How to prepare myself to become a Product Leader

Dear Product People in Cologne,

in many product teams, the step from Product Manager to Product Leader doesn’t happen intentionally. It’s something people grow into over time — often without clear guidance on what to actually change in how they think, decide, and act.

We’re excited to welcome Petra Wille to ProductTank Cologne — one of the most influential voices when it comes to developing product people and product leaders. As co-creator of Product at Heart and author of Strong Product People and Strong Product Communities, Petra has been shaping how product organizations approach growth, coaching, and leadership.

In her talk “How to prepare myself to become a Product Leader – skills you can practice today to become a leader tomorrow”, she focuses on a question many experienced product people struggle with: what does it actually take to grow into a leadership role — beyond titles and responsibilities?

Drawing from her work with product leaders and teams, Petra shares how you can start developing the skills that matter for leadership today. Not as a theoretical model, but grounded in everyday product work — from how you reflect on your own performance, to how you seek feedback, build your environment, and deliberately work on your strengths and gaps.

If you’re at a point where you don’t just want to deliver products, but shape how product work happens around you, this evening will give you a clear and practical perspective.

Don't miss the chance to ask your questions & connect with Petra and the community. Of course you'll have time to mingle and connect with curious product people from the Cologne area again.

Agenda:
7pm: Arrive and networking
7:30pm: Opening Remarks of ProductTank Cologne & Location Sponsor
7:40pm: Talk of Petra Wille (in person)
8:00pm: Q&A about everything you want to ask Petra
8:45pm to end: open networking

As always we're super happy to engage in a lively conversation with our speakers, and we'll get to mix and mingle at a beautiful location in Cologne.

A big THANK YOU to our location host denkwerk for supporting our ProductTank community with space, food and drinks.

Looking forward to see you on June 1st!

Best,
Simonetta, Tim, Dominik, Shehrina & Esjona
Your ProductTank Cologne Team