PMs are not the CEO of product, and their roles vary widely depending on a number of factors.

Aspiring PMs should consider three primary factors when evaluating a role: core competencies, emotional intelligence (EQ), and company fit.

the best PMs create products with strong user adoption that have exponential revenue growth and perhaps even disrupt an industry.

the best PMs have the ability to empathize with customers in that interview, are tuned into their body language and emotions, and can astutely suss out the pain points that the product or feature will address.

By forming authentic and trustworthy connections with both internal and external stakeholders, the best PMs inspire people and help them reach their full potential.

Self-awareness. PMs must be self-aware so as to remain objective and avoid projecting their own preferences onto users of their products.

The best PMs know how to push hard on the right priorities, with urgency but without conveying a sense of panic or stress.

PMs have to have a deep understanding of how the organization operates and must build social capital to influence the success of their product, from obtaining budget and staffing to securing a top engineer to work on their product.

Startup. Beyond discovery, definition, and shipping, PMs may also be responsible for pricing, marketing, support, and potentially even sales of the product.