Taking over product from a founder or longtime exec is one of the toughest jobs in product. The founder has poured years into building the product and it’s often deeply personal to them. Letting go isn’t easy. That’s why it’s critical to establish clear ownership early. As CPO, are you setting the strategy and vision, or are you primarily responsible for execution? If the founder still drives product direction, you’re functioning more as a VP of Product than a true CPO. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s a different role.
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Don’t avoid the conversation. Work with them to define how they want to be involved—whether as an advisor, a sounding board, or with direct influence. Alignment here isn’t just about clarity for you—it’s about making sure the whole company knows who’s leading product. See more at CPO.studio.
Exec Roundtable
I’m hosting an intimate exec roundtable with David J. Bland, author of Testing Business Ideas. He will show you how to run experiments that actually change decisions at the highest level. Next Tuesday, September 30. Join.
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