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What if everything you thought you knew about skincare, acne, anti-aging, and hair loss was either outdated (or just plain wrong?)In today's solo-hosted episode of The Fitness Stuff (for Normal People), Tony sits down with Carter Gottlieb (aka Eviba Carter): cosmetic chemist, MD/PhD candidate, Chief Product Officer at HelloSkin, and one of the most respected voices in the skincare science world.This is not your typical skincare episode. Carter brings rare depth and clarity to topics normally clouded by hype, influencer noise, and cosmetic marketing.Together, they explore:The truth about acne: what causes it, why most “quick fixes” make it worse, and what actually worksRetinoids vs. Retinol vs. Adapalene: the gold standards for acne and anti-agingThe real reason Korean and European sunscreens outperform American ones (and how to get them)Hair loss 101: minoxidil, finasteride, microneedling, and what makes hair look thickerWhy your skin is a mirror of internal health, and how lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, and diet matter more than you thinkThe skin barrier, slugging, in-clinic vs. at-home treatments, and what to skip entirelyThe future of skincare technology, and how HelloSkin is pushing it forwardAnd yes, the story behind Carter putting a microchip in his handWhether you're battling acne, trying to keep your skin healthy as you age, or just want to stop wasting money on the wrong products, this episode cuts through the BS and gets straight to what actually works, backed by science, not hype.Carter's Recommendations & WebsiteCarter's Recommended Korean SunscreenLegion Athletics LABOR DAY SALE!!BOGO 50% off for your first order + 2X points on every order after thatuse code “FSPOD” at checkoutSign up for Fitness Stuff PREMIUM here!!ALL of our complete 12-week training programsBonus episodes every FridayJust $5 /monthTimestamps:(2:05) Day-of Acne Fixes(15:18) Skin-care vs. Acne-care(37:00) Skin-care + Anti-aging Essentials(48:00) Korean Sunscreen vs. USA Sunscreen(51:10) Tanning Peptides(01:01:24) Carotenoids Supplements For Skin Glow + UV Protection(01:14:44) Skin Care Routine Fundamentals(01:29:00) Slugging(01:39:30) Rise And Fall of Eviba Skincare(01:53:25) Hair Loss + Thicker Hair Essentials
What does it really mean to be “agentic-ready”? On The Ravit Show, I had an insightful conversation with Aakarsh Kishore, Chief Product Officer at MathCo, at the Data + AI Summit, and we unpacked what that looks like in practice.We explored:-- Contextual solutions — and why understanding enterprise context is key to building AI agents that actually deliver value-- The concept of a “supercharged brain” — MathCo's vision for decision intelligence that goes beyond dashboards and reports-- NucliOS — MathCo's AI decisioning platform that plugs into the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to help enterprises scale decision-making across teamsAakarsh also shared how the MathCo + Databricks partnership is shaping real-world use cases — and how they're thinking about AI that's both scalable and deeply enterprise-aware.#data #ai #databricks #DataAISummit #theravitshow
What happens when a software startup becomes a full-service, AI-powered architecture firm?This week on Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Patrick Chopson, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Cove Architecture (formerly Cove Tool). What began as a mission to provide architects with performance analysis tools has evolved into Cove Architecture, the first AI-driven practice reimagining how buildings are conceived, coordinated, and delivered.Patrick shares the story of Cove's evolution, from its roots as a SaaS platform to its pivot into consultancy, and now into a full-service design studio backed by over $36 million in venture funding. Their debut project, a multifamily complex in Atlanta's West End, was designed in just 15 days, demonstrating how AI can accelerate timelines by 60%, improve cost accuracy, and cut iteration expenses nearly in half.Beyond efficiency, Patrick envisions AI as a force for design excellence. By offloading code checks, zoning analysis, and cost modeling, architects are freed to focus on creativity, meaning, and beauty. He reflects on how Cove integrates human expertise with machine intelligence, how AI supports senior architects in elevating design, and why training and mentorship must adapt in this new era.The conversation also touches on the business model of architecture: how venture capital is reshaping practice, what “AI-powered but human-centered” really means, and how these tools might democratize design for firms of all sizes.