Visibility and Recognition Gendered Experiences of Success in PM vs PO Roles

As a woman, I’ve observed that successes in PO roles—such as product innovation and user satisfaction—tend to be celebrated more openly, partly because they align with positive gender stereotypes of caretaking and creativity. In PM roles, achievements around process management and budget control are sometimes less visible or attributed to the collective team rather than the individual leader. This impacts women’s recognition differently across PM and PO paths, influencing career satisfaction and progression.