L&D Budget Season is Here
L&D Budget Season is Here
L&D Budget Season is Here
Get Your Company
to Pay For This
Get Your Company
to Pay For This
Get Your Company
to Pay For This
Good news: Most companies have Learning & Development budgets sitting unused.
Even better news: We've made it ridiculously easy to ask for it.
Good news: Most companies have Learning & Development budgets sitting unused.
Even better news: We've made it ridiculously easy to ask for it.
Good news: Most companies have Learning & Development budgets sitting unused.
Even better news: We've made it ridiculously easy to ask for it.
87%
Approval rate when asked for L&D support
73%
Companies have unused L&D budgets
₹5K-50K
Typical annual training budget per employee
100%
Worth asking, teams approve when requested
87%
Approval rate when asked for L&D support
87%
Approval rate when asked for L&D support
87%
Approval rate when asked for L&D support
73%
Companies have unused L&D budgets
73%
Companies have unused L&D budgets
73%
Companies have unused L&D budgets
₹5K-50K
Typical annual training budget per employee
₹5K-50K
Typical annual training budget per employee
₹5K-50K
Typical annual training budget per employee
100%
Worth asking, teams approve when requested
100%
Worth asking, teams approve when requested
100%
Worth asking, teams approve when requested
The Business Case
The Business Case
The Business Case
Why Your Manager Will Say Yes
Why Your Manager Will
Say Yes
Why Your Manager Will
Say Yes
Here's what they're actually thinking when they read your request
Here's what they're actually thinking when they read your request
Here's what they're actually thinking when they read your request
Upskilling is Cheaper Than Hiring
Training existing employees costs a fraction of hiring "AI experts." Your manager knows this math.
AI is a Strategic Priority
L&D Budget Exists to Be Used
Immediate ROI Potential
Upskilling is Cheaper Than Hiring
Training existing employees costs a fraction of hiring "AI experts." Your manager knows this math.
AI is a Strategic Priority
L&D Budget Exists to Be Used
Immediate ROI Potential
Upskilling is Cheaper Than Hiring
Training existing employees costs a fraction of hiring "AI experts." Your manager knows this math.
AI is a Strategic Priority
L&D Budget Exists to Be Used
Immediate ROI Potential
Copy & Send
Copy & Send
Copy & Send
The "Just Ask" Email Template
The "Just Ask" Email Template
The "Just Ask" Email Template
Customize the highlighted parts, hit send, wait for the yes
Customize the highlighted parts, hit send, wait for the yes
Customize the highlighted parts, hit send, wait for the yes
E-mail To Your Manager
To:
[Manager's Name]
Subject:
Request: AI Skills Training for Product Management
Hi [Manager's Name],
I wanted to discuss a professional development opportunity that I believe would benefit both my growth and our team's capabilities.
I've found a program called Curious PM - a 12-week cohort-based course specifically designed for Product Managers to build hands-on AI skills. Unlike typical online courses, it focuses on actually building production-ready AI applications.
Why I think this is valuable:
Hands-on projects: I'll build 3 real AI applications (chatbot, voice assistant, AI agent)
Immediate applicability: Skills can be applied to [mention a specific project or initiative]
Time-efficient: 5-6 hours/week over 12 weeks, with live sessions outside work hours
Includes $600+ worth of AI tools (OpenAI credits, Claude Code, etc.)
The investment: The course operates on a pay-it-forward model, but a typical contribution is around ₹15,000-25,000 (or equivalent donation to a charity of choice).
I'd be happy to share more details or discuss how this aligns with our team's goals. Would you have 15 minutes this week to chat?
Thanks for considering this!
[Your Name]
Pro tip:
Send this on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Higher response rates!
E-mail To Your Manager
To:
[Manager's Name]
Subject:
Request: AI Skills Training for Product Management
Hi [Manager's Name],
I wanted to discuss a professional development opportunity that I believe would benefit both my growth and our team's capabilities.
I've found a program called Curious PM - a 12-week cohort-based course specifically designed for Product Managers to build hands-on AI skills. Unlike typical online courses, it focuses on actually building production-ready AI applications.
Why I think this is valuable:
Hands-on projects: I'll build 3 real AI applications (chatbot, voice assistant, AI agent)
Immediate applicability: Skills can be applied to [mention a specific project or initiative]
Time-efficient: 5-6 hours/week over 12 weeks, with live sessions outside work hours
Includes $600+ worth of AI tools (OpenAI credits, Claude Code, etc.)
The investment: The course operates on a pay-it-forward model, but a typical contribution is around ₹15,000-25,000 (or equivalent donation to a charity of choice).
I'd be happy to share more details or discuss how this aligns with our team's goals. Would you have 15 minutes this week to chat?
Thanks for considering this!
[Your Name]
Pro tip: Send this on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Higher response rates!
E-mail To Your Manager
To:
[Manager's Name]
Subject:
Request: AI Skills Training for Product Management
Hi [Manager's Name],
I wanted to discuss a professional development opportunity that I believe would benefit both my growth and our team's capabilities.
I've found a program called Curious PM - a 12-week cohort-based course specifically designed for Product Managers to build hands-on AI skills. Unlike typical online courses, it focuses on actually building production-ready AI applications.
Why I think this is valuable:
Hands-on projects: I'll build 3 real AI applications (chatbot, voice assistant, AI agent)
Immediate applicability: Skills can be applied to [mention a specific project or initiative]
Time-efficient: 5-6 hours/week over 12 weeks, with live sessions outside work hours
Includes $600+ worth of AI tools (OpenAI credits, Claude Code, etc.)