“Being AI-powered doesn't mean removing the human from the process. It means empowering the expert architect to do what they do best: elevate design, mentor the next generation, and create lasting impact.” - Patrick ChopsonThis episode concludes with a reflection on the future of practice: from profitability and scale to sustainability and mentorship. Patrick challenges architects to see AI not as a threat, but as an opportunity to design more bespoke, more sustainable, and more beautiful buildings, and to build a profession that is more resilient for generations to come.Guest:Patrick Chopson, AIA is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Cove Architecture. With a background in mechanical engineering, high-performance building design, and sustainability consulting, Patrick has over 20 years of experience advancing tools that merge technology with design excellence. At Cove Architecture, he leads the charge in creating an AI-powered, human-centered model of practice.Is This Episode for You?This episode is for you if:✅ You're curious about how AI is transforming architectural practice✅ You want to learn how venture-backed firms are reshaping the field✅ You're navigating mentorship and training in an AI-powered environment✅ You believe architecture must evolve to deliver sustainable, bespoke designWhat have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
Ginger Dhaliwal is Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Upflex. A long-time tech entrepreneur and investor, she shares her human-first orientation which drives her passion for solving systemic challenges using technology and data—from micropayments to elder healthcare to flexible workspaces. Ginger discusses how intentional design, empathy, and sustainability are essential for building data-driven ecosystems that support a diverse, distributed workforce. She highlights behavioral indicators for shaping future-ready on-demand and long-term work environments, emphasizing collaboration and relationships. KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:29] Ginger studies social work and first focuses on understanding people and reskilling immigrants. [01:40] Ginger's travel takes her to Malaysia where she joins a tech startup as the Internet takes off. [02:35] At a government-supported R&D lab, Ginger builds a venture studio model. [03:20] They attract international talent to spin off multiple startups solving real-world problems. [04:05] One early product enables micropayments using mobile phone billing instead of credit cards. [05:12] Learning to persuade large corporations to adopt emerging innovations and enter new markets. [06:10] A healthcare venture connects remote patients in S.E. Asia to providers through internet cafés. [06:48] Healthcare tech is adapted for the U.S. to support elders aging in place with sensor systems. [07:50] Adoption fails to take off due to lack of interest from medical professionals in holistic data. [08:40] Ginger gets disheartened, entrenched in the elder care community, and feels burned out. [09:30] Considering identity, AI's impact, and future career direction. [10:45] Personal remote work experience and coworking exposure lead to co-founding Upflex. [11:50] Ginger sees coworking catalysing innovation with people from diverse industries co-located. [13:10] Upflex becomes a platform to aggregate access to coworking spaces globally. [14:40] Early clients like Nokia highlight retention, recruitment, and cost control needs. [15:20] Real estate lacks actionable data, pushing Upflex to build a decision-support layer for companies. [16:25] Ginger champions flexibility as a strategic asset for talent engagement, not a perk. [17:35] COVID causes companies to confront data about remote work and location preferences. [18:40] Upflex helps firms explore questions around hybrid work behavior using their data tools. [19:25] Focus on location can mask deeper control and change adaptation issues in hybrid transitions. [20:45] Data shows employees' behavior is consistent across corporate offices and on-demand coworking spaces. [22:25] The global shift from individual desks to more collaborative meeting spaces. [23:38] Most day passes are booked same day, while meeting rooms are booked days in advance. [25:55] Coworking supports relationship-building and community connection as well as collaboration. [27:30] Companies are repurposing coworking memberships for team days, pods, and local clusters. [29:40] Upflex advises clients to view coworking as workplace strategy infrastructure. [31:25] Businesses experiment with timeshare-type space arrangements to balance cost and access. [33:10] Exploring partnerships with landlords to offer on-demand overflow capacity. [34:50] AI is being integrated to optimize seat allocation and