Today we explore the nuanced role of a Product Consultant and the unique value and benefits they bring to an organization. To help us explore the world of product consulting, we sat down with Aaron Mohammed; an accomplished product professional with over a decade of strategizing, building, and scaling human-centric digital products and experiences.
As the Founder and Product Executive at Bridged, a Toronto-based consultancy, he closes the gap between business and technology teams and currently focuses on seamless, end-to-end product operations, providing leadership on product and organizational challenges for companies of all sizes. Aaron has previously held executive positions at various leading firms, plus Fractional Chief Product Officer roles at startups, and has successfully launched over 20+ end-to-end products and platforms used by millions of users in both B2B and B2C markets.
Let’s dive in:
The Product Management function is highly nuanced and often very different in its application, company to company. You are a Product Consultant, tell us what that means and how you add value to an organization and a product team.
I agree—it does vary significantly from one company and industry to another! Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity and privilege of experiencing this first-hand partnering with enterprises—from Fortune 500s to startups—within a multitude of industries. As a Product Leader and consultant, my role is to bring a combination of expertise and an external perspective to business and technology leaders that want to delight their customers, employees, and investors/stakeholders.
Breadth of Expertise
With a diverse background in product and technology/management consulting, I am not limited to the perspective, approach, or culture of a single product, company, or industry. Instead, I leverage expertise from collaborations with multiple product companies across various industries, assessing their product strategies, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing best practices tailored to their specific needs.
I add value by offering a holistic view of the product life cycle, from ideation to market launch, and by providing contextual insights that internal teams might overlook due to their close proximity to the product and respective industry.
Catalyst for Innovation & Change
Organizations and product teams embedded into their respective domains provide incredible value to their users and customers. This could be done for several years, even decades, where they are a thought leader and trusted product/services provider.
However, this laser focus and predictive evolution can cause “tunnel-vision” or complacency, leaving opportunities to be disrupted by new entrants or internally operating with mountains of inefficiency and technical debt. An outsider’s opinion can break this cycle.
Not-So-Unique Challenges
While every company and product team faces distinct challenges, there are sometimes significant overlaps in the hurdles encountered across different organizations and industries. Some core issues can be:
- Aligning product vision with market needs
- Managing and scaling cross-functional teams
- Navigating resource constraints
- Ensuring timely, quality delivery
- Building and maintaining a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Implementing scalable, measurable processes and tools
- … the list goes on
I leverage my experience in addressing common and unique challenges to quickly identify patterns and implement proven solutions tailored to each situation. This has allowed me to guide enterprises of all sizes to launch successful products and organize for harmonious inter-/intra-team product operations.
You have the benefit of having worked for a world-class enterprise such as IBM and several scale-ups. How have your diverse experiences shaped your success as a Product Consultant today?
Foundations from Enterprise Excellence
My experiences working at large, medium, and boutique-sized firms, as well as scale-ups, bring a unique blend of practices to my role. At IBM and working with larger global enterprises, I learned the importance of robust processes, executive stakeholder management, convoluted legacy integrations, and the ability to navigate complex organizational structures. This experience taught me how to manage and successfully launch large-scale ($1MM+) projects, quickly gel and work with diverse teams, and deliver solutions that meet high standards of excellence.
Augmenting Agility and Innovation
On the other hand, working with scale-ups exposed me to a fast-paced, dynamic environment where agility, strategic thinking, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving are crucial. This honed my ability to adapt quickly and implement innovative (and in some cases, overtly practical) solutions with limited resources.
Bridging the Business and Technology Divide
Partnering with business and technology leaders of varying organizational scales, strategizing and launching mobile, web, IoT, SaaS, and AI/ML products, has enabled me to be an effective translator. I understand the motivations driving each stakeholder group and the nuanced perspectives that often cause conflict, allowing me to foster alignment and drive consensus on strategic initiatives.
Combining these diverse experiences has equipped me with a versatile skill set that I leverage to help my clients succeed, regardless of their size or industry.
What advice do you have for a CEO or Founder considering whether engaging a Product Consultant is right?
As Always, “It Depends”
The CEO or Founder needs to evaluate their organization’s specific needs and challenges. A Product Consultant can provide valuable external insights, identify blind spots, and bring a fresh perspective to their product strategy and operations. Perhaps there is a specific domain challenge to overcome; a specialized Product Consultant with experience would be a good fit.
More generally, if internal teams are stretched thin or facing complex, intricate challenges, a multi-domain Product Consultant can help bridge these gaps and drive the product vision or strategy forward. Usually, a defined scope and outcomes are usually agreed upon, creating a hyper-focus to move key initiatives forward or solve persistent challenges.
External Flexibility and Efficiency Advantages
Often overlooked aspects of utilizing external help are the lowered onboarding time and flexibility in scaling resources based on market changes, specific project/initiative requirements, and budgets. Permanent employees certainly have benefits to long-term growth, but they are less flexible to manage with more rigid employment contracts.
Accelerating Time-to-Market and Driving Innovation
A Product Consultant can accelerate time-to-market by implementing best practices and avoiding common pitfalls. Their often broad experience across various industries allows them to introduce innovative ideas and methodologies that might not be apparent to those deeply embedded in day-to-day operations. For instance, leveraging innovative concepts and applying them to legacy challenges can lead to breakthrough solutions. By bringing in a fresh perspective, a Product Consultant can facilitate innovation and drive significant improvements in the product development process.
Ultimately, the decision to engage a product consultant should be based on the potential value they can bring to help organizations achieve their strategic objectives. Their ability to offer specialized and repeated expertise, flexible engagement, and innovative solutions can be a game-changer for companies looking to elevate their product strategy and execution.
What advice do you have for a Chief Product Officer who may be wondering how to leverage the experiences of a Product Consultant in a team focused on a product-led business?
A Strategic Partner
I advise viewing the consultant as a strategic partner while collaborating side-by-side. An experienced Product Consultant can complement the team’s efforts by providing an external perspective and specialized knowledge that can enhance the product development process from end to end, depending on the consultant’s background. Some consultants focus exclusively in one area or industry, and while that can sometimes be advantageous, it is often more-of-the-same in terms of thinking.
Integrating Insights and Driving Innovation
Incorporate the consultant’s insights into strategic planning sessions—or even let the consultant lead the sessions as one less thing on the CPOs’ plate—and encourage open collaboration between them and the internal teams. Utilize their expertise to identify and address any gaps in current processes and leverage their experience to implement new methodologies and best practices. By doing so, you can drive innovation, improve efficiency, and ultimately create a more robust and successful product strategy and execution.
Bring the Knowledge In-House
If the consultant’s contributions prove valuable and align well with their career aspirations and the company’s long-term goals, consider the possibility of hiring them full-time. This is a common “exit” for many consultants who are seeking long-term focus, whereby the organization benefits from a wealth of experience being easily accessible in-house. A consultant who transitions to a permanent role can provide continuity, deepen their understanding of the organization’s culture and vision, and offer sustained support for product initiatives.
Augmenting the Team
Remember, a Product Consultant’s role is to augment a team’s capabilities and help achieve the product vision more effectively or to alleviate restraints by letting teams focus on internal priorities. By fostering a collaborative environment and integrating their expertise into processes, you can unlock new opportunities for growth and success.
Aaron’s diverse experiences, from leading product teams in large enterprises to dynamic scale-ups, have shaped his success as a Product Consultant. Whether you’re a CEOs or Chief Product Officer, these expert insights can help you determine when a Product Consultant, like Aaron, can be brought in as a potential game-changer, providing the flexibility, efficiency, and innovation necessary for success in today’s competitive landscape.