EP97 What Engineers Wish PMs Knew

EP97 What Engineers Wish PMs Knew

From Product Coalition Podcast by Jay Stansell

November 20, 2025 · 41 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the critical relationship between engineers and product managers, emphasizing the importance of trust, communication, and empathy.

Summary In this episode of the Product Coalition podcast, host Jay Stansell speaks with Ali Hafizji about the critical relationship between engineers and product managers. They discuss the importance of aligning on outcomes, building trust, and effective communication strategies. Ali emphasizes the shift from traditional product requirement documents to prototypes, the need for measurable engineering performance, and the significance of mentorship for new engineers. The conversation highlights the necessity of empathy and collaboration in achieving successful product outcomes. Takeaways * The relationship between engineers and product managers is crucial for achieving business outcomes. * Transparency and trust are foundational for effective collaboration. * Product managers should frame problems clearly rather than providing solutions. * Prototypes can serve as a more effective tool than traditional PRDs. * Measuring engineering performance should focus on tangible metrics like bug counts and release frequency. * Effective communication is key to building strong relationships between teams. * Empathy towards engineers can foster a more cohesive team environment. * Mentorship is…

People in this episode

Host: Jay Stansell

Guest: Ali Hafizji

Topics covered

  • engineers
  • product managers
  • communication
  • trust
  • mentorship

Keywords

  • collaboration
  • prototypes
  • engineering performance
  • business outcomes

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Understanding Outcomes in Engineering and Product Management

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