dynamic workplace management. [36:15] Comparing Upflex's model to AWS—scalable space usage tailored to demand and cost savings. [37:25] Ginger emphasizes redirecting real estate savings to reskilling as rapid tech changes cause workforce disruption. [39:15] Identity loss from desk removals prompt incremental workspace changes. [41:00] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: To problem solve right now, there's no playbook, it's iterative. Come up with questions to test. Start small. Figure out a solution. Get buy in. Gather data for feedback to refine and grow. RESOURCES Ginger Dhaliwal on LinkedIn Upflex website QUOTES “I don't need to know the answers to things as long as I'm constantly thinking about solving these problems for people.” “Coworking as a model for innovation and ideation is a wonderful thing and it's in your backyard. It's a block away from your, where you live.” “How do we create a more sustainable lifestyle for people looking at the data. People losing 15 days of their lives commuting just didn't make any sense to us.” “We can create that data layer so that people can actually make decisions based on data and understanding those preferences and how people are using space.” “A lot of office space today is designed for productivity and it's shifting to collaboration. Coworking spaces are designed for that too, but also relationships. I think the evolution is we are all going to be craving relationships. It's not the collaboration that you're going for. You're going for the relationships.” “We're working with landlords to figure out how you can create those overflow spaces and, from a corporate standpoint, be able to not build for the peak, but build for the average and then have the resources, the unlocking of the network, to handle the overflow.”
In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Inbal Shani, Chief Product Officer at Twilio, the $18B customer engagement powerhouse trusted by over 320,000 businesses worldwide.Inbal is a trailblazer in AI-first product development. Before joining Twilio, she led the launch of GitHub Copilot—one of the most transformative AI tools for developers, reshaping how engineers write code. Now at Twilio, she's steering a product portfolio that infuses AI into the heart of customer communications, helping companies unlock smarter, more personalized digital experiences at scale.In this conversation, Inbal shares why successful AI adoption goes far beyond adding models to features—it requires a rethinking of product strategy itself. She also dives into how Twilio measures real business impact from AI, why PMs need technical fluency more than ever, and what it takes to lead a product org into the AI-native future.What you'll learn:- How GitHub Copilot shaped Inbal's approach to building AI-native products.- Why AI adoption alone is not a product strategy—and what to focus on instead.- The metrics Twilio uses to evaluate AI's business impact.- The evolving technical skill set required for PMs in the age of AI.Key Takeaways
In this episode of The Product Experience, Randy Silver and Lily Smith sit down with Katja Forbes, Executive Director at Standard Chartered Bank, design leader, and lecturer, to explore the fast-approaching world of machine customers.Katja shares why businesses must prepare for a future where AI agents, autonomous vehicles, and procurement bots act as customers, and what this means for product managers, designers, and organisations.Key takeawaysMachine customers are here already. From booking services for Tesla cars to procurement bots closing contracts, AI-driven commerce is no longer hypothetical.APIs are necessary but insufficient. Businesses need to think beyond plumbing and address trust, compliance, and customer experience for non-human agents.Signal clarity matters. Organisations must make their value propositions machine-readable to remain competitive.Trust will be quantified. Compliance signals, ESG proof, uptime guarantees, and reliability ratings will replace human gut instinct.New roles will emerge. Trust analysts and human–machine hybrid coordinators will be critical in shaping future interactions.Ethics cannot be ignored. Without careful design, agentic commerce could amplify consumerism and poor societal outcomes.Practical first step. Even small businesses can prepare by structuring their product and service data into machine-readable formats.Product managers must adapt. The skill to manage ambiguity, think systemically, and anticipate unintended consequences will be central to success.Featured Links: Follow Katja on LinkedIn | Katja's website | Sign-up for pre sale access to Katja's forthcoming book 'The CX Evolutionist'Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.
