Coinbase Senior Enterprise Product Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Coinbase interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Behavioral
1. Describe a time when you received negative feedback in a professional setting.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The culture of Coinbase supports direct communication and offering authentic feedback. Interviewers ask this question to determine how a candidate approaches navigating feedback situations that can be uncomfortable.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate active listening skills and empathy in your response as appropriate. Additionally, select a scenario in which you were able to take clear action to resolve the situation.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I was asked by my director to step in on a program of work that was perceived by the customers as a failure on the part of the development teams involved. The projects had a history of late delivery and conflict between the product owners and the business units they served.
I realized I was stepping into a mess, so my first step was to listen. I asked my new customers to be as open and honest as possible about the issues they felt needed to be resolved. I let them know I was prepared to be accountable for them even though I was new to the program work. I made it clear my goal was to understand the impact so that I could develop a solid strategy to move forward as quickly as possible.
My customers let me know they genuinely appreciated my not making excuses for the failures of the previous team. They needed to be heard and my listening to them with an open mind helped them to feel validated and clear the air going forward. I took the customer feedback back to the technology teams I was now assigned to work with. I was honest but offered the feedback in a constructive manner. We then held a brainstorming session to develop strategies for addressing the concerns and presented them to the customers.
The customers were excited about the changes but hesitant given the history of the program. It took some time, but we were able to regain their trust and confidence after several iterations of consistent delivery and commitment to not repeating the mistakes of the past."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
2. What is your typical communication style when working with engineers?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product managers and engineers partner often to transform the vision for a solution into a working asset. This process requires a shared understanding of customer needs and technology concepts. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate's approach is a match for the teams they will be assigned to at Coinbase.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to discuss your approach to selecting the communication tools you use in addition to the style you use. Some engineering teams have a culture of communicating mostly through technology and candidates who can approach communication with flexibility are valued.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I try to see everyone I work with as an individual, and I am open to communicating with everyone differently. In my experience, personality and culture play a role in the style that works best for someone, and I try to honor those preferences.
In general, I am direct, and I try to approach all conversations with empathy and humility. I realize that is not necessarily an expected mix, but I find it helps to foster authenticity. For the same reasons, I strive to use active listening skills.
I also lean on metaphors a lot when conversing with engineers. I use them to communicate complex business and customer scenarios, and I use them to demonstrate I am tracking well when we discuss difficult to understand technical concepts.
Finally, I like to leverage a number of tools and I am open to shifting depending on the individual. I find that some engineers are averse to email or the phone and prefer to converse through Slack or other collaboration tools. Others prefer a quick meeting to drive out a plan. I am flexible and I roll with whatever works as long as it is a match for the situation at hand and moves us toward our collective goals."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
3. Imagine that you work in the senior enterprise product manager position for several years and you feel you are ready for your next step. What type of role would you target next?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase strives to hire top talent. They expect that candidates are interested in career growth and have a plan for where they would like to go within the company in the future. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into a candidate's career goals.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe a plan that is feasible and attainable in your response. Also, be sure to review the open position postings at Coinbase to get a sense of the typical career path to ensure your response is in line with what would be an expected next step for a senior product manager.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I really enjoy product management and I see myself growing in this type of role in the future. After working on the enterprise application side for some time, I would like the opportunity to explore product management roles that support other aspects of Coinbase. I feel that would give me a more well-rounded perspective that would serve me well if given the opportunity to move later into a leadership role such as group product manager."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
4. Describe your experience working in a remote setting.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many positions at Coinbase are remote. The senior enterprise product manager role falls within this category. Interviewers ask this question to ensure candidates are comfortable working in a virtual office environment.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe your experience leading meetings in a remote setting in addition to the amount of time you have worked remotely. Interviewers value candidates that have experience facilitating team meetings and expertise using online collaboration tools.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have worked remotely for the last five years. I am comfortable working in this type of environment, and I have a dedicated space in my home to work. Additionally, I have several functional locations I go to regularly when I need a change of scenery. I also lean on a consistent schedule to help me maintain balance and focus.
I have experience with several major collaboration tools. I am comfortable leading online meetings, sharing my screen, and using facilitation tools such as virtual whiteboards.
I enjoy environments where teams work to get to know each other well despite working remotely. I believe taking time out to connect and share in a social setting from time to time helps to foster higher team performance and satisfaction."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
5. What is your level of interest in cryptocurrency investing?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Not all Coinbase product managers develop products for Coinbase customers, but they all contribute to the success of the mission of Coinbase. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate is interested in one of the main services Coinbase offers to the world.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe your past, current, and projected future level of interest in cryptocurrency when answering this question. Demonstrating a pattern of growth in your ability to learn and have an interest in crypto is valued at Coinbase.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In the past, I would describe my level of interest as mostly curious about investing in crypto. My first financial goal was to eliminate debt, so I focused on that first to free up money to invest. I researched crypto investing during that time because it seemed like a wonderful option to diversify my investments when the time was right.
