The 8-Axis Skills & Leverage Strategy
by Vikrama Dhiman • Head of Product at Gojek
Vikrama leads product management, design, and research at Gojek, overseeing teams across India, Singapore, and Indonesia. He is widely recognized as one of the most influential product leaders in Asia, known for building strong talent pipelines and effective product organizations.
🎙️ Episode Context
In this episode, Vikrama Dhiman breaks down his "3 W's" framework for product manager career growth, emphasizing the balance between execution (output) and influence (operating model). He discusses the specific skills required to transition into product management, how to audit one's own career stagnation, and the art of managing stakeholders without being difficult.
Problem It Solves
Guides non-PMs (e.g., from CS, Design, Eng) on how to transition into Product, and helps existing PMs identify skill gaps.
Framework Overview
Evaluates PMs on 8 axes. For growth/transition, PMs should pick 1-2 'hard' axes to master first based on their background before tackling Strategy.
🧠 Framework Structure
The 8 Axes: Data, Design/Research, Te...
Transition Leverage: If coming from T...
Focus Strategy: Don't try to improve ...
When to Use
Creating a personal development plan (IDP) or hiring candidates from non-traditional backgrounds.
Common Mistakes
Trying to learn Data, Tech, and Strategy simultaneously, leading to overwhelm.
Real World Example
A Growth PM (strong in data) took on a design-heavy 'Driver Redesign' project. They used their data skills to inform the PRD segments, allowing them to collaborate effectively with designers.
You can't improve on every single area... Pick which is the area which is the maximum leverage for you.
— Vikrama Dhiman