In this episode, Justin Bauer, former Chief Product Officer at Amplitude and now one of the most sought-after product advisors in AI, talks about the pivotal career moments that shaped his leadership style. From betting everything on a tiny startup with 13 people to navigating layoffs and leveling conversations, Justin shares how he learned to lead with clarity, humility, and courage.He also reflects on what it takes to thrive in a high-growth environment — and how to reinvent yourself every 18 months to stay relevant. This is a conversation about ambition, emotional resilience, and how to earn trust when the stakes are high.In this conversation, you'll learn:Why preparation and self-reflection are Justin's keys to confident leadershipHow to navigate the emotional toll of layoffs, leveling, and managing upWhy clarity of expectations keeps your career evolvingThings to listen for:(00:00) Intro(01:44) Justin's early life in Iowa(04:33) First jobs and early ambitions(07:39) Thanks to our sponsor, Navattic & ThriveStack(10:47) A high-stakes decision to join Amplitude(14:00) The reality of startup life(16:00) Advice for aspiring startup employees(18:55) Feedback and career growth(26:41) Overcoming imposter syndrome(27:11) Navigating leadership challenges(29:16) Seeking clarity in a growing company(30:52) Managing up and building relationships(37:50) Handling layoffs and difficult conversations(43:06) The importance of preparation and role-playing(56:05) The value of deep thinking timeThis episode is presented by:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value ThriveStack: Measure Growth. Find Drivers. Fix Leaks. https://www.thrivestack.ai/Resources:Connect with Justin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjbauer/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching
What's really shaping restoration in 2025?In this exclusive Market Update episode, we sit down with Aaron Brunko, President, and David Obert, Chief Product Officer, of Verisk Property Estimating Solutions to unpack key industry shifts.Topics we cover:Verisk's pending acquisition of AccuLynx and what it means for roofingHow AI, data stewardship, and privacy are influencing workflowsMarket data: storm activity, restoration volumes & hurricane season predictionsWhy rising premiums and deductibles are driving claim suppressionThe growing impact of fortified homes & building codes on restoration demand..and MORE!
What's really shaping restoration in 2025?In this exclusive Market Update episode, we sit down with Aaron Brunko, President, and David Obert, Chief Product Officer, of Verisk Property Estimating Solutions to unpack key industry shifts.Topics we cover:Verisk's pending acquisition of AccuLynx and what it means for roofingHow AI, data stewardship, and privacy are influencing workflowsMarket data: storm activity, restoration volumes & hurricane season predictionsWhy rising premiums and deductibles are driving claim suppressionThe growing impact of fortified homes & building codes on restoration demand..and MORE!
Artificial intelligence is rapidly working its way into our lives, but would you trust it not only to choose purchases but also to pay on your behalf? That's the world we're heading towards, according to Visa's Chief Product Officer for Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, Mark Nelson. Elisa Di Marco, Magellan's Investment Director and Analyst, joins Mark to explore how one of the world's largest payments networks is shaping the next era of commerce. From tapping and tokenisation to AI-powered ‘agentic commerce' that can shop on your behalf, Mark explains the innovations driving Visa's growth, the trust and security underpinning its network and why stablecoins could accelerate payment digitisation in emerging markets. Mark also shares how AI agents could transform the way consumers plan, purchase and book holidays while ensuring Visa's network keeps payments seamless and secure.
In this episode, Alan Cohen, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Centivo, joins the podcast to share his perspective on escalating healthcare costs, premium increases, and the risks facing the ACA market. He also explains how Centivo partners with high-performing providers to deliver cost-effective, sustainable coverage for employers and their employees.
Thomas Wasson breaks down the top stories in freight, including the Trump administration's sudden pause on work visas for foreign truck drivers and what it means for the industry. It's also an “autonomous trucks” edition, featuring in-depth conversations with Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, on their new VNL autonomous trucks running freight in Texas, and Shawn Kerrigan, COO of Plus, on their path to commercial launch and partnerships with global OEMs. From labor disruptions to driverless tech, this episode dives into the challenges and opportunities shaping trucking's future. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thomas Wasson breaks down the top stories in freight, including the Trump administration's sudden pause on work visas for foreign truck drivers and what it means for the industry. It's also an “autonomous trucks” edition, featuring in-depth conversations with Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, on their new VNL autonomous trucks running freight in Texas, and Shawn Kerrigan, COO of Plus, on their path to commercial launch and partnerships with global OEMs. From labor disruptions to driverless tech, this episode dives into the challenges and opportunities shaping trucking's future. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Alan Cohen, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Centivo, joins the podcast to share his perspective on escalating healthcare costs, premium increases, and the risks facing the ACA market. He also explains how Centivo partners with high-performing providers to deliver cost-effective, sustainable coverage for employers and their employees.
