The Title Paradox in Product
After building my own products and managing every aspect from conception to market, I've developed an interesting perspective on titles in the product world.
I find it almost comical now to introduce myself as "Chief Product Officer" - what a vanity title that seems in retrospect. These days, I simply tell everyone I'm the owner of the product - the Product Owner in the purest sense.
It's puzzling that "Product Owner" is widely regarded as the most junior position in the corporate product hierarchy. I'd argue it should be the most revered title any product person could hold. True ownership means understanding every dimension of your creation, making critical decisions, and taking responsibility for outcomes.
The other titles - Product Manager, CPO, VP of Product - often feel unnecessarily fluffy when compared to the fundamental truth of product development: someone needs to own it, completely and authentically.
Perhaps this reflects our corporate tendency to elevate titles while diluting accountability. In building RoboLab X, I've learned that owning a product completely - its successes and failures - is the most honest position one can hold.
What matters isn't the letters on your business card but your relationship to what you create.
#ProductOwnership #StartupLife #TitleInflation #ProductManagement #EntrepreneurshipLessons