Zalo

What makes a great PM? One of the training programs we created at Zalo is Product Academy. This year, we started with a sharing about product philosophy from anh Khải — Founder of Zalo. What stood out to me was that we did not talk about another framework, process, or fancy keyword. Instead, we talked about something much simpler — and much harder: the core principles behind great products and great PMs. Great PMs require 3 simple qualities: User empathy Not just “understanding users”, but becoming User Zero yourself. The best PMs use their own products obsessively and become the most demanding users in the room. They feel every friction personally. Ability to make trade-offs Product management is never done under perfect conditions. There is never enough time, resources, or clarity. What separates mediocre PMs from great PMs is the ability to create magical products despite constraints — while knowing what should never be compromised. Attention to detail Attention to detail is a reflection of taste. People with strong product taste notice things others ignore: a delay, a confusing wording, an awkward transition, a small moment of friction. Great products are often the accumulation of hundreds of small details done right. The paradox is that none of these qualities are difficult to understand. But the real world constantly pushes you to abandon them little by little — through business pressure, technology trends or stakeholder opinions. In short, great PMs are not defined by frameworks, intelligence or the results. They are defined by the discipline to follow these principles consistently under any kind of pressure.