Product Voices

In this episode of Product Voices, Vinod Thomas, a product manager at Google, discusses his non-traditional journey into product management. He emphasizes the importance of transferable skills such as communication, collaboration, and data analytics, while debunking the myth that coding is essential for the role. Vinod highlights the value of networking and building genuine professional relationships as key to career advancement. He offers advice for aspiring product managers to understand the role deeply and connect their unique backgrounds to product management. His insights provide a roadmap for successfully transitioning into this field.

On this episode, Dr. Chui Chui Tan dives into the critical importance of culturalization in product management. She explains that culturalization involves deep adaptation to local cultural nuances, behaviors, and mentalities, requiring continuous adjustment. Dr. Tan outlines three levels of culturalization and emphasizes the need for strategic research to uncover unmet needs and cultural sensitivities, rather than just tactical questions. She  also highlights the importance of immersing in local markets, avoiding stereotypes, and using a balanced approach to gather insights. She advises starting with small steps and leveraging existing data to build a foundation for successful culturalization.

On this episode, we have a great dialogue and debate about the current state of product leadership. What's good. What's bad. What's ugly. :) You'll hear from Beks Yelland and Therese Stowell, both bringing their expertise and unique perspectives to the conversation. 

In this episode of Product Voices, I speak with Cristina Crespo, VP of Product at Paytient, about the crucial role of empathy in product management. Cristina defines empathy, differentiates it from sympathy, and emphasizes its impact on creating user-centered products. We discuss how empathy correlates with business success through frameworks like the product-led growth flywheel, and she shares strategies for leveraging research to enhance user experiences. Cristina also highlights the importance of fostering an empathetic workplace culture and the need for self-empathy among product managers. The conversation illustrates that embedding empathy in product processes is key to success.

In this episode of Product Voices, we engage in an in-depth discussion about the evolving landscape of product management and the challenges it faces in what we term the "new age of product." Two exceptional guests, Tara Goldman and Mackenzie Hughes, who bring decades of experience in leading product teams and navigating the complexities of the tech industry, help unpack the realities of current product management practices and explore how the community can redefine its approach to create meaningful outcomes.We begin by addressing the notion that "product isn't working anymore." This statement may seem dramatic, but it truly reflects a sentiment echoing across organizations. We examine how the product management field has become overly complicated, veering away from its essence due to unnecessary intricacies introduced over the years. Tara and Mackenzie articulate the evolution of product management through several eras, detailing how we transitioned from a focus on delivery to embracing chaos and agility, and now find ourselves in a precarious yet promising new era. 

In this episode, I talk with Teresa Cain, a prominent product and design expert, about her book "Solving Problems in Two Hours: How to Brainstorm and Create Solutions with Two-Hour Design Sprints." We delve into the two-hour design sprint methodology, emphasizing its role in rapid problem-solving and empowerment of product managers to lead collaborative sessions and shares practical steps for implementing these techniques, offering valuable insights for product management professionals looking to enhance their methodologies.

Hannah Clark, the Editor of The Product Manager, joins to discuss the complexities of change fatigue in product management. We explore how the relentless pace of change can drive innovation while simultaneously leading to team exhaustion and frustration. Hannah shares insights from her experience in startups and emphasizes the necessity for leaders to balance innovation with stability to maintain morale. We discuss the importance of psychological safety for individual contributors and offer practical strategies to navigate change fatigue constructively. This conversation serves as a vital reminder for both team members and leaders to approach change with mindfulness, ensuring a thriving and engaged work environment.

Connor Joyce, author of "Bridging Intention to Impact" and senior user researcher at Microsoft joins us to discuss his book where he emphasizes the importance of focusing on user outcomes and behaviors in product management. He shares his journey in writing the book, stressing the need for evidence-backed decision-making and experimentation to drive successful products. Connor advocates for prioritizing user needs over usage metrics and implementing a culture of data-driven decision-making throughout organizations. The episode provides practical advice for product managers looking to create impactful product outcomes.

Purni Siddarth, Principal Product Manager at Peek shares key insights from her experience at Expedia, Dividend Finance, and Peek, emphasizing the importance of optimized processes, software choices, and infrastructure for successful scalability. She advocates for a minimum viable approach, collaboration, and feedback to drive effective product scaling. Tune in for valuable perspectives on enhancing your product management skills.

