Women in Product share their stories and career advice: International Women’s Day

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day (IWD), a moment to celebrate the contributions of women across every industry—including product management. At Mind the Product, we’ve featured hundreds of female product professionals on the #mtpcon mainstage, on our blog, on The Product Experience podcast, and in our training sessions. To mark the occasion, we reached out to women in product to hear what IWD means to them, their experiences in the field, and the career advice they’d share with others.

Have any additional thoughts you would like to share? Please reach out to us at editor@mindtheproduct.com to be featured. 

International Women’s Day in product management? Oh, it’s a big one. It’s a day to celebrate the incredible women who’ve driven innovation across the world—and a reminder that we need to keep creating spaces and opportunities for the next generation of female product leaders. 

Early in my career, I often found myself in rooms where I was the only woman, and let me tell you, it was not fun trying to get my voice heard. But everything changed when I started working with powerhouse product leaders like Cinzia Ricciardone and Frances Ibe—seeing strong women lead the way made all the difference. 

So, my advice? Be bold. Connect with female product leaders and get their advice and support. Ask all the questions (yes, even the ones you think are “silly”—they never are), call out unacceptable situations, don’t let anyone interrupt or talk over you, and most importantly—make sh*t happen. You got this!

Valeria Khokhlova, Product Community Lead, Mind the Product 

While it isn't true to say women in product management is uncommon, in many situations, we may find it challenging to highlight and communicate well with key tech stakeholders due to background and tech literacy differences, if not gender biases. Imposter syndrome is also widely observed among women product managers, often resulting in competitive disadvantages when fighting for what we actually deserve when compared to our male counterparts. 

By uniting women's power and collective learning, IWD helps improve the overall awareness of these issues across all genders, strengthen our professional network to support each other, and facilitate genuine discussions to resolve these challenges and improve women's overall empowerment in the tech space.

Amanda Lam, Product Tank Hong Kong Organizer 

International Women's Day is a reminder of how essential women’s perspectives are in shaping the products we use every day. Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to work on products that are used globally across genders and generations: Spotify, Skype, Google Meet, and Chrome. Each of these products impacts millions of people, and I’ve seen firsthand how diverse teams lead to more inclusive, innovative, and adapted solutions. Thinking about the role women play in making technology better for everyone is a huge motivator for me. It’s not just about representation, it’s about building products that truly reflect the people who use them.

One of the biggest challenges in product management is aligning diverse perspectives while staying true to your vision. As a woman in tech, it’s even more important to own your voice and push for ideas that matter. My advice? Drive your own career, follow your passion, and focus on what truly makes you happy. That’s exactly what I did throughout my career, choosing roles, teams, and products that excited me, even when they didn’t follow a conventional path. And it paid off. When you trust yourself, pursue what genuinely inspires you, and take control of your journey, you create opportunities you never imagined.

Dr Nesrine Changuel, Product Coach, Trainer, Speaker, ex-Google, Spotify, Microsoft (Don't miss her talk at #mtpcon London 2025!)

Product management can sometimes feel like standing at the edge of uncertainty—balancing customer needs, business goals, and technology shifts while constantly making decisions with incomplete data. But for me, the most powerful realization has been this: I am never doing it alone.

International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating how far we’ve come—it’s about recognising the power of community. In every challenge I’ve faced as a woman in product—whether it was navigating career growth, finding my voice in leadership rooms, or pushing for a vision that others couldn’t yet see—it was the power of the community that lifted me up.

From mentors who’ve given me clarity, to peers who’ve shared their unfiltered realities, to the incredible women and men allies in product who remind me that our impact is bigger when we support each other—this community has been my strength.

The biggest challenge? Feeling like you have to prove yourself twice as much. But the truth is, we already bring unique, invaluable perspectives to the table—perspectives that make products stronger, teams more empathetic, and companies more innovative.

Own your narrative. No one else will define your path, so don’t wait for permission to take charge of it. Speak up in meetings, seek mentorship, challenge the “that’s how it’s always been done” mindset, and most importantly—lift others as you climb.

Technology is evolving faster than ever, and the best products are built when diverse minds shape them. Let’s not just participate in the conversation—let’s lead it. So, my advice to every woman in product? Find your people. Build your circle. Pay it forward. We rise higher, faster, and stronger when we lift as we climb.

Priya Subbukutti, Senior Product Manager at Walmart Global Tech 

International Women's Day is a perfect time to celebrate how far we've come, reflect on challenges, and get excited about the road ahead! When I jumped into the sector as a product manager back in 1999, women in the field were pretty scarce - I often found myself as the only woman in the room, navigating spaces that weren't exactly built with inclusion in mind. Today, I'm energized to see more women stepping into product leadership roles, bringing perspectives that make our teams stronger and our products better. This transformation isn't just inspiring - it's driving real business results and creating more innovative solutions for customers everywhere.

As a Women in Tech mentor, I believe International Women's Day is a call to action - progress happens when we actively mentor, advocate, and champion positive change. Supporting other women in their careers is my passion, not just my profession. When we lift each other up and ensure diverse viewpoints are heard, we prove that exceptional products and outstanding leadership aren't bound by gender. The future for women in product is incredibly bright, and I'm committed to being part of that journey forward. 

In this journey, I cannot overlook the profound impact my mother has had on my life. As a strong, driven single mom, she raised three kids with unconditional love, and her support has shaped who I am today. She has been my favourite mentor and my best role model, demonstrating resilience and dedication. Her unwavering belief in the value of hard work, no-BS policy, and compassion motivates me to strive for excellence every day.

Chantal Botana, Fractional CPO & Product Discovery Coach @ ProductEvangelist.co Women in Tech Mentor, ProductTank Organizer

If I could travel back in time and give myself some advice for how to navigate my career in product as a woman, I would have loved to know what I learned from my research on the role of gender in how women (or men) get promoted in product specifically.

What I learned from women (and men) who successfully got promoted is:

So if there is one thing I wish for all women in product today, it is that their managers believe in them, intentionally focus on their growth, suggest them for promotions and then get them the support they need to succeed in their new roles. 

_________________

The full article on more findings is here: Advancing your product career – Inclusive Leaders
A ProductTank talk I gave about these findings is here: https://youtu.be/PeehxPI1vmQ 

Simonetta Batteiger, Product Leadership Coach, Executive Coach, Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker

A big thanks to all the great insights from the product professionals above. We hope you found some of the advice valuable.

Have any more insights that you’d like to share? Email us at editor@mindtheproduct.com.