In a recent LinkedIn post, Shreyas Doshi discusses a particular profile of product managers who often find success in the B2B space. Doshi, a prominent voice in the product management community, highlights a potent combination of experience and traits that can significantly de-risk the development and strategy for business-to-business products.
According to Shreyas Doshi, the path to mastering B2B products is often paved with a background in consumer-facing applications. He posits that individuals possessing two key attributes are particularly well-equipped.
“Product people who have a) deep experience with consumer products *and* b) spike on user empathy & creativity find B2B products to be Easy Mode.”
The Consumer Product Advantage
Shreyas Doshi argues that the skills honed in the fast-paced, user-centric world of consumer products translate remarkably well to the often more complex B2B landscape. The emphasis on understanding user needs, anticipating behaviors, and fostering engagement, which are paramount in consumer tech, provides a strong foundation.
Doshi points out that this user empathy allows these product managers to:
- Better understand the pain points and workflows of business users, even if those users are different from the end consumers they’re used to.
- Innovate on user experience (UX) in ways that can differentiate B2B products, which historically have sometimes lagged in this area.
- Leverage creativity to solve complex business problems through intuitive product design.
The Crucial Caveat: Domain Expertise
However, Shreyas Doshi doesn’t suggest that a consumer background alone is a silver bullet for B2B success. He introduces a critical condition that many overlook.
“They tend to have a high success rate with B2B products *as long as* they commit to acquiring deep domain expertise. Many don’t.”
This assertion underscores a common pitfall: underestimating the specialized knowledge required to effectively serve business clients. As Doshi notes, B2B products operate within specific industry contexts, regulatory environments, and intricate workflows that demand dedicated learning.
Why Domain Expertise Matters
In Shreyas Doshi’s view, a lack of deep domain expertise can lead to several challenges:
- Misunderstanding critical business processes and compliance requirements.
- Developing solutions that don’t fully address the nuanced needs of the target industry.
- Failing to build credibility with sophisticated B2B buyers who value deep industry knowledge.
Doshi’s post serves as a valuable reminder for product professionals. While a strong consumer product background can indeed provide an ‘Easy Mode’ for B2B, the true key to unlocking that potential lies in the commitment to becoming an expert in the specific business domain being served.
“Many don’t [commit to acquiring deep domain expertise],”
he concludes, highlighting the opportunity for those who do.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Shreyas Doshi on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on May 1, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →