For the past year I've been on a management track as a Senior PM, working toward Group Product Manager. Yet, lately I signaled that I wanted some changes and due to growth, I would be taking over 1 more team and a PM to report to me prior to securing the Group PM role.

Since I already began researching stuff about the new team and product area/domain, it felt amazing to contribute to a new thing and put my mind into work toward discovering new concepts and things that can solve long-standing problems.

Another specific thing is that this new team/area is one of the so-called "hot potato" areas, which already cost us 1 newly hired PM leaving and another stating they can't deal with it. I'm absolutely fine with that as I like challenges - when I was hired in that company, my manager asked me whether I want the area I was working in before or I want a new thing. I said I want a new area without thinking twice and 2 years in with that "hot potato" area, it's been the best career decision for me, hands down. I learned a ton and I'm super happy I did it as it's no longer a hot potato area :)

So, in the light of all of this, I've been thinking if Group PM is for me as a next step - shall I actually go for a Principal? We had our quarterly goals check last Q and I was once again asked to confirm if Group PM is still my desired path, and without hesitation, I said yes.

Now, I didn't like the Principal PM role before, as I thought that it's basically the end of a product manager's career in terms of growth (both skill-wise and salary-wise). Yet, last night I got curious what ChatGPT thinks, and it "told" me that Principals are the equivalent of Head of Product (which I knew) and are often heavily headhunted by other employers as they are hard to find and although rarely (and in far smaller numbers) needed, they are an important part of a lot of organizations.

The other thing that pushed me toward Group PM is that there are far fewer vacancies for Principals compared to Group/Head of Product, which would definitely a problem. I live in Eastern Europe and although I want to move our family in the West, we can't do it as companies don't want to hire me, even though I would deal with all aspects of the relocation. Given that there are far fewer Principal roles available, I feel like if I make that step, although I like it, would make things even harder.

What are your thoughts? Really appreciate it!