Insight certainty 4/5 debate potential 3/5

PMs should empower their entire team to think like CEOs

Matt LeMay · The one question that saves product careers | Matt LeMay · Aug 14, 2025 · at 16:19

Matt LeMay, author of 'Impact-First Product Teams,' reframes the conventional 'PM as mini-CEO' metaphor during a conversation with Lenny Rachitsky.

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“I think the way I've come to think about it is that the product manager is responsible for the whole team thinking like a CEO, if that makes sense. So if the product manager takes that on as their sole responsibility and says, I'm the mini CEO, I think about the business, that's a missed opportunity.”

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