Technologies for Product Managers: SQL, TechStacks, System-Design, Cloud and Machine Learning

Why to learn? What to learn? How to learn?

Why Tools & Technologies for Product Managers?

Product Managers deal with cross-functional team-members(Design, Development & Testing, Deployment, Analytics, Marketing, Sales and Customer Support teams).

Photo by Redd F on Unsplash

Product managers need to understand these cross-functional team-members in-order to avoid inefficient products and deviations.

Otherwise, they won’t be able to get success for the respective business-objective they are working upon.

And for this they need to learn basics of tools and technologies of PDLC(Product Development Life-Cycle).

Tech 101 for PMs to communicating engineers, analyzing metrics and looking at feasibility of solutions

There are various tech-skills for a product manager such as(Not Mandatory but good if you know):

1. SQL/RDBMS: A PM should know at least about SQL vs NoSQL Databases, ER Diagrams, SQL queries including knowledge of JOINS, CASES, UNIONS and WILDCARDS. Also, check-out“SQL For Product Managers”.
2. System Design: A Product Manager should know how to design a SAAS product in-terms High Level Design in-order to have seamless communication between engineering team and feasibility of solutions.
3. TechStacks: It gives an edge to technical product managers to understand how the SAAS products are working whether there is an APP or a Website including frontend, backend and databases(you can also consider APIs and SDKs).
4. Machine Learning: ChatGPT or Google Bard have brought a revolution to the several industries and there are various industries in which Machine Learning or Deep Learning or Artificial Intelligence is used such as Automobiles(Tesla, Mercedes, Tata), FinTech(J P Morgan, AML softwares and other fintech apps) Social Media Platforms(Meta, IG, Snapchat, Twitter or X.com) and other tech giants etc.
5. Cloud 101: It’s really important to understand importance and use-cases of Cloud Technologies and it’s providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud etc.

How to learn technologies for Product Managers for free?

1. Technology for Product Managers: You can access the Hello-PM’s Youtube Playlist if you are a beginner.
2. System Design(For Geeks only): For this I would say two sources will be more than enough for you: Gaurav Sen & Exponent series of System Design Interview Prep Youtube Playlist.
3. Machine Learning for Product Managers: For ML and AI for an aspiring PM I would love to suggest this playlist from Product School: AI, Machine Learning and Chatbots for Product Managers by Product School and a Machine Learning blog series by EduShots.
4. SQL for Product Managers: For this you will have to learn basics of it but if you want to practise SQL queries, HackerRank can be a great platform for you. Again, it’s for pro-learners only so if you are someone who wants to learn the basics of SQL then w3schools.com is a good platform to start.

Checkout- “SQL FOR PRODUCT MANAGERS”

Note: For Agile methodologies you can go start looking for softwares or tools such as JIRA and ASANA. They cover all-of-the functions and techniques such as drafting User Stories(Figma-jamboard & Figma can be used for drafting user journey), Product Roadmapping, SCRUM & KANBAN methods and others.

You can learn: System-Design, Blockchain, Machine Learning and SQL for Product Management here:

System Design for Product Managers: Netflix Case Study

Blockchain for Product Management

Machine Learning 101 for Product Managers

SQL for Product Managers

If you want to study frequently asked PM Interview Questions then click on this -> link.