Join us in this episode as we chat with Chad McAllister, a renowned product management expert. Chad emphasizes the importance of continual learning in product management, touching on key aspects like strategy, portfolio management, and team dynamics. He offers advice on leveraging diverse backgrounds, transitioning into product management, and aspiring to leadership roles. Chad's insights shed light on navigating the dynamic landscape of product management for those aiming to excel in the field.

In this episode, we discuss the vital skills of listening and observing and how these can lead to success in product management. Guest Monika Murugesan, a seasoned product executive, advisor, mentor, and guest lecturer at Northwestern University, shares practical tips are shared for enhancing these skills, leading to informed decision-making and successful product development.

Sheetal Rajpal, an amazing product leader with experience at Amazon, LendingTree, and PepsiCo joins the podcast to discuss the future of B2C subscription products (and all digital products, for that matter) and how ML, AI, data analysis, and more will be shaping that future. Learn more at ProductVoices.com.

In this episode of Product Voices, our guest Kalia Aragon, Director of Product at Flatiron Health, discusses infrastructure and future-proofing products. She emphasizes the importance of diverse teams and a problem-solving approach. Kalia highlights the key attributes of future-proofing and advises product managers to engage early, build tech competency, and foster communication. She raises concerns about data privacy in AI advancements and encourages empathy and thoughtfulness in the field. It's a great episode filled with insights and advice.

On this episode, we discuss how to stand out in the product management job market. Our guest is Chris Mason, co-founder of Intelligent People, a product management recruitment agency.Chris shares his expertise on the evolving job market and the increasing visibility of product management as a discipline. He highlights the growing number of graduates and better training options in this field. Chris also mentions the rise of Chief Product Officers and product-led organizations. However, he cautions that the job market has become more competitive due to recent layoffs and an influx of talent. Big tech companies have been making cuts, leading to a flood of candidates. Despite the challenges, Chris believes there is still optimism for those pursuing a career in product management.This is an episode you won't want to miss, whether you're currently in job market or not, this discussion has something for everyone.

In this episode, we explore the crucial relationship between the Chief Product Officer (CPO) and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). We discuss the need for partnership, open communication, and trust between these roles. Our guest, Jodi McDermott, shares valuable insights on building a strong CPO-CTO foundation. We emphasize the importance of compromise, alignment, and transparency in leadership, as well as fostering a unified team culture.Listen for insights on...Building a Strong Foundation between CPO and CTOHandling Tension between CPO and CTOThe Importance of Showing Work and Friction PointsThe Power of Repeating and Sharing the VisionBuilding a Unified Team: Breaking Down SilosEffective Communication and Leadership in Scaling OrganizationsCreating a Human and Mentoring Environment

In this episode, we discuss the book "Product Momentum Gap" with authors Andrea Saez and Dave Martin. We explore indicators of a momentum gap in product management and the importance of aligning on customer value. Implementing the product value creation plan (VCP) helps filter out requests that don't align with defined value. Regularly articulating the VCP ensures alignment with the product strategy. We discuss the need for clear business and product strategies. Listen to the episode then get the book today!

Natalia Burina, a product leader with deep expertise in AI, joins this episode to discuss Generative AI and its potential impact for product managers. The conversation with Natalia, a former leader at Meta, Salesforce, Samsung, eBay, and Microsoft, weaves through many important focus areas, including:The potential and limitations of generative AI. Generative AI and its potential impact on business. AI technology and its applications in product development. AI technology risks and challenges in product management. Cultivating psychological safety for AI teams. Generative AI, product management, and leadership.Find out more at ProductVoices.com.

In this episode of Product Voices, Gayatri Diwan, a seasoned product leader, joins to discuss product strategy and its importance in product management. She emphasizes that product strategy should answer three important questions: Why the product is neededWho it is being built for, and What it aims to achieve.Gayatri also shares her seven-step plan for creating a product strategy:Who is your customer?What is the problem statement?What is the impact and benefit to the customer with supporting data?What is the ideal state? What does good look like?What is our criteria for success and how will we measure our success metrics?What are the core product tenets or principles?What are the key pillars and themes we want to invest in?Throughout the conversation, Gayatri stresses the significance of involving the right stakeholders, having a shared understanding of the problem, and aligning with them for success. Learn more at ProductVoices.com/gayatridiwan.

Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles, authors of Product Operations: How Successful Companies Build Better Products at Scale, discuss the concept of product operations and why it is crucial for product teams and organizations. Product operations is the enablement function of product management, providing data and insights for strategic decision-making and ensuring alignment within the product development lifecycle. As organizations scale, product operations become increasingly important in managing complexity, prioritizing strategies, fostering transparency, and facilitating collaboration across departments.Melissa and Denise decided to write the book on product operations after realizing the need for a resource for product managers and stakeholders. Their goal was to share their framework, which revolves around three pillars: business and data insights, customer and market insights, and process and governance. They wanted to get ahead of the growing trend of product operations and provide a structure for enabling product teams.We dive deeper into each of these topics, starting with business and data insights. This pillar focuses on extracting information from current systems and analyzing it through a product lens. Many companies focus on financial metrics in board meetings but fail to analyze the data in a way that benefits product development. By implementing cohort analysis and utilizing internal information from financial, sales, product development, and HR systems, leaders can make data-driven product decisions and effectively monitor product strategies and performance. To bridge the gap between business skills and technology skills in product management, financial acumen classes for product managers have been introduced.Next, we discuss customer and market insights, which provide qualitative and anecdotal perspectives from users. Product operations help set up the infrastructure for research and enable teams to conduct repeatable research by building tools and finding ways to engage users. Product managers should maintain a strong understanding of market insights to stay connected with customers.We then share a real-life case study on streamlining user research processes and discuss the importance of process and practice in the context of product operations. Establishing clear guidelines and consistency in working approaches helps product managers focus on strategic work rather than getting caught up in unnecessary tasks. Product operations, when done right, brings efficiency and consistency without adding bureaucratic processes.We emphasize the need for transparency and tracking in companies and explain that product operations can be implemented gradually, starting with one pillar and then expanding to others as priorities shift. It is crucial to showcase successful case studies and demonstrate the potential benefits of product operations to gain buy-in from the organization. The decision to start a product operations team depends on factors such as the number of product managers, scaling plans, and the need for structure and efficiency in managing data and processes.We conclude by advising listeners to start somewhere and focus on the pillar that provides the most value. The book mentioned earlier serves as a valuable resource, offering advice, insights, frameworks, and case studies for anyone interested in product operations.Overall, this conversation provides a comprehensive overview of product operations and its importance in organizations, offering practical insights and guidance for implementation.

In this episode, we explore the Octalysis Framework with expert Amit Arora to understand how it drives product adoption. The conversation covers the 8 core drivers of customers: Epic Meaning, Accomplishment, Empowerment, Ownership, Social Influence, Scarcity, Unpredictability, and Avoidance. We discuss the relevance of psychological drivers and the importance of human emotions in decision-making. Amit emphasizes the framework's applicability in both B2C and B2B contexts and highlights the need for fine-tuning and continuous education. Success stories and measurement techniques are shared to illustrate its effectiveness. Overall, the conversation emphasizes staying informed and connected with customer behaviors and motivators to drive product adoption and success.

In this episode of Product Voices, we venture into a world transformed by emerging technologies, with esteemed guests Eva Agapaki, Tatyana Mamut, Katharina Koerner, and Yuying Chen-Wynn. These tech pioneers offer their insights into emerging technologies that will impact our world for years to come. We grapple with the immense promises of AI as it has evolved from predictive to generative, and from domain-specific to generalizable - while acknowledging the monumental challenges and responsibilities tied to this potent tool. We discuss the future of product management in the AI era, and the panel offers advice for product managers on the skills that will be needed to succeed.This episode is brought to you in partnership with Product Advisory Collective, a firm that accelerates product with curated Product-Leader Fit™ and outcomes-driven advisory and consulting services.

In this episode of the Product Voices podcast, we speak with Yasmin Kothari, the product director for Bumble for Friends. Bumble for Friends is an app designed to connect people nearby who share similar interests and friendship goals. It provides a convenient way to expand your friendship circle, with features like group conversations and a 72-hour response window. Yasmin shares insights on building meaningful connections through technology and excelling in product management. Download Bumble for Friends and join us in combatting loneliness with technology.

What if there was a roadmap to break into the dynamic field of product management? We've got Rajat Tiwari on the show today, a promising future product manager and current master's student at Johns Hopkins, to guide you through his personal journey. Rajat's humble beginnings dreaming of Silicon Valley led to the creation of a hospitality website showcasing his web development and API knowledge. He offers insights on how finding a unique selling point can be the game-changer in this highly competitive market.Rounding off our fascinating conversation, Rajat dives into the importance of preparation for job interviews, not merely job applications, in product management. He also underscores how traditional practices like patience, user empathy, and understanding the customer's needs should be a part of every product manager's repertoire. The future belongs to those combining unique strengths with state-of-the-art technology tools. Tune in for Rajat's insights that promise to be invaluable for anyone contemplating a career in product management.

Get ready for a deep dive into the world of product consulting with our special guest, the seasoned consultant, entrepreneur, and leader, Mary Beth Snodgrass. Buckle in as we traverse the terrain of product consulting and its growing popularity, tackling topics from managing product challenges to exploring the gig economy. Mary Beth takes us inside her collective, the PAC, shedding light on their unique, results-oriented approach to advising product teams on strategy and diversity.Stepping further into the sphere, we delve into the competencies of a product leader, the specific hurdles faced by women in tech, and the power of collective intelligence in driving product. Mary Beth discusses the importance of real-world learning and how product consultants can augment organizations. Pondering over the role of advisory boards and proper scoping in product consulting, we unravel the myriad ways consultants add value and how to determine the best fit for your organization.In the grand finale, Mary Beth illuminates the path to setting up a consulting practice. From the financial aspects and risk profiles to the art of building your brand, she provides sage advice for budding consultants. We also turn our focus to the crucial role of business development in product consulting, touching on sales best practices and strategies for assessing your strengths. So, if you're ready to discover the depth and breadth of opportunities in product consulting, don't miss this enlightening conversation.

Priya Kasi-Chari, senior director of product management at PeopleReady, joins us on Product Voices to share her inspiring story of resilience and success. Her unique blend of creative pursuits - including classical dance, language learning, and sewing - has greatly shaped her product management career, bringing a refreshing perspective to the industry.But what's the secret sauce to a thriving product management career? Priya believes it lies in developing multifaceted skills, from technology to innovation. She emphasizes the value of curiosity, adaptability, and empathy - all critical traits that have propelled her as a great product manager and product leader. And for those of you contemplating a career shift into product management without having traditional experience, Priya drops some gold nuggets of advice that you can't afford to miss.Tune in for a stimulating episode packed with a wealth of knowledge.More at ProductVoices.com.

Ever wondered how the magic word 'no' can catapult your product management career to a whole new level? Then it's time to tune in! We're graced with the presence of Jo McCawley, a senior director of product and seasoned veteran of the ad tech world, and he's ready to reveal the importance of saying 'no' in product management. We touch on everything from setting boundaries to tackling tricky conversations, all with the aim of safeguarding your strategy, mental health, and professional relationships.In this lively discussion, McCawley highlights the art of declining with grace, using her 15 years of experience to illustrate how this simple tactic can amplify your career and make you a better ally to your team and customers. It's not just about saying 'no', it's about how you say it! McCawley also takes us through some unconventional methods she's employed to practice the art of refusal, including a boundary workshop at a cuddle party! This is an episode jam-packed with pivotal insights and strategies, so don't miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your product management skills.

Unlock the power of data with Graham Reed, a seasoned product management professional, as he reveals how data can transform your product management strategies. Can you imagine how understanding data can help to build better products and make effective decisions? Graham, who leads product operations at Cobalt, shares interesting insights from his 12-year journey in the world of product management, a trip that has been filled with data-informed decisions, challenges, and triumphs.We also tackle the hot topic of AI, its potentials and limitations. Are we overlooking the ethical considerations of AI? Graham urges us not to rush into AI without fully understanding its implications, especially in relation to the lack of transparency with AI data sets. This conversation is not just about data, it's about the approach to data as a tool for product management. Join us on this intriguing journey with Graham Reed at the helm, and equip yourself with a new perspective on data's role in product management.

