Who decides what products to build and what features to include? The answer might surprise you. Women In Product spotlights the stories of women product leaders, the challenges they face, and the things that can make or break a tech product. Tune in to l
In this episode of the Women in Product podcast, Meghna Shah of PWC joins Cassie Campbell to discuss the intersection of consulting and coaching in product management. Shah explains the importance of teaching clients how to build product management disciplines, using the analogy of teaching them to fish rather than just delivering the fish. They explore the mindset shifts required to succeed with agile and product management approaches, emphasizing the importance of coaching in making these shifts. Shah shares insights on the 'two in a box' model, where a coach and a product manager work together to ensure skill transfer. The discussion also includes strategies for influencing cross-functional teams, storytelling in product management, and the importance of continuous learning and adapting to technology changes.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:37 Meghna Shah's Background and Role at PWC01:23 The Importance of Coaching in Consulting02:09 Mindset Shifts and Agile Practices03:37 Influence and Stakeholder Engagement04:09 Technology's Evolving Role in Business05:24 Coaching for Continuous Improvement13:42 Success Story: Financial Services Organization17:45 Roles in Agile and Product Management21:54 Understanding the Value Chain26:33 Characteristics of Effective Product Teams30:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts✨Where to find Meghna:On LinkedIn
In this insightful episode of the Product Rising Podcast, host Cassie welcomes Andrew Skotzko – a product leadership coach and strategic advisor. Andrew shares his unconventional journey into product management, starting from growth hacking and transitioning into engineering, before finally becoming a product leadership coach. He emphasizes the critical difference between strategy and planning, introducing the concept of a strategy as a series of bets rather than a rigid plan. Andrew discusses the importance of ongoing strategy development and the avoidance of the 'strategy cave' mentality, preparing listeners for the challenges of strategic planning and product leadership. Throughout the episode, Andrew provides practical advice for product leaders on when and how to hire a coach, the creative and iterative nature of strategy, and how to effectively align product strategy with business goals. His comprehensive approach offers valuable insights for product leaders aiming to elevate their strategic game and navigate the complexities of product development.00:00 Welcome to the Product Rising Podcast00:48 Meet Andrew Skotzko: From Growth Hacking to Product Leadership03:14 The Journey to Becoming a Product Leadership Coach04:41 The Value of Customized Coaching06:43 A Success Story: Coaching a CPO in the Energy Sector10:22 The Challenges and Rewards of Strategy Development17:15 When to Hire a Product Leadership Coach23:10 Funding and Frameworks for Coaching26:09 Writing a Book on Product Strategy28:50 The Illusion of Control in Business Strategy31:15 The Concept of Bets in Strategy32:23 Differentiating Product and Business Strategy36:30 The Importance of Continuous Strategy Development38:32 Navigating Strategic Planning and Execution41:59 Collaborative Strategy Formation48:06 Avoiding the Strategy Cave Trap52:35 Final Thoughts and Practical Advice
In this insightful episode, we welcome Coco Brown, a multi-time entrepreneur and CEO of Athena Alliance. Coco shares her journey in Silicon Valley, her experience in HR and IT, and her mission to support women in leadership roles. She discusses the importance of career care, the power of coaching, and offers valuable advice for leaders navigating challenging times. With a focus on women in product roles, Coco emphasizes the opportunities for growth and diversification in their careers. She also shares her views on improving executive team dynamics and leveraging coaching for personal and professional development.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:01 Cocoa Brown's Career Journey05:50 The Power of Coaching06:20 Leadership Traits in Challenging Times09:49 The Role of Coaching in Leadership18:18 Women Investing in Career Care23:11 Paths for Product Leaders30:45 Executive Team Development36:30 Conclusion and Farewell
In this episode, Cassie welcomes Bosky Mukherjee, the prolific founder of PM Dojo and SheTrailblazes, and a veteran product advisor, leadership coach, and trainer. Bosky discusses her journey into product leadership, the formation of PM Dojo, and her mission to support women in product management. The conversation delves into the nuances of product management training versus coaching, the impact of AI on the industry, and strategies for driving cultural shifts within organizations. Bosky also shares insights on balancing humility with confidence and offers practical advice on leveraging coaching to unlock business potential and personal growth.More about Bosky:Bosky Mukherjee, an executive tech leader with over 22 years of global experience—spanning early-stage startups to high-growth companies like Atlassian.She's the founder of SheTrailblazes and a powerful force for change in how women succeed, thrive, and rise to the top. Through her flagship program, Leadership Edge, Bosky equips women to lead with strategic visibility and executive communication—fast-tracking their path to promotion, all the way to the C-suite, and when the time is right, into entrepreneurship.Her work isn't just about career growth. It's about power, parity, and making sure women aren't just at the table—but driving the agenda.Bosky is also the founder of PMDojo, where she helps companies build stronger, more strategic innovation teams—equipping product and technology talent to drive bigger business impact and communicate with executive fluency.