What to Study to Become a Product Manager: Essential Skills, Education, and Career Pathways

Product management is a career path that combines leadership, creativity, and technical knowledge to develop and manage products that meet customer needs. If you’re wondering what to study to become a product manager, it’s essential to understand the core skills and educational path that will help you succeed in this field. A product manager must have a mix of strategic thinking, technical skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with various teams. Whether you’re just starting or looking to change your career into product management, knowing the learning options and core subjects can help you make informed decisions for your professional growth.

In this article, we will guide you through the skills you need to develop, the relevant education, and certifications to pursue.

Core Skills Required for Product Management

To succeed as a product manager, you must develop some essential skills like strategic thinking and analytical ability. These skills will help you effectively manage the product lifecycle, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure the product aligns with business goals. When wondering what to study to become a product manager, it’s essential to focus on the following skills:

1. Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking allows product managers to make decisions that align with long-term business goals. It’s important to understand how to plan product roadmaps, set priorities, and ensure that each stage of product development contributes to the overall vision.

2. Technical Knowledge

Product managers often work closely with technical teams, so a basic understanding of software development and product technologies is essential. Familiarity with tools like JIRA, Figma, and ChatGPT can make the management process smoother.

3. Communication Skills

Clear communication is key in product management. You need to interact with various teams, including developers, designers, marketers, and executives. When considering what to study to become a product manager, focusing on communication techniques will help you bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams

4. Analytical Ability

Data-based decision-making is a vital aspect of product management. Understanding how to gather, analyse, and interpret user feedback and performance metrics will help you make informed decisions and improve product development strategies.

5. Customer Focus

Understanding customer needs and expectations is essential to create a product that resonates with its target audience. Building empathy and adopting a user-first mindset can help you prioritise features and designs that truly add value to the customer experience.

6. Marketing

Marketing is an integral part of product management, ensuring your product reaches its intended audience effectively. If you are exploring what to study to become a product manager, learning marketing techniques such as branding, positioning, and campaign planning will help you drive product visibility and adoption.

7. Financial Knowledge

Product managers must have a basic understanding of budgeting, cost analysis, and revenue forecasting. These financial skills allow you to evaluate a product’s profitability and align pricing strategies with overall business goals.

8. Time Management

Managing multiple tasks, teams, and deadlines requires strong time management skills. Product managers must prioritise effectively and ensure timely delivery of each phase of the product lifecycle without compromising on quality.

Read on to Learn How to Become a Product Manager.

Educational Path to Become a Product Manager

Becoming a product manager involves a mix of formal education, practical experience, and continuous learning. When exploring what to study to become a product manager, it’s crucial to consider both undergraduate and advanced educational options that will equip you with the necessary knowledge.

1. Formal Education

Formal education provides a foundation in essential business and technical principles. Pursuing a degree in a relevant field will help you develop a solid understanding of both the business and technology sides of product management.

Undergraduate Degree Options:

• Business Administration: Focuses on managing resources, budgets, and people, providing foundational knowledge for product strategy and decision-making.
• Computer Science: Offers technical skills that can be applied directly to software product management, helping you understand how products are built.
• Engineering: Develops problem-solving and technical thinking, which is important when working with development teams.
• Marketing: Teaches you how to understand customer needs, which is essential for product development.

These fields build foundational knowledge in technology, business, and user-centric approaches, helping you identify what to study to become a product manager.

Advanced Studies:

• Postgraduate Degrees: An MBA, especially with a focus on product management or innovation, can provide leadership skills, market understanding, and strategic thinking needed in senior roles.

Advanced studies allow you to gain deeper knowledge of market trends, leadership, and strategic decision-making. These are the core components that you must focus on to become a product manager.

2. Certifications and Short Courses

For those who are looking to enter the field quickly or enhance their skills, certifications and short courses offer a practical way to learn essential product management tools and methodologies. These courses can provide immediate knowledge and skills and support your career growth.

Product Management Courses

Digital Regenesys is an online platform that offers a Product Management Course. This course teaches agile methodologies, product lifecycle management, and user research techniques. These are practical skills every professional needs to know when understanding what to study to become a product manager. 

• This is a 26-week course that covers all aspects of product management, like financial analysis, product planning, prototyping, etc. 
• It is taught by expert instructors with years of experience in product management.
• The course is offered online, making the learning process flexible for both students and professionals. 
• A globally recognised certificate is provided after completion of the course. 

Technical Skill Certifications:

Certifications in tools like JIRA, ChatGPT, and wireframing software such as Figma or Sketch will enable you to manage projects efficiently and improve product development workflows. You can easily learn these tools with Digital Regenesys’s Product Management Course.

Understand What is Product Management Here!

