Roman Pichler is an internationally recognised product management expert, coach, author, and keynote speaker. For nearly 20 years, he’s helped product leaders and their teams develop winning product strategies, foster effective leadership, and successfully apply innovative product management practices.
Roman is the author of four influential books, including Strategize and How to Lead in Product Management. He writes an award-winning product management blog, and he shares practical insights on his podcast and YouTube channel. His product management frameworks and tools—including the Product Vision Board, GO Product Roadmap, and Strategy Stack—are used by product teams around the world. He regularly speaks at conferences and has given talks at Mind the Product, Industry Europe, Product Management Festival, Leading the Product, Product Elevation, Scrum Gathering, Scrum Day Europe, and many more.
To benefit from Roman’s expertise, attend his Product Leadership Training and Product Strategy and Roadmap course. Contact him if you would like him to deliver his training in-house, run a workshop to help you solve a product management challenge, offer coaching, give an inspiring talk at your company, or if there is anything else he can help with.
You can find out more about Roman and his background below.
Rob Singleton
VP Product at Prescot
If you haven't yet taken the opportunity to join a session with Roman, then do it! Totally engaging with an infectious laugh and thought-provoking, relevant, and applicable content. I can't recommend him highly enough.
Jean-Marie André Pavel
Head of Product at Heidelberg Materials
My team recently attended Roman's training courses, and I'm absolutely thrilled with the experience! Roman's practical and engaging approach is truly inspiring. I highly recommend his Product Leadership and Product Strategy and Roadmap courses to all product professionals looking to elevate their expertise. They are a game-changer!
John Elliott
Head of Technology (Commercial & Supply Chain) at Sainsbury's
What an awesome day with the one and only Roman Pichler discussing all things product! Plenty of inspiration, insight, and ideas.
The following section provides more information on Roman and his background. For further details, please visit his LinkedIn profile.
Like many people, I found my way into product management by accident. I started my career as a software developer and, in 2001, joined Siemens as an in-house consultant. There, I worked with the healthcare division on creating a new product. While I began with a focus on technology and development processes, I soon found myself collaborating with the lead product manager. That experience opened my eyes to the impact of product management and sparked my passion for the field.
My aspiration has always been to help organisations create products that truly benefit their users and the business while maintaining a healthy, productive work environment. Hearing my clients tell me how much my work has benefitted them is a huge motivation for me.
My focus has always been on offering practical advice that product people can apply straight away. This is visible in the tools and frameworks I have developed, including my product strategy model and my goal-setting framework.
When I began working in product management, my focus was on product discovery and delivery. But I quickly realized that without a clear product strategy, it’s nearly impossible to select the right features, write meaningful user stories, or prioritize effectively. Strategy is what guides discovery and delivery.
I also learned that success in product management requires more than hard skills like interviewing users, setting KPIs, or crafting strategies. Products are developed and supported by people, and aligning and guiding them is essential. The more senior the product role, the more critical leadership becomes. That’s why I emphasize product leadership—it not only helps people succeed in their current roles but also prepares them to grow in their careers.
AI can be a powerful tool for product managers when used thoughtfully. Its biggest advantage is enabling better, faster decision-making. For example, AI can quickly analyze large amounts of data to uncover user and customer trends, and using predictive analytics, we can spot opportunities early. However, it is important to use it in a responsible way and not become overly reliant on it. Use AI where it truly adds value and complement AI-based insights with qualitative market research like customer interviews and direct observations. This allows you to become more productive while continuing to develop a deep understanding of the customers and their needs.
I started experimenting with agile practices in the late 1990s and began using Scrum in 2004. I had the privilege of being mentored by Ken Schwaber, one of Scrum’s co-founders. Over the years, I’ve developed a deep understanding of how agile practices can help product managers maximise the value of their products. In a world that seems to be changing at an ever faster pace, being responsive and adaptive is more important than ever, especially in product management.
I’ve always loved language—I even studied theoretical linguistics. Becoming an author wasn’t something I planned, but in 2007 a publisher invited me to write my first book, and I discovered how much I enjoyed it.
I write the books I wish I had earlier in my career. For example, I saw a lack of practical guidance on product strategy, especially for digital products. That gap inspired Strategize. Similarly, I wrote How to Lead in Product Management because I couldn’t find a practical resource that helped product people develop leadership skills in their specific context.
On a personal level, writing helps me reflect, deepen my understanding, and express ideas creatively. It also complements my teaching and training in a very rewarding way.
I am based in Wendover, a village in Buckinghamshire. It is located in the south-east of the United Kingdom and not far away from London.
I enjoy cycling and going for runs in the Chilterns where I live. Exercising outside helps me get a fresh perspective on things, and I love being in nature. I also enjoy playing the tenor saxophone. In addition to Jazz (and bits of Funk and Blues) I like to play classical repertoire, especially Bach pieces.