I always half-dread this question because it sounds casual but you can really fumble it if you just pick something obvious and say 'it's intuitive.' Tried to pick something I actually use and talked through what the product does well from a user and business angle.
Choose a product you genuinely admire and can analyze deeply, preferably one that aligns with Cisco's focus on enterprise, networking, or collaboration. Structure your answer to show product sense: start with the product, explain why it's your favorite by highlighting its user-centric design, business impact, and strategic differentiation, and tie it back to what you've learned as a PM.
Pro tip: Avoid picking a consumer product like Instagram or Spotify unless you can draw clear parallels to Cisco's B2B context. Instead, choose a product that demonstrates your understanding of enterprise needs, such as Slack, Zoom, or even a Cisco product, and be ready to discuss its trade-offs and areas for improvement.
Choose a product that is either in Cisco's domain (e.g., Webex, Meraki) or a B2B tool that showcases your product thinking. Ensure you have deep familiarity with it.
Articulate the product's core value proposition and why it resonates with you. Focus on user experience, problem-solving, and strategic positioning.
Use a simple framework like CIRCLES or SWOT to evaluate the product's strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Show structured thinking.
Relate the product's success factors to Cisco's business and the PM role. Discuss how you would apply similar principles or improve upon them.
Summarize what you've learned from this product that makes you a better PM, and express enthusiasm for bringing those insights to Cisco.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.