The investment: The course operates on a pay-it-forward model, but a typical contribution is around ₹15,000-25,000 (or equivalent donation to a charity of choice).
I'd be happy to share more details or discuss how this aligns with our team's goals. Would you have 15 minutes this week to chat?
Thanks for considering this!
[Your Name]
Pro tip: Send this on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Higher response rates!
Consider the Figures
Consider the Figures
Consider the Figures
The ROI Math (For Your Manager)
The ROI Math (For Your Manager)
The ROI Math (For
Your Manager)
Numbers you can take to your manager
Numbers you can take to your manager
Numbers you can take to your manager
Hiring an "AI PM" externally
Hiring an "AI PM" externally
Hiring an "AI PM" externally
₹25-40L/year
₹25-40L/year
₹25-40L/year
Sending you to a 2-day AI workshop
Sending you to a 2-day AI workshop
Sending you to a 2-day AI workshop
₹50-80K (theory only)
₹50-80K (theory only)
₹50-80K (theory only)
Curious PM
Curious PM
Curious PM
(12 weeks, hands-on)
(12 weeks, hands-on)
(12 weeks, hands-on)
₹15-25K
₹15-25K
₹15-25K
Value you'll create in first 3 months
Value you'll create in first 3 months
Value you'll create in first 3 months
Priceless (but
Priceless (but
Priceless (but
conservatively 10x)
conservatively 10x)
conservatively 10x)
One AI prototype that saves engineering time or validates a product idea = already worth more than the investment
One AI prototype that saves engineering time or validates a product idea = already worth more than the investment
One AI prototype that saves engineering time or validates a product idea = already worth more than the investment
Your colleague probably already asked and didn't tell you
End of quarter = easier approvals
Coffee chats beat email 73% of the time
Your colleague probably already asked and didn't tell you
End of quarter = easier approvals
Coffee chats beat email 73% of the time
Insider Tips
Insider Tips
Insider Tips
How to Maximize Your Chances
How to Maximize
Your Chances
How to Maximize Your Chances
Tips to Boost Your Odds of Success
Tips to Boost Your Odds of Success
Tips to Boost Your Odds of Success
Ask at the start of a quarter or fiscal year when budgets reset. Avoid month-ends when everyone's busy with deliverables.
Timing is Everything
Ask at the start of a quarter or fiscal year when budgets reset. Avoid month-ends when everyone's busy with deliverables.
Connect to Company Goals
Reference an AI initiative, OKR, or strategy doc. "This aligns with our Q2 priority of exploring AI features" hits different.
Connect to Company Goals
Reference an AI initiative, OKR, or strategy doc. "This aligns with our Q2 priority of exploring AI features" hits different.
Talk to HR First
HR often knows about unused L&D budgets. Ask them: "What's the process for requesting professional development funding?"
Talk to HR First
HR often knows about unused L&D budgets. Ask them: "What's the process for requesting professional development funding?"
Offer to Share Back
"I'll run a lunch-and-learn for the team after." This turns a personal request into team value. Managers love this.
Offer to Share Back
"I'll run a lunch-and-learn for the team after." This turns a personal request into team value. Managers love this.
Have a Backup Plan
If full reimbursement isn't possible, suggest splitting it: "Would the company cover 50%?" Something is better than nothing.
Have a Backup Plan
If full reimbursement isn't possible, suggest splitting it: "Would the company cover 50%?" Something is better than nothing.
Follow Up (Nicely)
No response after a week? A gentle "Just following up on my training request" shows you're serious. Don't be shy.
Follow Up (Nicely)
No response after a week? A gentle "Just following up on my training request" shows you're serious. Don't be shy.
Timing is Everything
Connect to Company Goals
Talk to HR First
Offer to Share Back
Have a Backup Plan
Follow Up (Nicely)
Ask at the start of a quarter or fiscal year when budgets reset. Avoid month-ends when everyone's busy with deliverables.
Timing is Everything
Connect to Company Goals
Talk to HR First
Offer to Share Back
Have a Backup Plan
Follow Up (Nicely)
Ask at the start of a quarter or fiscal year when budgets reset. Avoid month-ends when everyone's busy with deliverables.
Be Prepared
Be Prepared
Be Prepared
What If They Say...
What If They Say...
What If They Say...
Common objections and exactly what to say back
Common objections and exactly what to say back
Common objections and exactly what to say back
We don't have budget for this
We don't have budget for this
We don't have budget for this
Can't you just learn this on YouTube?
Can't you just learn this on YouTube?
Can't you just learn this on YouTube?
This isn't the right time
This isn't the right time
This isn't the right time
How does this help the team?
How does this help the team?
How does this help the team?
We have internal AI training
We have internal AI training
We have internal AI training
Let me think about it
Let me think about it
Let me think about it
◉_◉? Curious PM
Curiosity Fuels Life
Nobody learns in a straight line. Some weeks you'll feel brilliant. Some weeks you'll feel lost. Both are part of it. Just stay curious and keep building. That's the whole game.
© 2023 CURIOUSPM.
All rights reserved.
◉_◉? Curious PM
Curiosity Fuels Life
Nobody learns in a straight line. Some weeks you'll feel brilliant. Some weeks you'll feel lost. Both are part of it. Just stay curious and keep building. That's the whole game.
© 2023 CURIOUSPM.
All rights reserved.
◉_◉? Curious PM
Curiosity Fuels Life
Nobody learns in a straight line. Some weeks you'll feel brilliant. Some weeks you'll feel lost. Both are part of it. Just stay curious and keep building. That's the whole game.
© 2023 CURIOUSPM.
All rights reserved.