Every organisation has them: the unofficial product leaders who shape your success without even knowing it.
"I'm not really the product person here, but..."
If you've ever heard someone start a sentence this way - or said it yourself - you're witnessing a peculiar truth about modern product development: Some of the best product thinking often comes from people who don't have "product" in their job title.
The Accidental Product Leaders
- Your best product thinkers might not have "product" in their job title
- You can develop these hidden leaders with fully funded training (via Skills England)
- 8-15 month program, zero cost to business
- Jump to program details
- Skip to next steps
The UX designer who spots a game-changing market opportunity while doing user research. The business analyst who prevents a costly mistake by challenging assumptions about customer behaviour. The project manager who turns a failing initiative around by reframing the problem.
These are all acts of product leadership. Yet because these people don't have "Product Manager" on their business cards, their strategic insights often go unheard - or worse, unspoken.
This creates three common scenarios we see repeatedly:
- The "shadow product leader": A team member who informally guides product decisions but lacks the framework and authority to do it effectively
- The "strategic silence": Important insights going unshared because people don't feel it's their place to speak up
- The "execution trap": Teams focusing on delivery speed while missing crucial strategic opportunities
It's not that organisations don't value product thinking - they do. The problem is we've created artificial barriers around who gets to participate in product strategy, and in doing so, we're leaving some of our best strategic minds on the sidelines.
The Hidden Product Leaders in Your Organisation
Let's look at three real scenarios we've encountered (names changed):
The UX Designer Who Saved Millions
Sarah was conducting user interviews for a new feature when she noticed something odd: customers were using a competitor's product alongside theirs for a crucial task. Instead of just documenting this as a UX issue, she dug deeper. Her investigation revealed a market gap worth millions - one that traditional market research had missed because they weren't watching users in context.
The BA Who Prevented a Product Disaster
Mike's job was to write requirements for a major platform upgrade. But his experience analysing business processes led him to question the entire project's premise. By bringing data from multiple departments together, he showed that the problem wasn't technical - it was organisational. His insight saved the company from a costly mistake and led to a more impactful solution.
The Project Manager Who Transformed the Product Strategy
Lisa was known for keeping projects on track. But she also noticed patterns across different initiatives that pointed to a bigger opportunity. Her "project manager's eye view" helped connect dots between customer feedback, technical debt, and market trends in a way that reshaped the product roadmap.
These aren't isolated cases. In fact, these roles often have unique advantages in product thinking:
- UX designers see products through the user's eyes in a way traditional market research can't match
- Business analysts understand the complex interplay between business processes and user needs
- Project managers spot patterns across initiatives that even product managers might miss
- Engineers often have the deepest understanding of what's technically possible - and impossible
The challenge isn't finding these insights - they're already there. It's creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to think and act strategically about the product.
Why Organisations Miss These Hidden Leaders
The traditional product hierarchy isn't just outdated - it's actively harmful to innovation. Here's why:
The "Product Manager as Hero" Myth
Many organisations still cling to the idea that product strategy should flow from a single, visionary product manager. But this model:
- Bottlenecks decision-making
- Misses crucial insights from the front lines
- Creates artificial barriers between "strategy" and "execution"
The Cost of Strategic Silence
When organisations don't tap into their hidden product leaders, they pay a price:
- Market opportunities spotted too late
- Technical debt that could have been prevented
- Customer insights that never reach decision-makers
- Innovation that dies in the "that's not my job" gap
Why Traditional Solutions Fall Short
Many organisations try to fix this with:
- More product managers (creating coordination overhead)
- Better documentation (which doesn't address the core issue)
- Cross-functional meetings (where people still stick to their "lanes")
What they really need is a fundamental shift in how they think about product leadership.
Reimagining Product Leadership
The most innovative companies we work with are already making this shift. They're:
- Distributing product thinking: Training everyone to understand product strategy, not just product managers
- Creating safe spaces: Establishing forums where anyone can contribute strategic insights
- Rewarding cross-boundary thinking: Actively celebrating when team members spot opportunities outside their "role"
- Breaking down silos: Ensuring technical, design, and business insights all feed into product strategy
The results? Faster innovation, better products, and more engaged teams.
Develop Your Organisation's Product Leaders (Government Funded)
Thanks to Skills England levy funding, you can now access comprehensive product leadership training and coaching at zero cost to your business. This isn't just basic training - it's a structured development program that transforms promising team members into confident product leaders.
Professional Development That Pays For Itself
Accelerated Professional Development
- Transform team members into strategic product thinkers in as little as 8 months
- Build on their existing knowledge and relationships
- Create clear progression paths that retain your best people
Organisational Impact
- Embed strategic product thinking across your organisation
- Develop a shared language for product decisions
- Create networks of product thinkers who drive innovation
Financial Benefits
- Access comprehensive training through Skills England funding
- Include professional coaching and mentoring
- Zero cost to your business - just time investment
How It Works
Identify Your Future Product Leaders
Look for people in your organisation who:
- Show natural strategic thinking abilities
- Already influence product decisions informally
- Want to grow beyond their current role
- Could benefit from structured product leadership training
Access Government Funding
We'll help you:
- Navigate the Skills England funding process
- Match your needs to available funding streams
- Structure the program to maximise the benefit
Transform Through Learning
Participants will:
- Master proven product leadership frameworks
- Apply learning directly to your business challenges
- Develop through expert coaching and mentoring
- Build a network of strategic product thinkers
Is This Right For Your Organisation?
Consider:
- Do you have team members who could drive more product innovation with the right training?
- Would your organisation benefit from stronger product thinking across different roles?
- Are you looking to develop internal talent but concerned about training costs?
If you answered yes to any of these, Skills England funding could help you transform your product capability at zero cost.
Next Steps
Review Your Team
- Identify who could step into stronger product leadership roles
- Consider which departments could benefit from strategic product thinking
- Think about how many people you could develop with funded training
Explore the Opportunity
- Understand the funding available to your organisation
- Calculate the potential return on time invested
- Consider the impact of enhanced product leadership capability
Let's Talk
- Discuss your product leadership development needs
- Explore how funded training could work for you
- Build a practical plan that delivers results
Start your journey!
Looking to develop your own product leadership skills? Check out our offerings on individual development paths.