Currently, I would say that my level of interest in crypto investing is moderate. I am somewhat new to it, and I am in the process of learning all that I can. I use Coinbase and I really enjoy the embedded learning functions as well as the stream of related news articles. I have invested in several forms of crypto, and I am watching the market daily to see how they perform.
In the future, I would like to do more with crypto investing. I would like to get to a place where I feel comfortable trading more regularly while also holding on to long-term assets. I would also like to explore some of the other tokens that support blockchain analysis and processing such as AMP."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
6. How do you generate positive energy when working with your customers?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase values employees who know how to generate positivity in their working environment. While senior enterprise product managers have the opportunity to generate positive energy within their teams, they also have an opportunity to offer this same energy within the Coinbase operations customer groups they serve. Interviewers ask this question to understand a candidate's ability to affect their stakeholders in a positive manner.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to offer examples that demonstrate your ability to generate positive energy during product development and management scenarios that are known to be stressful such as implementation, outages, scope negotiation, etcetera. Also, remember to communicate an approach that honors the validity of any related negative feelings while balancing them with positive energy.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I am able to generate positive energy when working with my customer in a number of ways. First, I understand that work can be quite serious at times, but I strive to maintain a lighthearted spirit at work. I find most customers respond well to this. I incorporate laughter and jokes when appropriate, and I take the time to get to know my customers personally. These behaviors allow me to connect to my customers in other ways when the work we are faced with is daunting or stressful.
I also believe that it is important to offer positivity in an authentic and balanced way. I do not believe in asking customers to simply focus on the positive when we are in the middle of a conflict or stressful situation. Negative feelings are real and valid, so I make sure to show proper empathy and understanding first. I then lean on my experience to help my clients reduce their fears so that we can collaborate on the solutions needed to navigate to a better place. I find this approach often opens the door for a renewed positive outlook.
Finally, I generate positivity with my customers through accountability, trust, and consistent performance. Customers enjoy working with individuals who stand by their commitments and deliver quality work. I work hard to become a subject matter expert on the business operations of my customers so that they can put their trust in me to serve as their advocate. I genuinely enjoy making the work lives of my customers easier. Offering quality solutions regularly allows them to face their work in a more positive light."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
7. What is the mission of Coinbase, and why do you think we are so passionate about it?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase is a mission first company. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's knowledge of the mission and to determine if their perspective on it is in alignment with the culture at Coinbase.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to properly research the mission of Coinbase before any interview. This should include articles and blog posts authored by Coinbase leaders. Interviewers may ask follow-up questions related to company mission specifics. Having a well-prepared perspective on the history of the company and how they have worked to deliver on the promise of increasing economic freedom can add value to an interview.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The mission of Coinbase is to increase economic freedom around the world. Economic freedom comes in many formats, but I appreciate that Coinbase offers trusted platforms that are compliant with regulations, easy to use for beginners, and feature rich enough for pros.
I imagine that the employees of Coinbase are passionate about that mission both professionally and personally. I resonate with increasing economic freedom for two main reasons. First, financial freedom creates the opportunity for freedom in other areas of the lives of Coinbase customers. Developing products that better the lives of the users you serve can be an incredibly fulfilling way to invest your time professionally. Secondly, decentralization and sharing the opportunity to gain financially is something many people are passionate about. Employees who share these beliefs have an opportunity to develop the kind of economic landscape they want to be a part of."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
8. What do you consider optimal qualities for members of the teams you work with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase senior enterprise product managers play a critical role within the cross-functional teams they work in to develop, implement, and support products on behalf of the business units they serve. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate's perspective on optimal team member qualities is in alignment with the culture of the teams they will be working on.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include examples of qualities that you value that are in alignment with the Coinbase culture. Offering your perspective on one or more of their valued employee attributes such as positivity, flexibility, continual learning, or direct communication may contribute to a successful interview.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Flexibility is one of the most important qualities I hope to experience with any member of a team I work on. The rate of change in technology is high and opportunities are often missed when individuals lack an open mind.
I also appreciate humility and understanding that great ideas can flow from anywhere regardless of role or title. I respect authority, but I really enjoy working on teams where we see each other as equals at a core level and value the diverse and unique backgrounds we all have. I find that fostering a comfortable environment where everyone feels safe and inspired to share equally leads to better solutions.
