Beyond the Hype: What’s Actually Blocking Your AI PM Career

PMs, you can add at least $50k to your salary by becoming an AI PM.

However, many people miss the mark, making the same mistakes over and over again.

Here are the 7 mistakes to avoid if you want to secure your dream AI role:

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲

→ Collecting certificates may feel productive, but it’s often just an illusion of progress.
→ Instead of paper chasing, identify a problem, build a prototype, and document your process.
→ Focus on practical skills that showcase your ability to solve real-world problems.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲-𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀

→ Being a non-technical PM in AI is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
→ Coding allows you to connect with your dev team and independently prototype ideas, which every company values.
→ Start with Python, build simple models, and soon enough, coding will become your new best friend.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟯: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲

→ Top roles often go to those with industry connections. Attend AI meetups, join forums, and stay active in discussions.
→ Don’t just join communities — create content, host workshops, and establish yourself as a leader.
→ Building a network positions you for referrals and insider opportunities.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟰: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴

→ You don’t need to know as much as AI PhDs — focus on your unique PM skills.
→ Bridge AI with real business applications for your company.
→ Document your journey to track progress and showcase your strengths.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗲-𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲-𝗙𝗶𝘁𝘀-𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆

→ Sending generic resumes is like tossing a message in a bottle.
→ Each company has unique AI challenges, so research and tailor your application to each one.
→ Go further by outlining how you’d tackle their challenges and talk about the impact you’ll create using AI.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅

→ Having a portfolio demonstrates your ability to execute and innovate.
→ Document everything — this shows you can turn concepts into products.
→ Start small with a basic working model; showcase your progress on LinkedIn to stay motivated.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 #𝟳: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

→ Your background is your secret weapon in standing out as an AI PM.
→ AI PMs who understand their industry’s unique challenges hold an advantage.
→ Map out how AI fits in your field and position yourself as the go-to AI strategist for your industry.

Check out the full deep dive, with details on how to create an AI project and portfolio.