Five principles for successfully managing managers
Saumil Mehta shares his hard-earned framework for becoming a high-impact “manager of managers” — and why skip level leaders, not more middle managers, are the key to scaling product teams.In this episode, you’ll learn:* When a manager struggles, look one level up* Why the jump from line manager to skip lead is so tough* The “API endpoint” trick for leading through layers* How to get feedback without undermining your managers* Why covering for a weak manager can backfire* How to match people to the right projects* A simple 2×2 for knowing when to step in or step back* First-week habits that set skip leads up for successReferenced* High Output Management* Jeff Weiner’s Essay* Read the newsletter* Subscribe to Lenny’s Newsletter* Add Lenny’s Reads to your podcast feedSubscribe: YouTube | Apple | SpotifyFollow Lenny: Twitter | LinkedIn | PodcastFollow Saumil: Twitter/X | LinkedInAboutWelcome to Lenny’s Reads, where every week you’ll find a fresh audio version of my newsletter about building product, driving growth, and accelerating your career, read to you by the soothing voice of Lennybot. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
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12:38
State of the product job market in 2025
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.comThe product job market is flipping. In this post, I break down the latest 2025 data – what’s growing, what’s fading, and where the real opportunities are right now.—In this episode, you’ll learn:• How layoffs are finally slowing after four tough years• Which roles are bouncing back fastest• What Big Tech is pouring billions into, and how it could unlock new hiring• The new baseline for remote-friendly jobs• Where the most AI roles are opening up, and which city leads by farWho’s hiring: The top 20 companies for PMs and AI PMs• Two rising trends changing how PMs work and get hired—References• Browse all open PM roles• Part 1: New Data on the product job market• Part 2: State of the product job market• TrueUp• Read the newsletter• Subscribe to Lenny’s Newsletter—Subscribe to Lenny's Reads• YouTube• Apple• Spotify• Substack—Follow LennyTwitterLinkedInPodcast
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5:09
The ultimate guide to negotiating your comp
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.comJacob Warwick gives a masterclass on how to negotiate like a top-tier product leader, using a five-part framework that’s helped thousands secure compensation packages 2-4x above the posted range.—In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why negotiation is about value, not tactics• A five-step playbook for comp negotiation• How to uncover intel others miss, like hidden power and future pain points• Questions and scripts that shift you from applicant to collaborator• Real-world stories of product leaders who doubled their compensation• Tactics to build advocates, cross-team support, and momentum• How to navigate complexity without losing leverage• What to do after the offer to lock in long-term upside• A case study on how one leader turned chaos into a $1.4M offer—Read the full post: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-negotiating?r=1o9eyi—Subscribe to Lenny’s Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe—Subscribe to Lenny’s Reads:• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lennysreads• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lennys-reads/id1810314693• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IIunA06qMtrcQLfypTooj?nd=1&dlsi=ab893d56bd4a4050• Substack: https://lennysreads.com/—Follow Lenny:• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/• Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@lennyspodcast—About:Welcome to Lenny’s Reads, where every week you’ll find a fresh audio version of my newsletter about building product, driving growth, and accelerating your career, read to you by the soothing voice of Lennybot.
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17:38
Make product management fun again with AI agents
Tal Raviv shares a hands-on playbook for using AI agents to ditch PM busywork and make product management fun again.In this episode, you’ll learn:• The six behaviors that separate “agents” from ordinary AI tools• How to spot an ideal low-risk, high-impact task to automate first• The five-question checklist that keeps your agent safe, scoped, and effective• Smart ways to control cost, curb hallucinations, and satisfy your security team• AI prompts you can copy-paste to identify the right platform for your agent and generate workflows in plain English• Techniques for testing, iterating, and promoting your agent from “intern” to trusted teammate• Where agents are headed next and what that means for your role as a PMReferences:• Zapier Agents: https://zapier.com/agents• Gumloop: https://www.gumloop.com/• Cassidy: https://www.cassidyai.com/• Manus: https://manus.im/• Lindy: https://www.lindy.ai/• Relay: https://www.relay.app/Read the newsletter:https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-much-product-managers-make-inSubscribe to Lenny’s Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribeSubscribe:• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lennysreads• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lennys-reads/id1810314693• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IIunA06qMtrcQLfypTooj?nd=1&dlsi=ab893d56bd4a4050• Substack: https://lennysreads.com/Follow Lenny:Twitter: https://twitter.com/lennysanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@lennyspodcastAbout:Welcome to Lenny’s Reads, where every week you’ll find a fresh audio version of my newsletter about building product, driving growth, and accelerating your career, read to you by the soothing voice of Lennybot. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
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22:26
How much product managers get paid in US, Europe, and Canada
I dive into the latest compensation data for product managers across the US, UK, Europe, and Canada, unpacking trends, surprising gaps, and strategies for maximizing your earnings as a PM.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why senior ICs often out-earn managers, and how to pick the right path• How moving to a Tier 1 city can supercharge your salary• Cash versus equity: how to think about your comp tradeoffs• The career levels where PM salaries really take off• Why CPOs are cashing in like never before• How far behind UK and European PM salaries actually are• How to game your comp strategy based on your goalsReferenced:• Pave: https://www.pave.com/• Levels.fyi: https://www.levels.fyi/Read the newsletter:https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-much-product-managers-make-inSubscribe to Lenny’s Newsletter:https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribeSubscribe:• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lennysreads• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lennys-reads/id1810314693• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IIunA06qMtrcQLfypTooj?nd=1&dlsi=ab893d56bd4a4050• Substack: https://lennysreads.com/Follow Lenny:• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/• Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@lennyspodcastAbout:Welcome to Lenny’s Reads, where every week you’ll find a fresh audio version of my newsletter about building product, driving growth, and accelerating your career, read to you by the soothing voice of Lennybot. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
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