Finally, I enjoy working with teams that work hard to meet or exceed their commitments and thrive in a culture of performance and accountability. I value direct and honest feedback that inspires me to continually learn and improve. I appreciate the same qualities in my co-workers."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
9. Please describe your experience working on systems integration initiatives.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior product managers at Coinbase may be responsible for leading the analysis efforts for integrated solutions that affect many user groups or business functions. This question is asked to evaluate a candidate's ability to analyze and assist in the coordination of programs of work on this scale.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the names of any enterprise-level vendor solutions you have experience integrating with. Large companies like Coinbase use 3rd party solutions to run various aspects of their business such as human capital management. Experience designing custom integrations with major vendor-provided solutions is a valued skill for the senior enterprise product manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have worked on a number of highly integrated solutions. In my current role, I work with the team responsible for the custom solutions my company develops to integrate with our HRMS system Workday. Several downstream systems leverage data regarding employees, time off, training, compliance, and on and offboarding.
Prior to that, I was the lead analyst on a customer-facing website that allowed for the purchase of several of our services. We integrated with PeopleSoft billing and our company's asset management systems."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
10. Please describe your experience working with financial systems.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The senior enterprise product manager will be required to work on projects that integrate with the financial systems at Coinbase. Additionally, the products of Coinbase are driven by fintech solutions. Candidates may be asked this question in an interview to determine if they have the experience necessary to understand complex financial datasets and workflows.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include fintech experience you may have outside of financial trading solutions. Many fintech solutions process data similarly, and any experience in this area may help a candidate become a viable candidate for the senior enterprise product manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked as an analyst for an enterprise applications team that supported our PeopleSoft financials early in my career. We handled all of the upgrades each year and supported our accounting and finance teams. I focused mostly on payroll projects and customer billing projects.
In my current role, I have experience working with the vendor we use for mobile payments. We allow our customers to pay with PayPal, and I serve as the subject matter expert for the integrations with our internal accounting systems."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
11. What is your level of expertise with data-driven analysis activities such as writing queries?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase senior product managers are expected to have strong data-driven analysis skills. Product development strategies are often supported by metrics and other data-backed analysis methods. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has the technical skills and experience necessary to perform this important aspect of the senior enterprise product manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include experience using business intelligence software in addition to your experience writing queries. Candidates who have well-rounded analytical skills in this area are valued.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I am fairly skilled at writing queries and working with large datasets and datasets with multiple sources. I usually work on my own to draft queries and then I ask an engineer to validate my approach before communicating the results.
I am working to improve my skills in retrieving valid data sets from non-relational databases. I have worked with a few solutions that relied on them recently, and it was an excellent opportunity to learn something new. I look forward to working with it more in the future.
I also have experience working with data analytic tools such as Tableau and Power BI. I have been able to provide a lot of value to the process of setup and understanding the business importance of the data we are able to analyze.
Generally speaking, I believe in looking at the data to support the decisions I make on behalf of my customers. The data certainly does not always tell the whole story, but it is an important piece of the puzzle that should be included in any analysis effort."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
12. If I were to ask one of your current co-workers to describe you in three words, what would they say?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase works hard to create and maintain a specific culture within the cross-functional teams that senior product managers work in. This question may be asked in an interview to determine if a candidate is a personality fit for the teams they will work with directly.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to scan the posting of the job you are interested in at Coinbase for the personality traits they are seeking in a candidate. Align your response with one or more of those traits if they describe you well. For example, Coinbase values individuals who can pivot easily, and answering with 'agile', or 'flexible' would demonstrate your ability to offer that quality to the teams you work with.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"It might depend on who you ask, but I think all of my coworkers would agree with 'tenacious' because I chase whatever I am assigned with determination. They would also say that I am 'direct' because it is my natural communication style. Finally, I think they would say that I am 'lighthearted'. I like to work hard, and I try to inspire others to do the same. However, I enjoy a positive and vulnerable environment in which my teams and I laugh often and do not take ourselves too seriously."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
13. What strategic analysis approaches do you have experience facilitating?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Strategic analysis is a key skillset for a senior product manager. Coinbase specifically mentions this skillset within the job descriptions for these types of positions. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has experience facilitating this important style of analysis.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include an example of your ability to identify 'thematic business problems' within your response. Additionally, you should be able to demonstrate how you are able to transform those problems into strategic plans for resolution.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have experience working with business stakeholders to facilitate SWOT analysis sessions. In these sessions, we develop lists of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and then determine their impact on the business. I have also worked with the OKR model to develop objectives and key results. This model is useful for helping me define the key performance indicators for the products I am responsible for.