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:49 Bosky's Journey into Product Leadership01:36 Challenges and Realizations in the Executive Room03:05 Founding PM Dojo and Its Mission04:50 AI in Product Management09:41 Training vs. Product Leadership Coaching11:05 Coaching Styles and Skills Development15:03 Working with Companies and Teams18:56 Driving Cultural Shifts in Organizations23:19 Assigning Dollar Value to Business Transformation23:33 Navigating Product Leadership Challenges24:38 Implementing Small Shifts for Big Changes25:25 Facilitating Business Conversations26:47 Success Stories and Skill Development28:39 Working It Out: Lessons from School30:26 Confidence, Humility, and Curiosity31:55 Hiring a Coach: When and Why34:53 Building Community and Networking38:18 Creative Budget Solutions for Product Teams44:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Welcome to the podcast featuring Hope Gurion, an esteemed product leadership coach. She is recommended by Marty Cagan in his book, Transformed, has moderated product leadership councils with Phyl Terry's Collaborative Gain, and works with Teresa Torres in training teams on Continuous Discovery Habits. In this episode, Hope delves into her extensive background in product management, sharing insights from over 25 years in the tech industry, her roles as Chief Product Officer, and SVP of Product. She discusses her transition from consulting to coaching, offering valuable guidance on becoming outcome-oriented and enhancing team effectiveness. Hope covers the challenges of finding the right company fit, the nuances between training and coaching, and key strategies for cross-functional collaboration. Tune in for actionable advice on elevating your product management career.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:39 Hope Gurion's Background01:54 Transition to Coaching03:37 Challenges in Product Leadership04:55 Coaching and Training Approach07:25 Importance of Discovery in Product Management09:47 Balancing Training and Coaching15:57 Selecting the Right Coach18:51 Defining Success in Product Leadership21:33 Peer-Based Coaching vs. One-on-One Coaching28:23 Transformation in Organizations39:57 Podcast Origin Story and Conclusion
Tim Herbig Connecting the dots of Product Strategy, Product OKRs, and Product DiscoveryIn this episode, we welcome Tim Herbig, a product leadership coach with a special focus on OKRs, in addition to product strategy and discovery. Tim shares his unique journey from product management to coaching, elaborating on the complexities and nuances of implementing OKRs in various business contexts. Through his insightful discussion, Tim covers the misconceptions about OKRs, the importance of adapting them to your specific needs, and effective strategies for measuring success. He also dives into the integration of product discovery and product strategy with OKRs, offering practical advice for product leaders facing challenges with OKR implementation. Whether you're in a startup or a large enterprise, Tim's expertise provides valuable perspectives on how to make OKRs work for your team.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:48 Tim Herbig's Journey into Product Management01:52 Transition to Coaching and Consultancy03:53 Specialization in OKRs and Product Management06:50 Adapting OKRs to Different Contexts09:46 Challenges and Strategies in OKR Implementation13:58 Measuring Success and Influence in OKRs22:47 OKRs in Product vs. Broader Company Context25:38 The Role of OKRs in Strategy and Discovery27:11 Confidence and Hypotheses in Strategy29:36 OKRs in Startups vs. Large Enterprises32:07 Adapting OKRs to Fit Your Context33:47 Common Misconceptions and Best Practices40:00 Aligning OKRs Across Teams47:43 When to Bring in OKR Support50:57 Conclusion and Contact Information
In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Tami Reiss, an experienced product leader, speaker, author, trainer, and coach. Tami recounts her journey into product management, becoming a CEO, and her multifaceted roles at Justworks and Insight Partners. She discusses how she transitioned into coaching, emphasizing the importance of learning, networking, and building relationships. Tami shares advice on the different types of product coaches, the value of continuous learning, and the significance of owning business metrics and strategic planning. The discussion also covers effective stakeholder management, getting buy-in, and why having a coach can be pivotal in advancing one's career. Tami offers practical tips for influencing cross-functional teams and highlights how important it is to ask the right questions to build trust and foster collaboration. Tune in to explore actionable insights for product leaders and discover why coaching is a vital tool in your professional toolkit.