I am a ‘Product Manager’ but I genuinely manage a team: does that count as leadership for EB-1?

In the EB-1, what matters is not your job title but the leadership role you actually exercise in practice. If, as a ‘Product Manager’, you coordinate teams, make strategic decisions, and oversee the work of collaborators, you may in fact be performing leadership functions relevant to the criterion.

The evaluation looks at the substance of your work, not the label. That is why thorough documentation of your responsibilities is essential, showing the scope and impact of what you lead. It typically helps to gather:

• Org charts or role descriptions that show your position and the team under your management.
• Letters from supervisors or peers detailing your leadership role.
• Records of decisions and results tied to your work.

This type of evidence helps demonstrate that the leadership is real and measurable, regardless of how the position is titled. A title that does not accurately describe the role does not prevent recognition, as long as the evidence supports the position.

Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth reviewing the criteria on the USCIS website and seeking specialized guidance to correctly frame your leadership experience.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.