My background as an analyst helps me to understand how to analyze large data sets and look for trends or data points that indicate various operational problems exist within an organization. From there, I have extensive experience partnering with various subject matter experts to drive out strategic plans for a resolution that specifically aim to resolve thematic issues and contribute to the business goals that are in alignment with the strategic improvements for the initiative."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
14. What certifications do you have that would be applicable to the role of senior enterprise product manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate's educational background is in alignment with the standards used at Coinbase. The senior enterprise product manager role at Coinbase does not require any specific certifications, but interviewers may value analysis, project management, product owner, product manager, and ITIL certifications.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention any active work you are doing toward gaining specific certifications that are applicable to the role. Interviewers value candidates who continue their education and seek certification in current standards. It is acceptable to also mention expired certifications or applicable coursework within your response as long as you make it clear they have expired or did not lead to official certification.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I am a certified business analyst, a certified product owner, and a certified scrum master. I am also formally trained in meeting facilitation techniques and strategic planning methods."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
15. What user acceptance testing activities do you have experience coordinating and facilitating?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
User acceptance testing is often critical to successful product implementation. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a senior enterprise product manager candidate has experience coordinating and executing these important sessions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to specify all of the activities you were directly responsible for including tasks related to change management. Also, include descriptions of any agile methodology user acceptance testing-related activities you were responsible for such as iteration or sprint review meetings.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In all my analyst roles I was responsible for coordinating and leading user acceptance testing. This involved working with my clients to identify the right participants, writing the UAT scripts, coordinating with our technical teams to stage the UAT environments, facilitating testing, gathering user feedback, and negotiating the resulting changes.
As a product owner, I performed similar tasks, but they happened on an iterative basis at the end of each sprint. I also performed UAT on behalf of my customers from time to time. It all depended on the groups that would be affected by the release and the degree of testing appropriate before a launch."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
16. What is your preferred approach to creating training materials?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior enterprise product managers at Coinbase are responsible for ensuring that the user groups they serve have the training and support materials needed to properly perform their designated roles within various enterprise systems. Interviewers ask this question to ensure that candidates have the experience necessary to properly assess the needs of their customers and guide the development of materials that will add continually value to the systems training and support processes.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your ability to customize the level of detail and the medium for your documentation to the audience it serves. For example, an interviewer would not expect a candidate to describe a 300-page user manual for a simple system that supported a small number of users.
Also, include a variety of training material approaches in your response. Interviewers appreciate candidates that have experience with more than one format. This may include quick reference guides, application tips, and help features, step-by-step guides, etcetera.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"My first step to developing training materials is to understand my target audience. I like to take a flexible and agile approach and develop only what will add value to the user experience.
Depending on the needs, I then use several techniques. First, I like to build notes and tips directly into the solutions if possible. Placing access to the training from within the functions they describe has been very successful for my teams in terms of the reduction of user errors.
Next, I like to author quick reference guides and I try to keep them to one page if possible. Long user manuals are difficult to maintain, and they find their way into the recycling bin often. I only go deeper than that if lengthy step-by-step documentation is truly needed.
I also find it helpful to generate FAQs and knowledgebase information for use by various operations and support groups. This style of training material is helpful on an ongoing basis."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
17. Please describe your experience working with cross-functional teams.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase product managers work across multiple cross-functional teams. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a candidate has experience driving in end-to-end product development while collaborating in a cross-functional team setting.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the roles you have experience working with in your answer (engineer, project manager, program manager, analyst, user interaction designer, etc.). Also, be sure to include examples of the roles you worked with that supported specific phases of product ownership such as support, legal, and marketing.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I was a senior analyst and a technical project manager in the enterprise applications group of an automotive company before moving to my current role as a product manager. I was responsible for coordinating the work of a cross-functional team of analysts, engineers, and testers. Additionally, we worked with a number of shared services groups including our architecture, database, release management, and support teams.
I transitioned into product management four years ago and serve as a product manager at my current company. We develop SaaS healthcare back-office solutions. I am responsible for a series of dashboard features that communicate high-level capacity, scheduling, budget, and billing data. I work with several cross-functional engineering teams on projects that touch on these features. I also partner with architects, senior analysts, designers, and various people within our sales, marketing, billing, and support teams."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
18. Please describe your experience working with agile project methodology.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The senior enterprise product manager works directly with engineering teams. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has experience working with methodologies that are in alignment with those used by Coinbase teams to develop technology solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention the specific role(s) or titles you held within each methodology. This will offer your Coinbase interviewer insight into the type of work you were responsible for without having to provide detail for each project.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I began working with agile methodologies early in my career as a business systems analyst. The enterprise applications group I worked in transitioned to scrum, and I served as a product owner. I am adept at crafting product backlogs and working with teams to develop sprint backlogs. I went on to serve several teams as a scrum master. I am well versed in the ceremonies, artifacts, and principles of Scrum.