Cameron Adams is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Canva, the design platform valued at $42B as of July 2025, used by over 230 million people every month. Before starting Canva, Cameron was a designer and engineer at Google and co-founded Fluent, an email startup. In this episode, Cameron walks through Canva's earliest days — from the remarkably fast courtship with co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, to the counterintuitive product decisions that helped Canva instantly resonate with users who thought they would never design anything. In this episode, we cover: How Canva turned social media managers into early evangelists Balancing a huge vision with scrappy execution Hard lessons from their near-silent launch day The two growth levers that changed everything And much more… References: Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/home Atlassian: https://www.atlassian.com/ Campaign Monitor: https://www.campaignmonitor.com/ Canva: https://www.canva.com/ Cliff Obrecht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliff-obrecht-79ba9920/ Dave Greiner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegreiner/ Lars Rasmussen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larserasmussen/ Melanie Perkins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieperkins/ Mike Cannon-Brookes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcannonbrookes/ New York Stock Exchange: https://www.nyse.com/ Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/ Scott Farquhar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottfarquhar/ Where to find Cameron: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themaninblue/ Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: (01:24) The birth of Canva (04:32) Meeting Canva's co-founders (11:22) Building the first iteration of Canva (15:26) The discovery that changed prototyping (20:48) Why onboarding was the unlock for retention (27:36) The anticlimactic launch day (32:43) How word-of-mouth spurred early retention (36:33) Targeting different user personas (41:02) Building a community on social media (43:38) Two impactful growth levers (47:14) Why Canva should have gone mobile sooner (48:12) What underpins Canva's dominance today (53:37) Rebuilding for enterprise (58:38) Lessons from Canva's tough times
In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Noam Lovinsky, Chief Product Officer at Grammarly, the AI-native productivity platform with over 40 million daily active users and $700 million in annual revenue.Grammarly began as a trusted writing assistant, but it's now redefining productivity at scale. With the recent acquisitions of Superhuman, the lightning-fast AI-powered email client ($825M), and Coda, the flexible doc-based workspace tool, Grammarly is evolving into a full-stack AI productivity platform. This expansion signals a bold product vision—one that positions Grammarly at the center of modern knowledge work.Noam leads Grammarly's product organization with a focus on combining human expertise with AI agents to unlock next-level collaboration. In this episode, he unpacks the strategy behind Grammarly's product evolution, how they're designing extensible systems for third-party developers, and why the future of work is not just AI-assisted—but AI-augmented. He also shares how his teams balance speed and scale, and what it takes to build high-performing product orgs around a radically expanding vision.What you'll learn:- Why Grammarly is moving beyond writing to become a full AI-native productivity suite.- The product rationale behind acquiring Superhuman and Coda—and what's next.- How Grammarly's extensibility strategy is creating a powerful product moat.- Noam's approach to building teams that combine human judgment with AI agents.Key Takeaways
Alexandra Walsh is the Chief Product Officer at Amplify. She develops leads and implements a strategic vision that delivers product coherence and common platform excellence across Amplify's math, literacy and science product suites. Previously, she was senior vice president and general manager of ELA curriculum, overseeing product development on the company's curriculum platform.In this episode, we discuss how she started teaching in New Orleans after Katrina and leaving the classroom for policy work. We also dive into how policy affects teachers and students, and the need for curriculum that is both research-backed and adaptable to diverse classroom contexts. Lots of big topics are brought up and Alexandra shares important insight.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode149.
