vs Product Manager

Q1. What Is the Difference Between a Growth Product Manager and a Product Manager?

A Growth Product Manager focuses on scaling user growth and optimizing engagement, while a Product Manager oversees the entire product development lifecycle from conception to launch.

Q2. What Skills Are Essential for a Growth Product Manager?

Essential skills for a Growth Product Manager include data analysis, growth hacking techniques, and expertise in user acquisition strategies.

Q3. What Tools Do Product Managers Use?

Product managers often use tools like JIRA, Asana, and product analytics platforms like Mixpanel and Amplitude.

Q4. What Career Opportunities Exist for a Product Manager?

Product Managers can advance to senior PM roles, Head of Product, or Chief Product Officer positions.

Q5. How Can Interview Kickstart Help in Preparing for These Roles?

Interview Kickstart offers targeted courses and resources to enhance your skills and prepare for roles as a Growth Product Manager or Product Manager.

Related Reads:

AUTHOR

Divyashree

Growth Product Manager

Product Management

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