I have also worked with several teams that adopted kanban. We mostly used this methodology for maintenance and support teams that needed to limit their work in the process. I was typically responsible for a mix of analysis and testing related functions on these teams."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
19. What agile project management tools have you used?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many of the development and engineering teams at Coinbase use agile methodologies. This question may be asked in an interview to identify candidates that have experience using tools to manage backlogs and track the progress that is similar to those used at Coinbase.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe the type of experience you have using the tools in your response. For example, if you served as a product owner, it would be expected that you would have experience maintaining user stories, acceptance criteria, and other product backlog-related data.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have used a number of tools over the years including Monday, nTask, Trello, Wrike, and Jira. Most of my experience lies in working with Jira. I have authored and maintained product backlogs and sprint backlogs. I am also familiar with managing kanban boards.
Additionally, I have helped several new teams customize their projects within Jira. I am familiar with how to use it when working as any of the roles within an agile team such as scrum master, product owner, or engineer."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
20. How would you rate your experience in developing requirement, process, and data source to load artifacts?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior enterprise product managers at Coinbase are responsible for the development and maintenance of important artifacts that drive the product development process. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has experience authoring the documentation required for the role.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include details about the level of detail you are comfortable documenting. For example, a senior enterprise product manager should be able to merge multiple processes flow into a high-level context diagram for strategic discussion purposes. Also, be sure to mention any documentation experience you have using agile methodologies such as authoring user stories within product backlogs.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I am an expert in the development of these artifacts for projects of all sizes including large-scale implementation initiatives. I have authored these artifacts for custom solutions as well as vendor implementations that require complex data transfers.
I have experience writing business, functional, and technical specifications with varying levels of detail that are right-sized for the project I am working on. Also, I have experience authoring product backlogs, user stories, acceptance criteria, sprint tasks, and Kanban work items for the agile teams I have worked on.
Finally, I have experience extracting important information from these types of detailed documents and summarizing the key data points for senior-level review. For example, I have experience merging process documents into high-level context diagrams that can be leveraged for big picture strategy discussions."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Discovery
21. What is the most successful executive-level artifact you have ever authored and presented?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior-level product managers at Coinbase frequently develop artifacts for review by executives during various phases of the product management process. Interviewers ask this question to understand the impact a candidate has been able to have in the past with this style of documentation.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to fully explain the business value of the artifact you authored and presented. While a visually pleasing artifact may have an aesthetic "wow" factor, it is not as valuable as one that can help executives make a critical investment or operational decisions. If possible, highlight the reuse of the artifact you created. Interviewers appreciate examples of documentation that was reused, scaled appropriately, and delivered value continuously.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I was asked to lead the analysis efforts for a project focused on identifying operational efficiencies and collaboration opportunities across an entire organization. This project required that I document all of the systems, the actors, the major inputs, workflows, and outputs of the business groups that used them.
I compiled a report that contained a description of each of the systems and a context diagram. I highlighted the quick-hit and strategic opportunities for each system and each group. This document received a gasp when I placed it on the table for the executives. However, it was not feasible for them to read the document because it was too long and detailed. I offered it to give a sense of the scale and demonstrate that we had the detail we needed to assess the tactical impact of the decisions the group needed to make.
I then presented a high-level enterprise-wide information systems context diagram that I had printed out on the plotter. It showed the entire technology footprint and how everything was related. They loved it. We used that single document as a go-to for strategy discussions for the next three years while we worked to integrate and streamline disparate solutions. I kept it up to date as we went along, and it was easy to see the downstream impact of our work. The end result was much easier to understand the ecosystem that was properly integrated."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
General
22. What is the difference between business and functional requirements?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Enterprise product managers at Coinbase are required to author and understand various requirement types. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates that understand the differences in the level of detail and purpose of business and functional requirements.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide an example of a simple business requirement in your response. Build upon the same scenario to provide a functional requirement relating to the business requirement example you provide.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Business requirements are high-level requirements that describe the goals of a business solution. For example, a business requirement for a content management system may be to reduce time spent communicating content status changes by 20%.