Essential Topics to Study

To address the question ‘what to study to become a product manager,’ it is essential to focus on topics that provide the skills and knowledge required for this role. For instance, studying Market Research and Analysis will help you understand customer needs and market trends. It will help you make informed decisions. Additionally, diving into Product Lifecycle Management equips you to manage every stage of a product’s journey, from its conception to post-launch evaluation.

Mastering these areas ensures you are well-prepared to handle the responsibilities of managing products efficiently and strategically. Here are some essential topics you must learn to start a successful career in product management:

1. Product Lifecycle Management

Understanding the stages of product development, from ideation to post-launch analysis, is vital. Learn how to manage product roadmaps, release planning, and track performance to ensure the product remains updated and relevant.

2. User-Centred Design

Developing an understanding of user needs is crucial in product management. Learn techniques like creating user personas, journey mapping, and usability testing to ensure the product meets customer expectations.

3. Technical Literacy

A basic understanding of coding, APIs, and the software development process can significantly enhance your collaboration with engineering teams. Knowing what to study to become a product manager in terms of technical skills will help you better understand how products are built and ensure your product is technically feasible. This knowledge is crucial in aligning with customer needs and making informed decisions that support the success of your product.

4. Agile and Scrum Methodologies

These frameworks allow product managers to manage product development effectively and iteratively. Familiarising yourself with agile principles and how Scrum teams operate will enhance your ability to manage product development.

5. Market Research and Analysis

Understanding your target audience and identifying market gaps is essential for product managers. Learn how to use data-driven insights to make informed product decisions and improve performance.

6. Business Strategy and Financial Acumen

As a product manager, you must understand product pricing, profit analysis, and how to align product goals with broader business objectives.

Skills Development Through Practical Exposure

Building skills through practical experience is essential for anyone pursuing a career in product management. If you are exploring what to study to become a product manager, practical learning complements theoretical knowledge and prepares you for real challenges. Here are some helpful ways to get some experimental knowledge in product management:

1. Enrol in a Course

Consider enrolling in the Digital Regenesys Product Management course to gain practical experience and build relevant skills. With an online setup, you can study from anywhere and at any time, making learning accessible and flexible.

2. Internships and Entry-Level Roles

Joining internships or starting in entry-level roles in areas like product development or marketing helps you understand the responsibilities of product management. You will learn how to analyse user feedback, plan product timelines, and collaborate with teams.

3. Join Online Communities

Becoming part of online communities or forums lets you connect with professionals in the same field. Learning from their experiences and discussing challenges in product management can offer valuable insights and keep you updated with industry trends.

4. Real Projects

Engaging in case studies or projects helps you apply what you learn to practical scenarios. As you explore what to study to become a product manager, these activities strengthen your understanding of product roadmaps, user requirements, and problem-solving techniques.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Working alongside developers, designers, and marketers teaches you how to coordinate effectively. You will learn how to align diverse team efforts and ensure the product vision becomes a reality through teamwork and proper planning.

6. Feedback and Improvement

Receiving constructive feedback from peers, mentors, or users during projects helps you refine your strategies. This process teaches you how to adapt and improve your work to meet user and business requirements.

Career Path for Product Managers

A career in product management offers multiple growth opportunities. As you gain experience and refine your skills, you will progress through various roles. Here’s a look at the potential career path you can consider while understanding what to study to become a product manager:

1. Entry-Level Roles:

• Product Associate: This role involves supporting senior product managers in various tasks and providing exposure to product development processes.
• Junior Product Manager: This role progresses to take on more responsibilities, such as managing smaller products or specific aspects of a larger product.

2. Mid-Level Roles

• Product Manager: Responsible for leading product development efforts, setting priorities, and managing collaboration across cross-functional teams.
• Technical Product Manager: Focuses on managing products with strong technical components, serving as a bridge between engineering and business teams.

3. Advanced Roles

• Senior Product Manager: Oversees the development of multiple products, manages larger teams, and plays a key role in shaping product strategies.
• Head of Product/Product Director: Leads the product management division, driving the broader product strategy and vision for the organisation

As you continue progressing in your career, your responsibilities and leadership opportunities will expand.

Explore Product Manager Salary in South Africa Here!

Why Choose Product Management as a Career?

Product management offers diverse opportunities to work in various industries where you can have a significant impact on products and services that reach millions of customers. It’s an ideal career path for those who enjoy working at the intersection of business, technology, and design. The skills you acquire in product management are highly transferable and sought after across many sectors, making it a rewarding career.

In conclusion, becoming a product manager requires a combination of strategic thinking, technical skills, and a deep understanding of the product lifecycle. When considering what to study to become a product manager, focus on gaining knowledge in business, technology, and customer-focused design. Whether you pursue formal education, certifications, or practical experience, each step will bring you closer to a successful career in product management.

Visit the Digital Regenesys website for more information on the course curriculum and objective.

What to Study to Become a Product Manager? – FAQs