# vp-cpo-readiness-advisor

Coaching for the jump from Director to VP or CPO: getting ready, interviewing, the first months in the seat, and fixing what stopped working.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2000 installs · ★ 7673
- Author: deanpeters
- License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor

## What it does

The skill runs an adaptive conversation. It starts by asking which stage you are at — building toward the promotion, in an active search, recently appointed, or some way into the role with things going badly. From there it follows that branch and tailors the advice to what you describe.

A three-part frame runs through it: product, practice and people. One section takes apart the belief that a bigger title brings freedom — the constraints stay, only their size changes. Another covers the shift from VP to CPO: the vocabulary you use with the executive team, who your main customer becomes, and which colleagues matter most day to day. Planning horizons for each level get their own treatment.

Expect an interactive session, roughly 15–20 minutes. You can hand over context at invocation: anything typed after the skill name, or an `ARGUMENTS:` line, counts as answers already given and will not be asked again. Come with nothing and it opens by asking about your stage.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill vp-cpo-readiness-advisor -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill vp-cpo-readiness-advisor -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill vp-cpo-readiness-advisor -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills vp-cpo-readiness-advisor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill vp-cpo-readiness-advisor -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --path skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill vp-cpo-readiness-advisor -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/vp-cpo-readiness-advisor/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- work out what actually changes when you move from Director to VP
- assess a CPO offer and pick the questions to put to the CEO
- diagnose why peer relationships at the executive level are failing
- prepare for a final interview with a founder-CEO who has firm product views
- switch your language and planning horizons after stepping into the role

## Example prompts
- I'm a Director of Product aiming at VP — walk me through what changes.
- I've been a VP for a while and my relationships with other executives aren't working. Work through it with me.

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From the same set: [deanpeters/product-manager-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/deanpeters/product-manager-skills.md) — 73 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md