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:29 Tami Reiss' Journey into Product Management01:27 Life's A Pitch and Coaching Engineers01:56 Becoming a Product Leader Coach03:08 Writing a Children's Book on Product Management04:47 Networking and Career Opportunities05:22 The Importance of Long-Term Relationships11:08 Diverse Perspectives in Coaching17:14 Types of Product Coaches19:35 The Value of Coaching for Product Leaders24:29 The Role of a Sounding Board in Professional Growth25:03 Navigating Board Meetings and Strategic Decisions26:57 The Importance of Asking Questions and Building Empathy28:50 Influence Without Authority: Building Bridges31:59 Defining Success and Strategic Leadership33:28 Coaching and Professional Development36:41 Financial Language and Strategic Alignment43:12 Exploring Growth Strategies and Presenting to the Board46:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode, we got some straight talk from Teresa Torres, learning how she incorporates her masters in Learning & Development from Northwestern into her design of product learning experiences. Teresa shares invaluable insights about when blogs and podcasts might be enough for your growth—and when training courses may really be what's needed to take you to the next level. Do you know if you have blind spots? Or are you navigating some unique and tricky contexts where a coach can help? This far-ranging episode explores all these concepts with the founder of Product Talk and author of 'Continuous Discovery Habits'. Teresa discusses the fundamental differences between coaching and training and highlights the importance of deliberate practice in skill development. She offers practical advice on advocating for discovery practices within organizations and provides tips for product leaders to enhance their teams' capabilities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of product development and improve their practice through structured learning.00:00 Introduction to Skill Building and Coaching00:35 Sponsored Segment: SuperInterviews01:26 Welcome01:32 Guest Introduction: Teresa Torres02:36 The Journey from Coaching to Training05:06 Understanding the Difference Between Coaching and Training09:57 The Role of Deliberate Practice in Skill Building14:54 The Importance of Community and Peer Coaching21:57 Understanding Business Outcomes22:23 The Challenge of Opportunity Solution Trees23:22 Effective Discovery Practices24:57 Choosing the Right Trainer or Coach27:29 Reflective Questions for Product Teams32:50 Advocating for Discovery in Organizations36:42 The Role of Product Leadership Coaching40:31 Aligning Sales and Product Teams45:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode, we welcome Phyl Terry. “ Part of the reason I dress the way I do is because that's who I am. But part of the reason I dress this way is I'm trying to lead cultural change.” - mic drop!
Our guests for this episode are Vidya Dinamani and Heather Samarin - co-writers of Groundwork: Get Better at Making Better Products and co-founders of Product Rebels. Vidya and Heather define the "core" of great product management and then go deep on "winning hearts and minds" as an uplevel once you've got your core down. It's the 1-2 punch any product leader can use.We discuss the differences between training and coaching, share a "from the field" story about a product team going from disregarded to high-impact, and 4 contexts where you might think about hiring a coach. Lastly, we touch on AI and product management. Faster horses, anyone? 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:19 Founding Product Rebels01:21 Customer-Driven Product Management05:01 Scrappy Customer Research05:32 Groundwork and Core Principles14:37 Winning Hearts and Minds20:33 Training vs. Coaching25:54 Challenges and Success Stories39:48 When to Bring in a Coach46:44 Conclusion and Farewell
An interview with Marty Cagan kicks off our new series, The Coach's Playbook. He shares with Cassie his take on coaching, doing it right and elevating the product practice.
This episode is the introduction to a new series - The Coach's Playbook. In this episode we introduce the series, why now is the time to learn more about product coaching and who we will be interviewing as a part of this series.
Bosky Mukherjee interviews Teresa Torres, author of “Continuous Discovery Habits.” They dive into the benefits of growing outside of a leadership role, why collaboration is queen and the benefits of building faster feedback loops.
This week, we dive into AI product development with Naba Banerjee, Head of Trust and Safety at Airbnb. Naba shares her pioneering work on an AI-based reservation screening system, tackling party risks. This episode marks the first of several case studies, offering insight into diverse AI solutions, team dynamics, and collaborative problem-solving approaches.
Join us as we speak to Polly Allen, AI product coach and advisor, for a conversation on breaking into AI Product Management, where the essentials go beyond technical skills to include strategic thinking, risk management, and bridging communication between teams.
An onstage conversation with Yakaira Nunez, VP of Research and Insights at Salesforce at the 2024 Women In Product Conference
Rachel Witalec left tech and went to work for a healthcare startup. She hasn't looked back. Rachel has been directly involved in the development of AI based products that support physicians in the care for life-threatening neurovascular and vascular conditions. She is currently the Sr. Vice President of product at Redox, a healthcare interoperability and cloud EHR integration company.
