How to Prepare Myself to Become a Product Leader | Petra Wille | ProductTank Cologne

Many product professionals aspire to move into leadership roles at some point in their careers. But becoming a great Product Leader requires more than simply receiving a new title - it requires intentionally developing a new set of skills long before the promotion happens.
In this ProductTank Cologne talk, Petra Wille shares practical advice on how product managers can prepare themselves for leadership by building the capabilities that matter most while still working as individual contributors.
Drawing from her experience coaching product leaders and teams, Petra explores key areas of leadership development, including:
• Understanding the core responsibilities of Product Leadership
• Practicing the art of saying no and making intentional decisions
• Giving meaningful and actionable feedback — including feedback to your manager
• Developing Product Management mastery through deliberate growth and self-reflection
• Building the skills needed to create impact beyond your immediate product area
The session provides a practical framework for anyone who wants to move from delivering products to shaping teams, organizations, and product culture.
About the Speaker:
Petra Wille is a Product Leadership Coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping product managers and product leaders grow their careers and leadership capabilities. She is the co-creator of Product at Heart and author of Strong Product People and Strong Product Communities. Through coaching, workshops, and writing, Petra supports product organizations around the world in developing stronger product teams and leaders. 
→ See upcoming ProductTank Cologne events here: https://www.meetup.com/producttank-cologne/