In this great conversation with Beks Yelland,  we delve into the ins and outs of "product tech" and the "product industry" and its evolving impact on product teams and product managers. As product management has become more visible and popular, there are more and more tools, resources, frameworks, and more being thrust upon product managers. Has it become too much? Beks sheds light on the best ways to steer clear of unnecessary complexities, adopt a mission-driven approach, and manage stakeholder relationships. 

Welcome to Product Voices, where we spotlight the brightest minds in the world of product management! Today Jennifer Spanos, a seasoned expert in the CPG and software product management realm, joins us for a chat that will challenge your thinking and give you an edge in your product management journeys. With a rich repository of knowledge, Jennifer shares the importance of striking a balance between domain and product knowledge. One could even say, product management is an art that finds its beauty in solving the right problems and creating value for clients and businesses. As we traverse through the episode, we focus on a fascinating blend of product and domain knowledge. Are you inclined to believe that being in the customer's seat can provide fresh insights into problem-solving? We sure are and Jennifer's experiences prove just that! In fact, her journey speaks volumes about the merits of questioning mind that digs deep into an industry's nooks and corners. Listen in, this is one episode you wouldn't want to miss!See more at https://www.productvoices.com/post/jenniferspanos

Get ready to unravel the true meaning of culture within organizations with our incredible guest, Tatyana Mamut.  Tatyana breaks it down for us by highlighting how culture is much more than workplace benefits - it's the environments and structures that leaders establish, shaping what their teams can or can't achieve. So, if your organization isn't hitting the mark, it might be time to consider the top leadership's influence on the culture - a factor you might have overlooked!As we continue the journey with Tatyana, she enlightens us on the importance of understanding a company's culture when you're eyeing a leadership role. Be prepared to dive deep into self-reflection, as it is crucial to know your values and be open about them during the interview. But, how can you figure out the culture of a company you're yet to join? It turns out, asking questions about past successes, failures, and existing systems can provide a sneak peek into the company's way of life. Whether you're a seasoned leader or an ambitious product manager, this episode is packed with insights and advice to help you navigate and shape your company's culture for the better. Buckle up for a culture ride with Tatyana Mamut - it's one you won't want to miss!

Are you ready to unlock the dynamic relationship between data and product management? We sat down with Mike Alvarez, a seasoned tech guru and the CTO and Head of Product for NeuZeit Group, who gave us an exploratory journey of how data can be a product in itself, or a catalyst for fantastic products, and shares valuable insights on how to ensure that data enriches a product without overshadowing its core offerings.Ever wonder how data technology will change in the era of AI? In the second half of our chat, Mike zeroes in on the power of AI and ML, showing us how these tools can unearth insights we could only dream of just a year or so ago. He also emphasizes that domain knowledge and understanding your field is key to effectively leveraging data  and offers some smart advice to product stakeholders looking to amp up their data literacy. So, whether you're a seasoned tech veteran or a newbie seeking to gain a foothold in the world of data technology, this episode is a must-listen.Find more at ProductVoices.com.

Ever wondered how to navigate through the labyrinth of career moves in product management? This episode promises to be your definitive guide. Our guest, Cassidy Fein, shares her wealth of experience, gained from Pendo, Vimeo, and Echo 360. Listen in as she unveils how to identify the right roles and companies and strategize your career moves. We also discuss the current market pulse and how to connect with the right people in the right place.It's not just about the right career path, but also about finding roles that ignite your passion and resonate with your values. Cassidy offers valuable insight into understanding an organization's product, business model, and revenue streams, and how these impact your day-to-day role. Shifting gears to long-term career planning, we emphasize the importance of being flexible in handling life's unpredictable turns. Weighing up the pros and cons of specialization versus generalization, we also arm you with strategies for managing people effectively. So, if you're keen to steer your product management career towards long-term success, this episode is a must-listen!

What if you could unlock secrets to managing product scale-ups without falling into common pitfalls or inviting burnout? This episode, we bring you just that, with our expert guest, Marissa Fong. With a decade of experience under her belt, Marissa shares her unique insights from her journey across various industries. Listen in as we discuss strategies, processes, and skills necessary for successful scale-ups, and navigate the complex world of product management.Learn more at ProductVoices.com.