Functional requirements define the actual solution and how it should perform. They are detailed and specific. In the example of the content management system, a hypothetical related functional requirement set would be that the system should send an email to all of the users with editor-level permissions each time a new draft of content is added to the system. The email will contain the title of the draft in the subject line, and the body of the email will contain the author's name, when the draft was submitted, the word count, and the projected publication date."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
General
23. What is ETL?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The senior enterprise product manager is responsible for collaborating with engineers and architects on the design and business rules for data load and transformation procedures. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates that have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform this aspect of the role.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide the acronym definition and a description of what is involved in each of the major ETL processes. Also, include a basic description of ETL documentation in your response and your experience working with this type of solution.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"ETL stands for extract, transform, and load. It represents the process of gathering a specific body of data from a source or series of sources, transforming it into the desired format, and moving it into a target location like another database or a data warehouse. ETL documentation typically includes the data specifications and the rules for the timing of the extraction.
Many companies use automated ETL solutions. The teams I currently work with use Microsoft Azure ETL services and a mix of custom scripts and jobs they wrote on their own. I help my teams understand the impact of these solutions when business or functional requirements arise that require changes to these services."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
General
24. What are some of the major considerations involved in deciding between SaaS, 3rd party solutions hosted on-premises, and custom developed solutions?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior enterprise product managers are required to make recommendations for technology purchases and custom-developed solutions. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a candidate understands the factors involved in making an educated recommendation their clients and business partners can trust.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include both business-driven and technical considerations in your answer. Solution options that are not in alignment with either of these key areas are typically excluded from consideration. Senior enterprise product managers are expected to take a holistic approach to solution analysis.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"There are a number of major factors to consider when deciding what type of solution is the best fit for a client's needs. The level of importance of each factor depends on the specifics of the business, but I feel it is important to consider factors such as: how well the business and technical requirements align with each solution, whether or not a competitive edge is to be gained from customization, development and implementation timeline requirements, overall budget, the scalability of each solution, how the solution will be handled from an accounting perspective, and the in-house technical staff expertise and availability to develop and support a solution."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
General
25. What are the main differences between waterfall and iterative development methodologies?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase uses a mix of methodologies, but they mostly lean on iterative development practices. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's ability to articulate the differences and the value of these two styles of development.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to compare the phases, budgeting techniques, change management procedures, and team structures for these two models. Also, be sure to mention the business scenarios in which these two styles add value.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"At the highest level, the main difference between waterfall and iterative development is that the phases of waterfall projects happen in succession and iterative methodologies deliver products incrementally.
Waterfall projects typically have a set budget and timeline, and each phase is tightly managed. Members of the project team play a more or less critical role depending on the phase of the project. For example, an analyst would drive the analysis phase and engineers drive development. Resources provide estimates for the entire project of work before detailed analysis is complete and project managers use change management procedures to negotiate scope change requests throughout the project.
The product or products that are developed in waterfall projects are tested and accepted by their users at the very end of the project. This approach causes conflict and sometimes even failure because there can be a disconnect between what customers had in mind and what is actually built. Additionally, waterfall projects are often lengthy, and the needs of the customer sometimes change before the project can be implemented.
Waterfall has its cons, but it can be a great fit in certain scenarios. Waterfall is typically preferred in situations that have tight regulations over the various phases involved. Trying to deliver these types of products iteratively often causes confusion and extraneous overhead that is avoided by approaching the work traditionally.
In contrast, iterative projects deliver valuable and working products on an incremental and continual basis. Teams partner closely with their customers throughout the entire process to define a high-level vision, prioritize the available work, and refine it as the product is developed. There are several methods for establishing budgets and estimating work in these models, but in general, teams give rough estimates and refine them as they get closer to a specific body of work.
One of the major pros of this model is that working assets are delivered sooner and have a chance to be used and reviewed early in the process to allow customer feedback to enhance future development. Also, this style of development is valued in business scenarios where customers expect continual delivery of new features.
Waterfall and iterative teams usually lean on similar skill sets, but the roles are sometimes different. For example, an agile scrum team may not have a project manager and may elect to spread project management duties across the product owner and scrum master roles."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Leadership
26. What kind of leadership experience do you have?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is asked to determine the specific level of experience a candidate has in leadership roles. Sometimes senior product managers are asked to formally lead. They are also expected to lead through influence. Candidates with experience in multiple leadership formats are optimal in many cases.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate several styles of leadership within your response. Direct leadership can be valuable, but interviewers are often equally interested to hear how candidates influence others through service, inspiration, facilitation, or pacesetting.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I mentored and led numerous business analysts throughout my career. I was responsible for setting the direction of their work, ensuring quality standards were met, and helping them grow professionally. Additionally, I formally led custom development and vendor implementation project teams while working as a project manager.
