In this episode on The Product Experience podcast, Mariah Craddick, Executive Director of Product at The Atlantic, tackles one of the most challenging transitions in a product career: moving from being an exceptional individual contributor to becoming an effective manager of people. The shift is often vague, fraught with pitfalls, and rarely comes with a playbook.
Drawing on her background as a journalist, Mariah reveals how skills like active listening, asking the "question behind the question," and storytelling directly translate into product discovery and stakeholder management. She challenges the common misconception that good management is about being liked, arguing instead that radical transparency and challenging your team leads to more meaningful growth and long-term gratitude.
The conversation explores practical frameworks for removing subjectivity from performance management, including the Reforge PM Competency Model and structured "Development Conversations" held every six weeks. Mariah also shares how her team at The Atlantic is integrating AI into the PM workflow while protecting the human elements that make product work meaningful — from implementing "Focus Fridays" to addressing burnout and imposter syndrome head-on.
Chapters
Key Takeaways
Journalism as a Product Foundation: Skills like active listening, asking the "question behind the question," and storytelling are directly transferable to discovery and stakeholder management.
The "Liking" Trap: Effective management isn't about being liked; it is about challenging your team. Radical transparency often leads to more long-term gratitude than avoiding uncomfortable conversations.
Structured Development: Using a competency framework turns vague performance evaluations into objective, actionable growth plans.
The 6-Week Pulse: Dedicated "Development Conversations" every six weeks help track progress and adjust goals in real-time, far beyond the utility of an annual review.
Protecting Focus: "Focus Fridays" (no-meeting days) are essential for PMs to escape the "weeds" and execute high-value work.
