The Start Up Struggle: Why Product Leadership Fails

​Great product leadership needs the right environment to thrive.

​Why do early-stage companies chew through product leaders? It’s not necessarily about bad hires. After 16+ years in product, multiple startup experiences and 30 interviews with product leaders, Rosemary has found a different answer: the structure and culture of the company can make or break a product leader’s success.

​In this session, part of FPL’s Voice series, Rosemary explores the spectrum of startup environments, from the challenges of hard work and the messy middle to what she calls the toxic wastelands. We’ll look at the founder-led patterns that can leave product leaders struggling to succeed, no matter how good they are at their job.

​Who this is for

​Product managers, product leaders and anyone considering a move into an early-stage company. Whether you’re looking for your next role or already navigating startup life, this session will help you understand what you’re walking into.

​What you’ll learn

• ​Why product leaders struggle in some startup environments, and why it’s not always down to the individual.

• ​The founder-led behaviours and organisational patterns that can make product leadership difficult.

• ​How to spot the difference between a challenging but healthy environment and one where you’re set up to fail.

​What you’ll walk away with

​A practical scoring rubric to assess a company’s environment, red flags to look out for during interviews, and the questions to ask before committing to your next role.

​Find your voice, know your worth, and learn to recognise the environments where you can thrive.