How to Build Thriving Remote Product Teams

At Pandium, I’m struck by how much we’ve grown, not only in numbers, but in the way we collaborate and stay connected as a fully remote team. Having been part of Pandium before the shift to remote work, I’ve seen both the challenges and the opportunities that come with this transition, and I’m proud of the culture we’ve built to foster cross-functional collaboration, and a strong sense of community. I’m excited to share what that looks like in practice.

Making Remote Work, Work

Going remote was a huge change for us. In the early days, we were in a small Manhattan office sharing lunch and brainstorming together. When we stepped into remote work it was about figuring out who we wanted to be as a team without easy hallway chats or spontaneous desk visits.

One thing we introduced right away, as simple as it sounds, was the “question of the day.” Every day, a dedicated person posts a question in Slack, ranging from favorite books to weekend plans to quirky hypotheticals. People might be hundreds of miles apart, but we can kick off the day together, learn new things about each other, and spark a fun vibe before diving into project updates. This keeps our culture alive and makes remote work more human.

We also prioritize on-camera standups. Sometimes people groan at putting their camera on, but these meetings matter. In a remote world, it’s too easy to feel unseen or siloed. Being present, literally, for a daily check-in adds accountability and allows us to sync priorities and support one another.

At Pandium, I like to say there’s no such thing as too much information. Anyone can DM, ping, or huddle one-on-one or in public channels as needed. If you’re confused, stuck, or need a quick gut check, there’s always someone who’ll answer your Slack.

I’m a strong advocate for flexible time management. Micromanagement kills confidence and creativity, especially in a remote setting. Instead, we set deadlines, track progress, and ensure regular check-ins.. When people are trusted to own their work, team spirit and accountability soar.

Designing Meetings for Maximum Impact

Remote meetings, when done wrong, are a productivity killer. We’ve learned to front-load meetings in the mornings, so engineers and other team members have uninterrupted focus time throughout the day. 

On the product side, our weekly refinement meetings, bi-weekly pre-planner sessions, and periodic engineering reviews all have clearly defined goals and agendas. These allow us to keep our product momentum going and drive alignment across teams.

We also prioritize frequent one-on-ones and smaller group huddles. Whether for feedback or just a sanity check, these touchpoints ensure that nobody feels isolated and everyone gets the support they need.

Culture of Care

Work isn’t just about tickets and deadlines. It’s caring about the human beings behind the screens. I make it a point to check in when someone’s having a tough time, whether it’s a family emergency or just a bad day. I’ve sent gift baskets (cookie, candy, iced tea, etc) to brighten someone’s week when they needed some extra kindness, a small gesture that carries a lot of weight when you can’t physically sit together at lunch.

Events matter too. Remote team bonding at Pandium includes game nights, virtual escape rooms, and our much-loved Spirit Week leading up to Halloween. We also organize annual gift exchanges, with participation set as “opt-out” rather than “opt-in,” making it easy for everyone to join without pressure. 

Choosing the Tool Stack

The right tools are critical, but too many tools cause fatigue and confusion. Because Pandium is smaller, we’ve intentionally kept our stack lean. Slack remains our lifeblood, with dedicated channels supporting every aspect of company life. Team-wide spaces keep everyone up to date with the latest announcements, while more fun and niche channels (like ‘pandi-kids’ and ‘pandi-pets’) let us celebrate milestones and enjoy the moments that happen beyond daily projects.

For meetings, we use Google Meet and Zoom, depending on team needs and customer calls. JIRA is for tracking engineering and product work, tickets are reviewed weekly alongside progress on key projects. Google Docs for writing and brainstorming. Screenshot tools (I’m partial to Skitch!) and Loom video recordings help us clarify technical issues.

A big part of our product philosophy is integration. Instead of siloed systems, we automate workflows where possible; for instance, JIRA tasks can be spun up directly from Slack, connecting conversations directly to execution.

We also use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to safeguard devices and data. Remote work means less physical control, so secure, managed access is essential. 

‍Fostering Cross-Functional Collaboration

I actively participate in dedicated public Slack channels for marketing, sales, CX, and other departments, so I get a live pulse on what’s happening across the company. This lets me identify problems before they snowball, and find opportunities early.

Sometimes it’s the little things, jumping onto a channel with a quick “Can we chat?” rather than scheduling a formal call. That’s the beauty of remote… less friction, more flexibility. I make a point to meet teammates where they are, adjusting for time zones, parenting schedules, or whatever life brings. If a Wednesday isn’t good for someone, we meet Thursday.

A key lesson: let people communicate in ways that work for them and build structure so nobody gets left out. Cross-functional alignment is also supported by using as many common tools as possible. 

Mastering the Roadmap

In high-growth startups, roadmaps never stay still for long! Everyone’s voice is welcome and tracked. 

Balancing sales asks, product vision, and user needs is a daily challenge. My decision process:

• Is a sales-driven feature valuable for the broader user base, or is it just a one-off for a big client?

• Does it justify resource investment, and will it open doors for future growth and revenue?

• Cost-value analysis sits at the heart of these decisions. How much work, time, or cost does an ask require, and how much value (practically or strategically) does it add?

Some of our most impactful updates are tiny, like a one-line change for a customer that earns lifetime loyalty. When considering features, I ask:

• Is the change easy and impactful?
• Will it serve multiple customers?
• Are there negative tradeoffs or technical risks?

We also emphasize the importance of documenting what is not included in the roadmap. This prevents scope creep and keeps initiatives focused and achievable.

Every iteration of our roadmap is saved and reviewed monthly. If priorities shift or new opportunities arise, nothing falls through the cracks.

The Jack-of-All-Trades Reality

My role at Pandium means working across countless verticals. One week, it’s shipping and warehouse protocols; the next, it’s youth sports scheduling or cannabis industry compliance. What’s most exciting? Becoming a quick learner and “just dangerous enough” in every system I touch.

Success in integration product management means noticing similarities and differences across tools. My process:

• Review API docs
  
  • Authentication flows, endpoints, limitations
• Dive into help docs and customer stories
  
  • How do users actually live in these platforms?
• Map data structures
  
  • What is critical and how do systems communicate?
• Talk to real users
  
  • Before we build an integration, I use the tool.

Continuous learning is vital. I always sign up for developer newsletters and email lists when available; they’re the fastest way to track updates that affect our own engineers. And when support teams are accessible, a quick call or email can save days of confusion!

If you’re new to a vertical, never be afraid to get your hands dirty, sign up for trial accounts, experiment, and ask customers about their workflow and expectations. No one expects you to be an expert at everything, but you must understand enough to bridge gaps and connect solutions.

Personal Reflections & Career Growth

Here’s my biggest career insight… soft skills are as, if not more, important than technical know-how. My start in tech came not from certifications, but from my ability to explain things and connect with people. Learning hard skills follows naturally when you’re motivated and can build trust. As product manager, I sometimes feel like the “Alice” to our CTO Shon’s “Mad Hatter”, keeping creativity channeled and priorities actionable.

Being at a small company means being unafraid to ask tough questions and push back (kindly) when needed. I advocate for regular, honest conversations about pain points, blockers, and needs (whether inside product, engineering, or with customers). The feedback you gather, internally and externally, is priceless for refining direction and resolving bottlenecks.

‍Final Thoughts

Pandium’s remote-first journey continues to teach me how valuable it is to combine trust, empathy, flexibility, and curiosity. My approach? Meet people where they are. Encourage honest dialogue, celebrate small wins, and never stop learning. If you’re shaping your own remote team, I hope some of these lessons serve you well.