MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

My most spectacular failure was being the first product manager on Google Hangouts, where despite having thousands of people and the full power of Google, we still couldn't build a great messaging product.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Don't take on projects that will take six months to a year because you generally don't have control over the macro environment.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

As a product manager, everyone thinks they can do your job, which makes you question your own discipline and science.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Building a culture of experimentation makes product management scientific, allowing you to validate ideas quickly.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Strategy is often overrated for product managers; instead, focus on how fast you can go from hypothesis to data.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Working at a fast-growing company accelerates your learning and career development significantly.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Optimize for your strengths rather than your weaknesses, especially early in your career.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Early in your career, don't optimize for compensation; most of your earnings will come later in your career.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Decide early if you truly want to pursue a C-suite path, as it requires significant sacrifices and commitment.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In fintech, you have two customers: the end-users and the regulators, and you need to balance their needs, which often conflict.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Every trade-off in fintech is existential; a wrong decision could mean the end of the business.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

To figure out your strengths, consider taking assessments that evaluate your skills and abilities scientifically.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In product management, you need to earn the right to contribute to strategy; focus on executing well first.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Strategy should be about quickly testing hypotheses rather than lengthy planning; execution is key.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Creating a culture of experimentation empowers product managers, as it allows them to validate ideas scientifically through data and metrics.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Working in a fintech company like N26 helps develop exceptional product managers due to the complexity and challenges of the industry.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

At N26, we prioritize hiring top talent because being a big fish in a small pond allows us to attract the best people in Europe.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Small, fast wins compound faster than big, slow bets, which is crucial for growth in product management.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The strategy in product management is defined as the hypothesis multiplied by experimentation velocity, meaning faster experiments lead to better insights.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In banking, there's a unique opportunity to create products that are self-hedged, allowing companies to navigate economic fluctuations more effectively.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

In product management, it's essential to optimize for strengths rather than weaknesses to achieve better outcomes.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

I believe in focusing on problems that have a 10x positive or negative impact, especially in fintech where growth and compliance are critical.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Don't take on projects that will take six months to a year to complete, as you often lose control over the macro environment during that time.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

When considering career moves, look for overlaps in superpowers between yourself and the company to ensure mutual growth.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

There's no right or wrong decision in product management, only slow and fast decisions; making fast decisions allows for quicker corrections.

MK

Mayur Kamat

05/22/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

The best food in the world can be found in Bangkok, where you can enjoy both high-end dining and delicious street food within a short distance.

Unconventional product lessons from Binance, N26, Google, more | Mayur Kamat (CPO at N26)

Takeaways