AI Driven Product Management
Product Management in the Age of Claude Code: Why Hands-On AI Skills Matter
As a Group Product Manager, most of my time is spent on leadership, strategy, and aligning stakeholders. But one thing I’ve learned in the last few years is that the best product managers don’t just direct traffic — they stay close to the tools shaping the future.
For me, that’s meant rolling up my sleeves with Claude Code and AI-assisted development.
Why a Product Manager Should Code (Even Just a Little)
No, I’m not trying to replace my engineers. But writing code in our CRM and experimenting with AI copilots like Claude has fundamentally changed the way I approach product management.
Deeper empathy for engineering: Even small contributions help me understand technical constraints and trade-offs. When I sit in a sprint planning meeting, I’m not just nodding — I understand the effort behind “one more API call.”
Faster prototyping: With Claude Code, I can generate snippets, explore integrations, and test small proof-of-concepts before pulling in a full team. It saves cycles and helps validate ideas.
Sharper communication: I can hand off clearer specs because I know how to express product requirements in technical terms that engineers appreciate.
AI as a Force Multiplier
Claude isn’t just about code. It’s about scaling my own capacity as a PM. I use AI to:
Draft user stories, acceptance criteria, and documentation faster.
Analyze customer feedback or CRM logs at scale.
Brainstorm edge cases and test scenarios that I might have missed.
By integrating AI into my own workflow, I’ve freed up time to focus on what matters most: customer outcomes, strategy, and team development.
The Future of PM Work
I believe the product managers who thrive in the next decade will be those who:
Lead with strategy but aren’t afraid to get into the weeds.
Understand the AI tools their teams are using and leverage them personally.
Balance vision with execution — knowing when to set direction, when to delegate, and when to contribute directly.
Product management is no longer just about writing roadmaps. It’s about being the connective tissue between business, technology, and now — AI-driven innovation.
And sometimes, that means writing a few lines of Claude-assisted code yourself.