As a product manager, I mostly lead through service and influence. I facilitate and serve as a subject matter expert. This allows me to bridge groups with competing needs together to help them to define a common set of goals that collectively contributes to the value stream of their business."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Operational
27. Walk me through your process for learning a new business area.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior enterprise managers are tasked with learning the operations of various business units at Coinbase. They grow to become experts who regularly advocate for their customers. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands how to properly engage with a new business unit to learn their processes and understand their technology needs.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a variety of learning methods within your response. You should be able to describe interview-based, data-driven, observational, and system demo-based approaches.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The first thing I do when learning a new business area is gain buy-in from the management of the space I will be working to learn. I believe it is important for them to understand the purpose of my work and why allowing access to the people on their teams will add value to the product development process. I also ask for a high-level walkthrough of the goals and purpose of their group, the systems they use, and the teams they manage. Additionally, I ask them to identify critical workflows and opportunities for improvement.
After the initial meetings, I work to gain access to the systems that my users leverage on a regular basis. I dig around on my own so that I have a basic understanding before I move forward with any additional meetings.
Next, I shadow experts in the various systems and workflows that are critical to the business. I observe and ask questions based on my prior research. I find these sessions invaluable. They provide real-world usage scenarios and in-depth details on areas that are efficient as well as those that need improvement.
Finally, I review any additional data sources available. This may include training documentation, external articles, or information managed by the groups that support my new customers."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Scenario
28. How would you approach writing the RFP requirements to replace a system you are unfamiliar with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior product managers at Coinbase are often involved in buy vs. build and vendor selection initiatives. Interviewers ask this question to assess how a candidate would gather the information needed to drive these important technology solution selection activities when they do not yet have the knowledge to serve as a subject matter expert.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe the process of assessing the system that needs to be replaced first. This is a critical step necessary to properly understand the gaps that need to be addressed by the new solution.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The first step I would take would be to gain access to the current system to learn how it works. I would walk through as much as I could on my own and then reach out to the subject matter experts for a walkthrough. I would note any features that caused problems such as delays, or time-intensive data entry that could be avoided. I would also try to demo the solutions of the vendors that match the general needs of my clients. I would note feature areas that are gaps in the current solution.
Next, I would hold a facilitated session with senior stakeholders, expert users, support staff, and those responsible for the budget for the new system. I would walk them through a brainstorming exercise to define the high-level features we would like to see retained, the issues we would like to avoid, and the gaps we would like to fill. I would also make sure we are clear on the business goals for the replacement project and the budget constraints.
I would then use the information gathered from my research to drive out the required features for the request for proposal document. These would be at a slightly higher level than typical functional requirements, but I would be sure to note any business rules or workflow specifications that are must-haves for the new solution.
Finally, I would author a description of the project to include in the RFP and add it to the requirement list along with the contact information for the project. If necessary, I would also add in any current state technical documentation that would be relevant for the vendors to have."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Situational
29. Tell me about a time when you had two or more stakeholders with conflicting needs and how you helped to resolve the situation.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Stakeholders on technology projects typically represent groups with conflicting business needs. This question is aimed at ensuring a senior enterprise product manager candidate has the ability to identify conflicts and facilitate their resolution.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate empathy and understanding for the parties involved in the situation you describe. Senior product managers often need to remain relatively neutral in times of conflict and lean on facilitation techniques and analysis to identify the most valuable solution options.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Early in my career, I was the lead analyst for an application suite that managed the request and approval process for creative work and tracked all of the costs associated with it. My stakeholders were a mix of senior managers responsible for the development of media and senior managers responsible for financials. The creative side was focused on how quickly the solution could be used because any slow down to their process resulted in the loss of competitive advantage. The financial stakeholders were interested in assuring that the costs for every work assignment were tracked throughout the process. The requests from each side were often in conflict.
I was encouraged to work with each group separately but decided that it would be beneficial to bring them together so that they could foster a greater level of appreciation for the needs of each side. I facilitated a steering committee and was pleased to find that my clients quickly adopted a shared perspective resulting in my ability to more easily implement solutions that were understood and supported by everyone."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Situational
30. Tell me about a time when you had to deliver difficult news to a customer.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There is often a disconnect between the needs of a client and the solutions that technology teams can actually deliver. Product managers are frequently called upon to moderate negotiations between the involved parties. Interviewers ask this question to ensure that a candidate has the necessary soft skills to understand their client's frustrations and develop alternative options to address gaps as necessary.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to detail a situation in which you were able to provide value to your customer in addition to delivering difficult news. Interviewers value candidates with experience in delivering smart and valuable workarounds in suboptimal conditions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I had a customer who needed to automate a time-intensive data entry workflow by integrating with our company's payroll system. I had previous experience with this type of automation and knew that this initiative would add value in terms of time savings, accuracy, and employee satisfaction.