Rashmi Ramesh talks with Joanne Jang, who leads product for model behavior at OpenAI about what it has been like to PM such a ground breaking product and the future of product with AI.
A conversation with Brad Eiben, Executive Director of Master of Science in Product Management, and Tanuja Vallabhaneni, Senior Product Manager at PayPal and a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon Master of Science in Product Management program. We discuss the origins of the program, how it is structured and its benefits.
In this episode of the podcast, Lauren Burke – Senior Data Science Lead at Further and Director of Operations at Women In Data Science – talks about the role of a Data Scientist and what successful collaboration between what them and PMs look like.
In this episode of the podcast, Lauren Burke — Senior Data Science Lead at Further and Director of Operations at Women In Data Science — talks about the role of a Data Scientist and what successful collaboration between them and PMs looks like.
This week, we explore a new AI case study with Subha Shetty, Vice President Of Product Management at Fanatics. This episode marks the third installment of several case studies offering insight into diverse AI solutions.
Four members of this year's Women In Product conference content committee—Catrina Patton, Evelyn Chou, Natalie Dixon, and Manaleage Tedement—came together to share their experiences and insights. During their discussion, they reflected on their work and exchanged advice for aspiring speakers and attendees on making the most of the event.
What makes the Women In Product Conference such a unique experience? Hear from Anavi Nahar, Sharmeen Browarek Chapp, and Paz Zuniga, three members of this year's steering committee, as they share more about their roles, the conference's theme, and why attendees feel empowered to turn their goals into a reality.
This week, we explore AI product development with Maryam Ashoori, head of product at IBM for Watsonx.ai and Watsonx Foundation Models. This episode marks the second installment of several case studies offering insight into diverse AI solutions.
This week, we dive into AI product development with Naba Banerjee, Head of Trust and Safety at Airbnb. Naba shares her pioneering work on an AI-based reservation screening system, tackling party risks. This episode marks the first of several case studies, offering insight into diverse AI solutions, team dynamics, and collaborative problem-solving approaches.
In the latest episode of the podcast, Lisa O'Malley — Sr. Director of Product Management at Cloud AI, Google — shares an executive's perspective on building AI products. Join us for an enlightening conversation on what it takes to thrive in AI and product management.
This week, Polly Allen, an ex-Amazon AI product coach and advisor, returns to the podcast to discuss decision-making, product development shifts, biases, and collaboration. She emphasizes AI as a problem-solving tool and advocates for a value-centric approach, prioritizing business and user needs over technical metrics.
Join us as we speak to Polly Allen, AI product coach and advisor, for a conversation on breaking into AI Product Management, where the essentials go beyond technical skills to include strategic thinking, risk management, and bridging communication between teams. Looking for more insight on transitioning into AI Product Management? Attend Polly's free masterclass on February 8th or register for the "Design and Build Conversational AI" course starting February 19th.
Marily Nika, former AI Product Lead at Meta and Google, joined us in our latest podcast episode to break down the complexities of AI product development. She details how to succeed in AI product development, particularly for those who lack a technical background. Plus, we'll dive into the fundamentals of AI product development, including experimentation, data analysis, and crucial decision-making skills.
PODCAST UPDATE: We're thrilled to introduce Women In Product's new series on AI product management. Like our last podcast, The Path to CPO, this series was designed from the get-go to transform elusive information, like becoming a Chief Product Officer, into actionable insights. This time around, we'll demystify AI product management, regardless of your technical background. Each episode features industry leaders who share their opinions on the latest trends, strategies, and AI innovations. Plus, you'll gain real-world, practical advice to leverage your PM expertise and succeed in the sector.
In this replay of episode 35, Shruti Sheorey interviews Marty Cagan, author of “Empowered.” Marty shares more about why coaching and hiring are such key parts of what product leaders should be doing, how product leaders can give more strategic context to their teams, and why OKRs are often failures at companies.
What's the difference between mentors, coaches, and sponsors? Tune into this podcast episode to hear from Susan Davis-Ali, Founder and President of Leadhership1, a coaching company dedicated to empowering mid-career women in technology. Susan shares her insights on essential strategies for securing sponsorship to propel your career forward.
In this replay of episode 29, Bosky Mukherjee interviews Teresa Torres, author of “Continuous Discovery Habits.” They dive into the benefits of growing outside of a leadership role, why collaboration is queen and the benefits of building faster feedback loops.
