podcast Product Excellence product management

Mentorship That Moves the Needle: How to Actually Support PM Growth

Jeremy Hornby

Most mentorship fails before it even begins. Product managers show up with problems, mentors show up with solutions, and both walk away unchanged.

In this candid conversation, Harpal Singh, CPO-in-Residence at Rothschild & Co, shares how he broke that pattern and built a mentorship model that actually works. This is not about giving better advice. It’s about creating the space, structure, and clarity for product managers to grow on their own terms.

Whether you lead a team, coach aspiring PMs, or want better mentorship for yourself, this episode reframes what “support” really means in product leadership.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

  • Why Traditional Mentorship Breaks Down: When 1:1s become glorified status updates, no one gets better
  • Support vs. Solutions: How listening, reflection, and trust unlock growth more than tactics ever will
  • The Framework Harpal Uses: Short, focused sessions with prep, structure, and a clear north star
  • Tailored Development Plans: Mapping PM skills to org needs, and using that to guide opportunities
  • The Power of Safe Experiments: Letting PMs try, fail, and learn in real contexts, not just in theory

💡 Key Insight
You don’t mentor people by being the expert. You mentor them by helping them become the expert. That shift changes everything.

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights from leading product managers: https://www.youtube.com/theproductway

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P.S. Want even more?
Join The Product Way on Patreon for full-length discussions with Harpal Singh and other award-winning product leaders, plus exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else.
👉 Unlock strategies, case studies, and more: https://www.patreon.com/theproductway

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About the Podcast:

Product Excellence: Insights from Award-Winning Leaders | Strategies for Success
“Product Excellence: Insights from Award-Winning Leaders | Strategies for Success” brings you behind the scenes with the top product management minds who have shaped some of the world’s most successful products. Each episode features award-winning product leaders sharing their real-world experiences, lessons learned, and the strategies that have driven their success. From building innovative digital products to navigating the complexities of stakeholder management, you’ll hear firsthand how these experts have achieved product excellence. Whether you’re an aspiring product manager or a seasoned leader, this podcast offers valuable insights, actionable takeaways, and inspiration to elevate your product management career.   Tune in WEEKLY to discover the key strategies that make products—and product leaders—truly exceptional.