Punk PM #1

Hey there punk!

Welcome to The Punk PM newsletter, your backstage pass to bold ideas in product management, creativity, and innovation. I’m Toby—Head of Product at hedgehog lab, retired music journo, and passionate advocate for pushing the needle in tech and product.

Why “The Punk PM”? Because great product management isn’t about following the rules—it’s about knowing when to break them. This newsletter is all about rethinking conventions and finding bold, creative ways to make an impact.

Quote of the Week 🙊

Insight 🦉

In product management—and life—playing it safe rarely leads to greatness. The best PMs aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. They amplify their teams’ voices, champion fresh ideas, and push boundaries to create meaningful change.

That’s the ethos I want to bring to The Punk PM: raw, honest perspectives on product management, leadership, and creativity. This isn’t about checking boxes or playing by the book; it’s about embracing chaos and finding opportunities in it.

Each Friday, you’ll get:

• A quick-fire insight on product, technology or innovation

• An actionable takeaway based on something I’ve been learning or thinking about

• A curated selection of articles, resources and tools that have inspired me each week

The goal? To spark ideas, inspire action, and make you feel a little more rebellious about how you approach your work.

Action 🚀

Here’s a challenge to get started:

What’s one product or team convention that’s holding you back? Next month, take a small step to challenge it—or break it outright.

Inspiration 💡

I’ve been taking a lot of inspiration from Claire Vo’s talk at Lenny’s Summit recently. Apart from the provocative title, I agree with everything she says. Product management isn’t dead, but AI is going to change it beyond recognition.

Like when sampling and cheaper recording equipment democratised music creation in the late 1970s and early 1980s, AI is going to make it even easier to turn your ideas into reality. And that’s hugely exciting.

If you’re a Jira jockey doing what Marty Cagan describes as product management theatre, though, you’d better watch out.

Signing Off ✍️

If this resonates with you, hit reply and let me know what product or team rule you’re ready to break this year. And if you think a friend or colleague would enjoy The Punk PM, feel free to share it with them!

Play it your way,

Toby