I facilitated meetings to discuss the integration possibilities with the technical team responsible for payroll. I was informed that they were in the process of reviewing a replacement payroll system and my project would not be eligible for consideration until the new system was in place. I knew that this meant it would be a long time before my client could meet their goals, and that they would be frustrated.
I developed custom reporting solutions using Excel and other tools that saved time and eased pain points until they were allowed to integrate with payroll. I also suggested workflow changes and shifts in duties for some of their staff that would streamline the process. I explained the situation fully and my client appreciated that they were understood and that my team and I were willing to do whatever we could to help while they waited to integrate."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Situational
31. Describe a time when you implemented a solution that was scaled and customized to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders within a business.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Senior enterprise product managers are sometimes challenged to develop strategies for solutions that will serve multiple operational groups with significant workflow differences. This question is asked to determine a candidate's ability to effectively meet the needs of a diverse stakeholder group.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include an example that shows your ability to develop strategies to incrementally deliver value. This may include implementing a proof of concept or a small-scale solution until the needs of the entire user population can be addressed.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked with multiple HR groups within a large enterprise. They were in need of an employee onboarding solution that handled provisioning requests and integrated properly with various downstream security and technology systems. I developed a strategy for a first-pass solution for a group that had requirements that were representative of the majority and implemented their solution as a proof of concept.
From there, the teams I worked with were able to gather feedback, make adjustments, and then roll the solution out to the groups with similar workflows. While that took place, I was able to work with the outlier groups to develop plans to scale the solution appropriately to meet their needs. This strategy allowed us to realize a maximum level of business impact quickly while doing the detailed analysis necessary to meet the needs of the entire group of stakeholders."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Situational
32. How do you handle situations when the needs of the business conflict with the direction of a technology team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers understand that technology teams and their clients are not always in alignment. This question is asked to gain insight into a candidate's ability to resolve conflicts, empathize with the needs of a business partner, and ensure that important technical milestones are met.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate understanding and support for each side involved in your approach. Product managers are expected to advocate for their customers, but they are also expected to fully understand technology constraints and the value of investing in efforts such as addressing technical debt. Interviewers value candidates that have the ability to analyze these situations from a neutral point to identify the opportunities that will generate the most value.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In situations where the needs of the business or my customers conflict with the needs of the engineering team responsible for product development conflict, I focus my energy on creating understanding between the two sides and analyzing the situation to find the most valuable option.
First, I make sure I understand the needs of the business properly. This includes understanding the value they expect to receive from the features they want to see developed as well as the cost of delay of not releasing them. It may also include performing competitive analysis or holding discussions to understand complex political landscapes that shape their view.
Next, I seek to gain a similar level of understanding of the needs of the engineering team. This may include discussing the pros and cons of various technology options, or the implications of not addressing bugs or other technical debt. It may also include discussing their need for training, or a slowdown to restore balance after an intensive development period.
Then, I work with both sides to help them understand each other. I find that leaders are typically great about setting their needs aside to listen with empathy and general concern for the needs of others. It usually becomes clear that there is an option to move forward that adds value to both sides. In the event this is not possible, I offer data-driven support for the options that align best with the business goals and the mission of the company and let senior leaders come to a decision."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Situational
33. Describe a time when you had to convince a customer that their desired solution was not in their best interest.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There is often a difference between the image of success a client has in mind, and what is feasible for technology, resource, or budgetary reasons. This question is asked to ensure that a candidate understands this potential conflict and has a method to address it.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a scenario in which you were able to support your claims with proper analysis. While senior product managers lean heavily on their intuition in many cases, interviewers value candidates who demonstrate proof for their claims in scenarios in which a customer learns their wants are not actually in their best interest.
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I was asked to complete an executive-level discovery effort of a business's implementation of a particular technology. My client was unhappy with their current solution and had decided that they wanted to replace it with something new that their competition was using. I was familiar with the capabilities of both systems and agreed that the new system was a potential candidate.
Upon review of their high-level requirements, workflows, implementation specifics, and budget constraints it became apparent that modification of their current system was a better fit. I developed a presentation that demonstrated how the current solution could be adjusted in a manner that would offer the needed operational efficiencies. Additionally, I outlined the cost of changing systems in terms of software, hosting costs, implementation time, and maintenance. I was able to clearly demonstrate that making adjustments to the current system would be cost-effective and easier for their staff overall.
The executives and directors of the operations groups I was working with thanked my team and me for backing our claims up with data and offering examples of how we could still make things better for their staff while saving money. The process served as a learning opportunity for their team that technology replacement decisions are complex and need proper analysis before jumping in with a new vendor."
Written by Karrie Day on May 2nd, 2022