Are you striking the right balance between customer focus and business acuity in your product management career? Join us as we welcome Frank Tisellano, a B2B product leader with experience at Google, Kaseya, and others. Frank shares his journey and realization of the importance of this balance. Discover how understanding the impact a product has on a company's business is key for success and prioritization, and learn how to become more commercially focused product people.We also discuss common mistakes in product management, the need for developing a better understanding of the business side of the work, and the potential impact of product managers entering the field with limited or no business experience. Listen in as we explore building a well-rounded skillset and examine how product managers can use their business acumen to drive success in their products. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your awareness and understanding of the business side of product management!Learn more from Frank at ft.io. And find more on the episode at ProductVoices.com.

Aakash Gupta, the Product Growth guy and VP Product at Apollo, joins to discuss how to build a flywheel.We discuss:What is a flywheel and what does it mean? What are some prerequisites that a business needs to have in place in order to succeed in building a flywheel?The biggest mistakes that are made when trying to build a flywheel across your organization. And much more!Learn more at ProductVoices.com and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform. Also, be sure to subscribe to Aakash's newsletter!

Victoria Ku, director of product at Highnote, joins the podcast to discuss finding your voice as a product manager. Such an important and fun conversation. We discuss...How to find your voice as a product manager. How to best use that voice in the workplaceHow leaders can best help their team find their voice. What impact will payments have on the world in the future?  (a bonus discussion based on Victoria's expertise)Learn more at ProductVoices.com.

Kareem Mayan, co-founder of Savio, joins this episode to discuss how great product teams leverage customer and product feedback for better products, and specifically how feedback can help us innovate on and optimize existing products.We discuss:What's the difference between innovation and invention? What are the biggest mistakes product teams are making when it comes to leveraging feedback? Do product teams really have the data they need? Best practices for how to use feedback most effectively. And moreMore at ProductVoices.com

Janna Bastow, CEO of ProdPad, joins this episode to discuss how product teams can build and use successful roadmaps. She also shares some insights on what makes great product managers and how to stand out when trying to move into product management from other roles.Highlights:On roadmaps...What is a roadmap? What are the prerequisites for a roadmap? (hint: you can't have a really successful roadmap without having a vision)A roadmap is a prototype of your strategy (wow! what a great way to think about it)How do teams use a roadmap? How often do you update your roadmap? And some general advice for current and aspiring product managers:Core skills that a great product manager needsHow to stand out from the crowd when trying to move into product managementLearn more at ProductVoices.com.

In this episode, Dave Dame, director of product accessibility at Microsoft joins to discuss how great teams and organizations use principles to best build products that are inclusive and accessible to users of all ability levels.Highlights of the discussion:"It's not a disability that holds me back, it is the environment.”Everyone will be disabled at some point, even temporarily. Products that were built to be accessible for one group often resonate with others, For example, closed captioning and audiobooks.Characteristics of high-performing teams that are building more accessible, inclusive products.Dave's advice on creating products that will make the world better than we found it.Learn more at ProductVoices.com

Great product managers are fanatical about prioritizing the things that will make the biggest impact on their product.In this episode we discuss some of the activities that product managers should not be leading and some ways that product managers can be fanatically prioritize their time.We discuss:What a product manager is NOTWhy product managers get pulled into some of these activities Creating your Contentment MixThe VITAL time management toolLearn more at ProductVoices.com

Bria King, a product coach and product leader with experience in social good, networking, online marketing, and hospitality industries discusses a people-first approach to product management.We discuss:What is people-first product managementWhat are the benefits of people-first PMHow leaders and teams can move toward a more people-first culture

Chris Butler joins to discuss the "product spine" - how teams can align strategies, roadmaps, and tasks, and make sound decisions along all of them.Chris is an all-around product expert, currently Lead Product Manager at Google, with past stints as head of product operations at Cognizant and a product leader at Facebook, Kayak, and Waze.We discuss:what is the product spinehow teams can align along various abstractions such as the strategy, roadmaps, and task lists.how this alignment can lead to sounder decisions and ultimately better productsLearn more at ProductVoices.com and be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

