Toronto Product Management Events
Public List with my Personal Experiences. Living/Ongoing Document
I am an extroverted introvert and find most networking to be brutal. Over the years I’ve attended many events around Toronto.
Starting out in Product Management I was lucky enough to have a very encouraging friend share some Toronto Product events. Working as a Product Team of one at a startup meant I had to build my own Product Community to get feedback and ask questions. Attending these events eased the loneliness I felt at work and continues to strengthen the work I do.
As I have grown my Product Management career I want to share the events I’m loving and help out others who are looking to seek community.
Product Events I have Experienced:
The Event: Product TO
The Gist: Typically hosted at TWG (and my former co-working space).
Cadence: Once a month
The Format: Networking and casual group conversations led by Toronto Product People.
My Experience: This is my favorite Product Event in Toronto. I have attended these events whenever I can since 2019, and hosted my first discussion this year. If you’re new to Product, join us at the next event. The conversations I’ve had here are valuable for my growth as a PM, increasing the strength of connections in my network, and to build my confidence and process through talking to other PM’s in similar (and different) fields.
The Event: Toronto Product Management Association Events
The Gist:
Run by the Toronto Product Management Association (TPMA), events start out with about an hour of networking, a light dinner (standing with paper plates), Non-Alchoholic Beverages, and then transitions into the Panel or Speaker, Q&A, and ends with a free raffle of Product Books and more networking.
The Format:
- Panel Discussions with Q&A
- Traditional Speaker Presentation/Lecture with Q&A
Cadence: Monthly, with special events sporadically
My Experience: Traditional, friendly, many ages and levels of seniority represented. Good speakers. Love the panel discussions. They ask for feedback and action on it. As a part of the annual membership, you can join the TPMA Mentorship Program.
Cost: $20, or ‘Free’ with TPMA Membership
The Event: TechTO
The Gist: Quickly transitioned to online
The Format: Networking, Group chat, Speaker or Panel Discussions.
Cadence: Once a month.
My Experience: During Covid-19 I began to find this event overwhelming and took a break from attending. The experience really took a hit from moving online.
The Event: Collision Conference
The Gist: Tech Conference
The Format: 3 day conference with panels, speakers, Q&A and (usually) a ton of exhibitors, hiring, and tech training and incentives.
Cadence: Annually
My Experience: In 2019, I attended the event as an Startup Exhibitor so I didn’t get to spend much time in the conference itself. The pitch competition was great, the food was terrible. My Engineer friends had a great time and received special treatment including a rest area with free snacks. If you’re a women, or an Engineer, you can often get free or discounted tickets. I purchased tickets for 2020, which is transitioned to an online web summit.
Product Events I have not attended yet:
The Event: Product to Product
Event Site | Podcast
Host: Roadmunk
The Gist: Product to Product is an event for/by product people, bringing you candid conversations about product.
The Format:
Cadence: Toronto every 4-ish months
The Event: Women in Product (Toronto)
Event Site
Host: Women in Product and Local Toronto hosts
The Gist: A community to inspire, connect and celebrate women in product at all levels of their career journey.
Cadence: Every few months IRL, or almost monthly online with the larger community.
The Event: Toronto Tech Summit (Conference)
Toronto Tech Summit
The Gist: TBD
Cadence: Once a year, in October
This list is not exhaustive, and I will be adding to it as I attend more events. Let me know if you see something that needs correcting!
What product events do you recommend in Toronto? Are there any I am missing in Toronto? Send me an invite!
