Sheila Hara
Sr. Director, Product Management, Barracuda Networks
About
With a robust background spanning over decade and half, Sheila Hara stands out as a Senior Director of Product Management at Barracuda. Her approach, rooted in creativity and collaboration, is driven by data and customer feedback, guiding the stra......more
Content
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • May 1
If your company doesn't currently have a formal product strategy, developing one is a crucial step towards ensuring that your product development efforts are aligned with your business goals. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a product strategy: 1. DEFINE YOUR VISION AND GOALS * Vision:......Read More
491 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • February 1
In a product management interview, my favorite question came up: "What is the best product you have ever used, and why?" I took a creative approach and presented myself as the product. I detailed my skills, experiences, and the unique value I could bring to the team, framing my abilities and pote......Read More
430 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • February 1
In the field of product management, there isn't really a "typical" career path. Product management is highly flexible. Some product managers may transition into related fields like marketing, sales, or even corporate strategy. Others might find their niche in a particular stage of product manage......Read More
428 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • February 1
The most surprising aspect of transitioning from a Product Manager to a Director role was the significant shift in the nature of customer feedback I encountered. While I appreciated gaining more context and visibility at the strategic level, I found that my interactions with customers became pre......Read More
411 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • May 1
Barracuda has a structured approach that blends continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) with Agile methodologies, using specific release timelines. This setup can offer several advantages, especially in managing complex software development and deployment processes effectively. Here’s a break......Read More
409 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • May 1
Here’s how we approach this balance at Barracuda, taking inspiration from Cagan’s principles: 1. Deep Customer Understanding: We prioritize deep customer insights through continuous interaction and feedback. Understanding customer needs and pain points helps us identify features that wi......Read More
398 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • February 1
If you're a non-IT professional looking to start a career in product management, it's important to recognize and leverage your transferable skills. Many skills that you might have developed in other roles can be extremely valuable in a PM position, even if they don't seem directly related at firs......Read More
396 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • May 1
Here are some key strategies to consider when thinking about defense in relation to your product strategy: 1. INNOVATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT * Stay Ahead with Innovation: Continuously innovate and improve your products. This could mean enhancing existing features, introducing cuttin......Read More
395 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • February 1
apologies for the long read, in advance When considering the growth of Product Management competence within an organization, it's crucial to strike a balance between nurturing internal talent and bringing in fresh perspectives from the broader market. Both approaches have their unique advantages......Read More
393 Views
Sheila Hara
Barracuda Sr. Director, Product Management • May 1
In industries where the pace of change is rapid and often unpredictable, building an effective product strategy requires agility, foresight, and a strong understanding of the underlying technologies and market dynamics. 1. EMBRACE FLEXIBILITY AND AGILITY * Adaptive Roadmaps: Develop roadmaps ......Read More
392 Views
Credentials & Highlights
Sr. Director, Product Management at Barracuda
Product Management AMA Contributor
Knows About Product Strategy, Product Management Skills, Building 0-1 Products, SMB Product Manag......more