Joining Apiary Academy's Product Management Fundamentals Training Class

In late 2021, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and join Apiary Academy’s Product Management training program as a trainee. At the time, I was working as a Frontend Engineer, deeply familiar with building interfaces and focusing on technical solutions. Joining this class felt familiar on the surface, yet it introduced a completely new kind of challenge, one that required me to think beyond code and understand why products are built, not just how.

As the training progressed, I learned that product management sits at the intersection of three core disciplines: engineering, business, and UX. While my engineering background gave me a strong foundation, I realized there were gaps in how I understood user needs and business impact. This pushed me to intentionally focus on learning business thinking and UX principles throughout the program.

More importantly, the experience reshaped how I see the role of a Product Manager. I discovered that success in this field isn’t defined only by frameworks or technical knowledge, but by soft skills, empathy, communication, and collaboration. These skills enable Product Managers to connect with users, align cross-functional teams, and make thoughtful decisions. That realization became one of the most valuable takeaways from my journey at Apiary Academy.

About Apiary Academy

Apiary is a digital business ecosystem dedicated to enabling professionals and entrepreneurs to thrive in their work. One of its key programs, Apiary Academy, focuses on building digital talent, especially in Product Management, by offering skill-based training through bootcamps and workshops, mentorship, and a strong community. Rooted in a coworking space and startup ecosystem, Apiary Academy helps bridge the talent gap in the fast-growing tech industry through hands-on learning, real case studies, expert speakers, and networking opportunities with companies, supporting professionals in advancing their careers through practical skills and meaningful connections.

Why am I joining the Apiary Academy?

This was my first step toward transitioning my career from Engineering into Product Management. By then, I had already started learning some of the basic skills needed to move into this field, but I knew I needed more structured guidance. When I came across Apiary Academy’s training program, I felt it was the right opportunity to deepen my understanding and take that next step.

Fortunately, my company at the time supported my decision to join the program and sponsored the training fee. I’m grateful to Tees Indonesia for believing in my growth and supporting this important milestone in my career journey.

Product Management Training

I had the opportunity to join this program as part of the first cohort when Apiary Academy initially launched its Product Management track. The program was divided into two levels, Introductory and Intermediate, and I completed both. Over the course of three months, the program was delivered through a well-structured curriculum and guided by experienced trainers in the field.

How about the training?

Joining Apiary Academy became an important step in my journey to deepen my understanding of Product Management while building a meaningful portfolio. The program provided a safe yet challenging environment to upskill through hands-on practice, real case projects, and continuous guidance from experienced product professionals.

Throughout the training, I worked on a startup project to improve a “One-stop Solution for Pet Services” app. Collaborating in a team of six, I experienced firsthand how product decisions are shaped through discussion, research, prioritization, and alignment within a cross-functional team. This experience strengthened not only my product thinking but also my collaboration and communication skills.

The learning process was supported by a structured learning dashboard, where materials were delivered through videos and quizzes aligned with the weekly curriculum. Each week, these materials prepared me for live online sessions, allowing me to come into discussions with context and questions.

Weekly live Q&A sessions created space for deeper exploration of the topics, where trainers clarified concepts from the dashboard and mentors guided us through group discussions. These sessions helped bridge theory and practice, especially when applying frameworks to our ongoing project.

One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the 1-on-1 mentoring. These sessions offered personalized guidance, helping me reflect on my strengths, improve my product mindset, and receive direct feedback from a professional mentor.

The program concluded with a final startup project presentation, evaluated through a formal report card, and led to Product Management certification. Additionally, access to the Apiary Academy Career Network opened opportunities to explore internships and roles with partner companies.

What have I learn?

Product management isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about navigating uncertainty while balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints. I also learned that soft skills, such as listening, communication, and empathy, are just as critical as frameworks and hard skills, and they shape better decisions and stronger teamwork.

Joining Apiary Academy’s Product Management training was more than learning a new role, it changed how I think. Coming from an engineering background, I learned that building the right thing matters just as much as building it well. This experience taught me to slow down, ask better and right questions, and approach problems with empathy and collaboration at the center.

For more detail: https://academy.apiary.id/intensive-training-apiary-academy