🎁 Holiday Special— 40+ Gift Ideas for Product Managers
Don't know what to gift your Product Manager friend during this season? Don't worry here are more than 40 gift ideas for you.
⚒️ Extending the Product Management Toolset
Think of these tools as the trusted sidekicks that help Product Managers save the day. They assist in managing teams, organizing tasks, setting priorities, and essentially, keeping the chaos at bay. These tools are like a Swiss army knife, ready to tackle any situation that might come up. Receiving them as gifts means one more weapon added to their arsenal, and who doesn't love that?
A Notion Pro plan – It's like a powerful mind mapping tool for projects and workflows.
A subscription to Miro, an online collaborative whiteboard platform – Brainstorming sessions have never been this interactive!
A subscription to Amplitude, a product analytics software – Numbers tell stories too, and this gift can help them unlock those mysteries.
A Whimsical subscription, perfect for wireframing, flowcharts, and visual collaboration – It's like a canvas that understands what they’re trying to paint. I personally use this tool for my content and I love it!
A Trello Gold plan - Keep the to-do, doing, and done lists neat and tidy. It's like a personal assistant to streamline tasks.
A ProdPad subscription - A cozy little space to nurture their product ideas from seedling thoughts to blooming success.
Lucidchart for visualizing flowcharts and processes - Think of it as a symphony, orchestrating beautiful project flow harmonies.
An Airtable subscription - Versatility at your fingertips! Spreadsheets, databases, and reporting all in one nifty package.
📚 Learning and Improving Skills
I once heard “knowledge is food for the mind”, and honestly PMs are intellectually curious. They relish on challenges and the opportunity to learn new things, enhance their existing skills, and stay updated with the industry's latest trends. Of course, they’ll love a gift that help them improve at work!
Classic Product Management Books
Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan - Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at successful tech companies? Marty shares actionable ideas that'll thrill your inner techie.
The Lean Product Playbook: How to Innovate with Minimum Viable Products and Rapid Customer Feedback by Dan Olsen - This book is like a trusted mentor, guiding you through the process of validating your product ideas and iterating to achieve success. A secret weapon for product managers!
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman - Don Norman brings clarity to the complexity around us by focusing on user-centered design. He helps us see why that door you just pushed should have been pulled!
User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product by Jeff Patton - Picture this: a book that feels like a buddy mapping out the best way to deliver user stories and create something end users will talk about. Dive into this one, you won’t regret it!
Escaping the Build Trap: How Effective Product Management Creates Real Value by Melissa Perri - Is your product development stuck in a loop? Fear not! Melissa Perri is here to help you escape the build trap and put the spotlight on delivering real value.
Newsletter Subscriptions
Of course I had to include a list of my favorite Substacks worth gifting!
Specially in Spanish
Magazines and Journals
How about fueling their strategy and leadership journey with insights from the experts? Consider a subscription to Harvard Business Review, a well-respected journal with a plethora of vital business insights.
Courses and Education
A subscription to Coursera Plus – Open the doors to boundless learning with this all-access pass.
Enrollment in Product School's Product Management courses – It’s like spending time with the masters of the craft.
A Premium Subscription to Skillshare – Fuel their creative genius with a multitude of hands-on classes.
A subscription to Udacity - Feed their curiosity with tailor-made courses designed by experts.
Audibles and Short-books
A subscription to Blinkist – Product managers are often characterized by having not enough time, so learning content in less than 15 minutes can be a life-changer!
A Safari Books Online subscription – It's like having access to a glorious buffet of technology, business, and design books.
⌨️ Home and Office Accessories
Even if Product managers work at home or in the office, both spaces are vitally important to their performance. We're talking about product management activities which demands absolute focus and productivity.
From desk organizers, journals and funny mugs, these accessories make their work environment more comfortable and efficient. Consider them add-ons that will enhance their comfort and productivity.
Notebooks and Journals
Rocketbook Fusion Smart Reusable Notebook – An erasable, reusable notebook that can upload notes to cloud services.
You can find the best journals and notebooks at Baronfig.com – Their journals are being developed with so much care and to satisfy different necessities. I own the DO work journal and it’s been just great!
Desk Organizers
Again from Baronfig, the Mosaic Desk Organizer – Will help any PM keep their desk clean and tidy. Simple yet effective!
A Yamazaki Desk Organizer – This incredible stylish desk organizer can make a great difference for a PM’s desk.
Mugs
The Temperature Control Smart Mug – Keep those beverages warm and cozy, just like your heart.
Let’s not forget our friendly dog on fire resembling the day-to-day of a Product manager’s work!
Computer hardware
A Logitech StreamCam – Let them shine in virtual meetings with this crystal-clear video companion.
An Anker 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub – There's always enough room for all their digital devices—make connections effortlessly.
I’m a big fan of Lofree keyboards, these guys are consistently creating the most creative mechanical keyboards.
A Tile Mate Finder – For those annoying moments when the keys decide to hide.
🧘♀️ Healthcare and Mindfulness
Product management can often be demanding—with long hours and high-stress situations. A gift related to healthcare or mindfulness can provide them with precious moments of peace and well-being. They will appreciate a reminder to pause, breathe, and take care of themselves!
Wellness Platforms for the Loud Minds
A subscription to mindfulness apps like Calm, Headspace or Balance can help them de-stress, focus, and sleep better.
To Stay Fit and Healthy
An Apple Fitness+ subscription – Nothing like having a great fitness coach at home or the gym to guide you through your routine while checking your stats!
Stressed PMs, it’s Time to Relax!
A Earnest Living Essential Oil Diffuser – Portable and potent, they pack a soothing punch for stressed PMs.
A Standard Scented Aromatherapy Bed Pillow Eucalyptus Mint – Have a good night sleep with this one!
The gift of a stress-free workday is just a few spritzes away thanks to Aveda’s Stress-Fix aroma.
Enjoy 7 Days of Self-Care Kit – Take personal care to a new level with this indulgent home-spa set.
🎁 Unexpected Gifts
Who doesn't love surprises, right? An unexpected gift can brighten anyone's day, and that includes our hardworking product managers. Unexpected gifts are like the delightful twist in a storyline; they bring an element of excitement and break the monotony.
A subscription from a service like Trade Coffee blends comfort with the kick of caffeine.
A snack delivery subscription - Who doesn't enjoy the thrill of tasty surprises? If you know your PM’s favorite snack this could be a great hit!
A masterclass with a renowned chef - Unleash their culinary creativity and connect over their love for food.
Soy candles themed by city from Homesick – A little piece of home, encapsulated in scent.
A custom-made star map – Star chart memories of a special date, like when they became a Product Manager!
That's All ❄️
I hope this list helps you find a great present for your friend or even for you. But remember, the best presents are those that show thoughtfulness and consideration for the recipient's needs and preferences.
Have you already sent a gift to your PM friends? 🎁 Or did you receive a present? Which one from this list is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Great list and thank you for the callout!
Thank you for the great gift list and including my newsletter in the list!