Ensuring your product has the proper level and types of services around it can improve and optimize the user experience. We often forget how important these services can be to the overall success of a product.In this episode, Tania Sahai, product leader and founder of The Silver Pallete, joins to discuss how product managers and teams can focus on the important services that surround products.Learn more at ProductVoices.com

On this episode, Matt LeMay joins to discuss Product Leadership. Matt LeMay is an internationally recognized product leader, author, and consultant who has worked with companies like Spotify, Audible, Mailchimp, and Google. He is the author of Agile for Everybody (O'Reilly Media, 2018) and Product Management in Practice (Second Edition O'Reilly Media, 2022), and has helped build and scale product management practices at companies ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Learn more at MattLeMay.com and ProductVoices.com.

When we think about building products, we most often think about products for external customers. However, many product teams create solutions for internal customers - those fellow employees who use our products to help them better do their job. These “internal products” can have a huge impact on the business. In this episode, Sharon Aluma, Senior Technical Product Manager at Amazon Robotics joins to discuss the nuances of building products for internal customers and how to make the biggest impact with these solutions.Learn more on ProductVoices.com. 

We have a responsibility in product management to avoid exclusionary solutions and so it is incumbent upon us to learn inclusive design principles. We must learn how to design products that not only intentionally include but avoid unintentionally excluding groups. Sandra Camacho, a multicultural Inclusive Design strategist, educator, and advisor based in Paris, France, joins this episode to discuss inclusive design and share stories, insights, and tips for how we can learn and improve.We discuss:What is inclusive design? How do we define it?What's happening in the tech industry in terms of inclusive design.How does this inclusive design compare to the diversity and inclusion work that's happening in so many organizations?Examples of things that have worked really well in inclusive design and some that didn't work so well. How can those who aren't in a marginalized group approach this work in a way that matters? Learn more at Sandra By Design or Inclusive Design Jam.Find resources mentioned on the episode at ProductVoices.com

Dan Balcauski, founder and principal consultant at Product Tranquility, joins to discuss The Secret to Unlocking Value: How to Maximize Your Product's Price.We discuss: Three types of value driversHow to know what our customers valueHow to measure pricing effectivenessHow companies find their value metricThe connection between customer segmentation and pricingAnd more!Learn more at ProductVoices.com.

Innovation and product ideation is one of the core tenants of successful product management. We simply have to get this right in order to put impactful nuanced, valuable, differentiated products and solutions out in the market for our customers. In this episode, Jennifer Glenski, Director of Product Management for BMC Software's Innovation Labs joins to discuss innovation and product ideation and how product teams can succeed at these critical activities.Learn more at ProductVoices.com.

Agency and accountability are so very important to the success of a product manager - not only embracing this themselves but also having the organization set up in a way and the culture set up in a way that expects accountability and allows agency with product managers. On this episode, Amanda Ralph, Principal Product Manager at Papercut, joins to discuss agency and accountability in product management.EPISODE OUTLINE:Why is agency so important in product management? 0:03How can product leaders transform or empower when they're in an environment where it's more about feature-driven product delivery? 3:57How product leaders can give their teams the agency they need while holding their teams accountable for value creation. 7:30Why it's so important to start with leadership and culture. 10:51What are some things that may help a product manager who embraces the role but doesn't quite know how to take hold of it? 15:11How to tease out the right environment for a new product manager. 20:05The importance of having a candid conversation with the product leader you're interviewing with to better understand the environment before joining a new org.  24:01The fun of product management is that you're on a continuous learning journey, but it's also hard. 29:18

On this episode, Jonathan Hensley, the CEO and Chief Product Officer at EMERGE and author of Alignment: Overcoming Internal Sabotage and Digital Product Failure, discusses why alignment is critical to product success, and what teams can do to become more aligned.We discuss four types of alignment:IndividualTeamOrganizationMarket

Product management is one of the best jobs in the world but it comes with great responsibility. If we are building products, we must ensure that we are putting inclusive products out in the world. And for leaders, inclusive leadership is paramount to a successful team and positive culture. In this personal, poignant, and impactful episode, Stephanie Leue, Chief Product Officer of Doodle shares how she has become a better, more inclusive leader by learning about, embracing, and celebrating neurodiversity at home and at work.Find more at ProductVoices.com.