Hiring Your First Product Marketer: What Really Matters

Hiring your first Product Marketing Manager (PMM) can feel like a leap into the unknown. What skills matter most? How do you avoid chasing unicorns? And why does capability matter more than job titles when scaling niche roles?In this episode of Stopgap Talks, Sarah Windsor, Principle Consultant at Stopgap, is joined by Hattie The PMM, founder of productmarketers.com and a leading voice in the global product marketing community.Together, they unpack the challenges and opportunities of making that all-important first PMM hire—and share practical insights for hiring managers, founders, and marketers navigating this evolving role.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why PMM is still misunderstood—and what that means for hiringThe biggest mistakes companies make when recruiting their first PMMThe core capabilities that matter most (and why industry experience isn’t everything)How PMMs can build careers that accelerate fast—sometimes into six figures in just 2–4 yearsThe rise of PMM in Europe and the role of AI in shaping its futureWhether you’re hiring, scaling, or building your PMM career, this is a must-listen.