“What’s the hardest part of being a product manager? Explain what you are doing to your parents.
Unless you’re a woman — in which case, the hardest part of being a product manager is getting to the top.
A survey of European tech companies found only 7.5% had a female CPO – compared to other data that indicate 25% of leaders in European technology companies being women.
Product roles are in strong demand startups across Europe – so if you’re looking to get started in a product position, now is a better time than ever to look for patterns.
We mined our sources and scoured the internet to compile a list of over 150 female CPOs at European companies.
In our list, France holds the crown for the most female CPOs, with 26% of the women on our carefully curated list being based in France, compared to 17% based in the UK and 13% in Germany.
We’d like to continue to grow this list, so if there’s a name we should add, please let us know by email. [email protected].
Find our full list of over 150 female CPOs below – but first, let’s meet 11 of them.
Sally Matthews
At Gousto the chief product officer did not start in this role at the UK unicorn in meal kit.
Sally Matthews joined Gousto in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer and later served as CPO. She is responsible for everything, from the design of the future factory to knowledge of the customer and menu planning – all while keeping a watchful eye on Gousto’s sustainable development mission.
Amandine Durr
Back Market was highlighted in 2020 by Sifted as One to watch — and now it’s France most valuable startup.
This isn’t Amandine Durr’s product director’s first rodeo: she was previously product director at We Are TV in New York, before becoming the company’s CEO.
The market for refurbished gadgets is still recruiting despite the slowdown – including for multiple product roles.
Georgie Smallwood
Micromobility startup Stage was launched in 2018 only – and after just four years it’s the best-funded scooter company in Europe, according to Dealroom.
Its product manager, Georgie Smallwood, handles everything from customer service to communications and pricing to product operations. Previously, Smallwood was CPO at another European unicorn – the German fintech N26.
She is also part of Accel’s first cohort of scouts — with $200,000 for invest in the ecosystem of European startups. Her investment thesis is about supporting female founders — and she’s backed startups before, including Oviavo, Sudor and Remi.
Anushree Sharma
Nuw is a UK-based sustainable fashion startup that allows users to swap second-hand clothes. This start-up has already secured backing from Bethnal Green Ventures and raised £120,000 in crowdfunding.
The startup all-female management team includes product manager Anushree Sharma. His career spanned both product management and user experience, working in the US, India and the UK.
Rhiannon White
Based in Berlin femtech Clue was launched in 2013 – and in addition to female co-CEOsthe startup has a woman at the head of its product department: Rhiannon White.
White has an impressive background in marketing, communications and, of course, product, having worked in London, Silicon Valley, New Zealand and now Germany. She was previously CPO at Vend, a New Zealand-based startup acquired by Lightspeed last year.
Ana Grouvermann
Based in Stockholm, Ana Grouverman is a product manager at Carla, a Swedish company e-commerce platform for electric cars.
She recently moved into that disruptive role insurtech Hedvig, where as product manager she led the product, design, and analytics teams across HevigThe $45 million Series B round.
Grouverman has also held positions at Deloitte, Google and Spotify.
Sharon Tsai
True North Labs specializes in CBD extraction, with its manufacturing site based at the foot of the scenic Swiss Alps. The company is one of many bring CBD to the consumer market and take on big pharma.
Sharon Tsai, the company’s co-founder and chief product officer, told Sifted that the company is filling an “innovation gap” with its science-based approach.
This isn’t her first venture into CBD innovation: Previously, she co-founded a cannabis consulting firm in Toronto, advising on lab construction and extraction.
Marthe Prestegaard
Oslo-based Plaace is shaking up the world of proptech with a data-driven platform connecting commercial properties with tenants.
Product at Place is led by Marthe Prestegaard, a former antlersecond cohort of the Founder’s Program in Oslo.
Ida Aalen
Oslo-based Ida Aalen is the co-founder and product manager of video conferencing startup Confrere. Founded in 2017, the startup raised a $1.5 million seed round in late 2018, led by Berlin’s Point Nine Capital. It is also received investments from SNÖ’s first fund.
Ten years of previous experience in UX, social media and project management gave Aalen a solid foundation for his role as a product manager. Along with his role as CPO of Confrere, Aalen is a board member of Kernel and DIPS.
Ellen Kugelberg
Electric Truck Disruptor Einride was founded in 2016 in Stockholm. Over the past six years, he has garnered the backing of some impressive names in venture capital, including EQT Ventures, Norrsken RESUME, North area and Maersk Growth.
At the head of the product department of this Swedish startup is Ellen Kugelberg, who not only works on product development, but also on technology, engineering and manufacturing.
Sarah Setty
Based in Paris, Sarah Setti was product manager at October for two and a half years.
The Series C startup operates a SME loans platform, and has raised nearly $60 million in equity to date, according to Dealroom.
Setti is also a founding member of Comète, a group that aims to support and empower the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
And… the complete list of female CPOs in Europe
Speaking of… Product Managers
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🔨 Here is 10 ways to successfully innovate your products.
🌟 Have you perfected your product roadmap? Adriana Landaverde shares how to make your product team’s action plans shine.
👷 You should stop chasing the limelight and work on your product first. here’s why.
Amelia Webb is Social Media Manager at Sifted. She tweets from @AmeliaWebbNE