Whether you're navigating a tough job market or aspiring to senior roles for the first time, this episode with Nic Amos, Product Manager Leader of Consumer Privacy & Fraud Operations at Kohl's will prove the importance of proactive outreach. Learn about their bold approach to networking online, leveraging LinkedIn, and asserting their time during lengthy interviews.
Discover how Hillary Taverna, Product Manager at Kickstarter, landed her current role in a challenging job market. Learn about her strategic approach, including networking, sabbatical planning, and the importance of being authentic in professional interactions.
What does a Chief Product Officer role look like at a non-profit organization? We'll have Women In Product's newest CPO, Carmen Palmer, describing her key responsibilities, career journey in Product Management, and the importance of networking during her job search.
As we wrap up our Path to CPO series, Elizabeth Ames and Rashmi Ramesh bring the Women In Product team together to share their favorite memories.
This episode of Path to CPO highlights the importance of diversity in a company's executive team. Ted Krantz, CEO at data.ai, shares his experience with hiring female CPOs and what a battle that process has been. Ted also gives tips for how women can be prepared to step into product leadership roles. Stay tuned for our next episodes on AI! In the meantime, join us for one of our AI Live Learning Workshops: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/ai-live-learning-series-2623269
Chris Johnson, a seasoned executive recruiter, shares invaluable insights into CPO recruitment from a search perspective in this week's #PathtoCPO. Gain a deeper understanding of the top qualities and processes that drive the search for the next Chief Product Officer. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from an industry insider and enhance your own knowledge of executive recruitment.
Amory Wakefield, Chief Product Officer at Aquabyte, joins us on the latest episode of Path to CPO to share her incredible path to the C-Suite. Tune in to explore the impact of company culture on personal values, team relationships, and diversity in problem-solving.
On our latest episode of Path to CPO, learn how Chief Product Officer of Ancestry, Heather Gordon Friedland, shaped her experience as a dynamic leader in the evolving Internet landscape of the late 90s. Heather delves into how wearing multiple hats empowered her to excel as a versatile product leader. She motivates us to create exceptional products by finding joy in our work.
Hear how Yuying Chen-Wynn worked her way to being a CPO at Barnes and Noble Education from starting out with a focus in computer science. This episode of Path to CPO shares perspective on being an out-of-the-box candidate in product and how this can actually be a superpower. Listen to Yuying's story and find inspiration for your own professional journey.
On this episode of Path to CPO, hear tips for developing your career in product and learning to grow through mentorship. Ketaki Rao, CPO of data.ai, shares her wisdom on the importance of grabbing hold of opportunities and applying feedback. She encourages our audience to jump into new initiatives and projects as they learn more about the field of product.
We are returning to our Path to CPO series with Annie Pearl, who was previously the CPO of Calendly when we recorded this episode. Annie talks to Rashmi Ramesh about how she started out in law school, but fell in love with deeply understanding the users and their problems. She describes the difference between functional leadership and executive, why hiring is crucial, and the importance of vision and strategy in order to make the leap.
Before we hear more from our guests and their #PathtoCPO, reflect on the past episodes of this podcast series with Rashmi Ramesh, Director of Product. We wanted this series to inspire our community members to pursue executive roles, and we hope you are encouraged by the stories our guests have shared. Listen to the top takeaways from the different speakers and consider how you can apply them to your career.
Looking for more #23WIP Conference content? Hear clips from our keynote speakers and be inspired about your next steps in product. Listen to the stories of how our speakers grew their careers in the face of external and internal challenges. Learn tips about how you can #BuildWhatsNextPM.
Jori Bell, Director of Product Management at Audible, shares her tips and tricks to developing your network and utilizing your connections to grow your career. Listen as she shares with Senior Event Manager, Arianna Black her experience with the Women In Product Peer Coaching Circle and how mentorship has been a significant part of her success.
Get an insider, honest perspective from Nupur Srivastava as she shares how she went from being a Senior Product Manager to Chief Product Officer all in one organization. Learn how you can use confidence, empathy, and flexibility to be successful in your career and to have an impact wherever you work.
Tune in as Chief Product Officer, Jen Taylor shares the importance of getting comfortable making decisions with imperfect information, how she prepared for her board interviews, and how she makes choices that fit with the portfolio of the life that she's trying to lead!
Director of Product, Rashmi Ramesh, talks with Chief Product Officer, Anneka Gupta, about her #PathtoCPO, the importance of building connections, the art of asking for help and the most important lessons she's learned as a people leader.