In this episode of The Product Experience, Lily Smith and Randy Silver are joined by Kirsten Mann, former CPO at Prospection and now startup founder and board member, to discuss how product leaders can play a vital role on company boards. Drawing from her own board experience and a research series interviewing founders and directors, Kirsten explains why product, culture, and customer insight must be central to boardroom conversations.Key Takeaways— Product's Place on Boards: Product is a strategic lever, boards should treat it with the same seriousness as financials.— Culture as a Strategic Asset: Culture emerged as the most frequently cited factor in board-level success—more than AI or tech.— From Operator to Overseer: Transitioning to a board role requires stepping back from execution and focusing on governance and strategic guidance.— Communicating with Boards: Product leaders must avoid jargon, speak in terms of customer problems, outcomes, and investment returns.— The Risk of Exclusion: If your product team isn't presenting to the board, that's a red flag.— Practical Preparation: Aspiring board members should build financial literacy, start with non-profit boards, and cultivate visibility through writing or public speaking.Chapters00:00 – Culture over strategy: Why getting culture right matters more than clever planning00:45 – Meet Kirsten Mann: Introduction and credentials01:45 – Career transition: From CPO at Prospection to board member, investor, and startup founder04:50 – Early board experience: Saving a youth club through governance and tech06:45 – Product's value on boards: Bringing customer and tech insight into strategic discussions08:00 – Oversight, not execution: Adjusting from exec roles to governance roles09:50 – Frustration sparks research: Why Kirsten began writing about product leaders on boards11:00 – Product strategy ≠ support: The board's risk-first mindset Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.
Navaneeth Nair, Chief Product Officer, and Jonathan Aguiar, Senior Solutions Engineer, share how embedding AI driven prior authorization directly into the EHR keeps providers in their familiar workflow while giving supervisors and leadership complete operational visibility. Discover how digital and human agents work together behind the scenes to accelerate approvals, prevent denials, and adapt to changing payer requirements.
On this episode of The Six Five Pod, hosts Patrick Moorhead and Daniel Newman discuss the tech news stories that made headlines this week, with special guest Jeetu Patel, President & Chief Product Officer, joining for Off the Record! The handpicked topics for this week are: AI and Technology Industry Updates: NVIDIA, Intel, and ChatGPT-5, plus Elon Musk's recent controversy with Apple's App Store. Economic Indicators and Market Analysis: Discussion of recent CPI (Consumer Price Index) and PPI (Producer Price Index) data, debate on the reliability and methodology of economic measurements. Observations on inflation trends and their impact on various sectors. Cisco President and Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel Goes “Off the Record”: Jeetu Patel discusses Cisco's strong Q4 performance, with product orders up 7% and over $800 million in AI Infrastructure business. He highlights that AI is driving a fundamental shift in networking and that Cisco's in-house Silicon One and security integration are key structural advantages. Company Earnings and Performance Reviews: Analysis of CoreWeave's financial results and business model. Cisco's continued strength, particularly in AI-related revenues. Examination of Coherent's recent spin-off and market reaction. Lenovo's quarterly results highlight its PC market share and challenges in the data center segment. Applied Materials' earnings and the impact of China-related guidance. Industry Trends and Strategic Moves: Intel's potential government investment and revised foundry strategy. The importance of traditional enterprise IT in the AI era. Implications of U.S. government actions on chip sales to China. For a deeper dive into each topic, please click on the links above. Be sure to subscribe to The Six Five Pod so you never miss an episode.
In this episode, I speak with Jamie Mercer, Chief Product Officer at Trusted Housesitters, the global pet care and travel marketplace disrupting two industries at once. Jamie has previously held senior product roles at VoucherCodes, Skyscanner, Student Beans and IVC Evidensia, and now leads product at a scale-up known for putting trust at the heart of its community-driven business. We cover a lot, including: TrustedHousesitters' unique proposition - a two-sided marketplace mixing travel and pet sitting, where both pet owners and sitters pay a subscription to help create mutual trust and respect. Scaling through word of mouth - 70-75% of members join via a friend, and how the team are working to amplify that growth while keeping trust at the centre. Balancing marketplace dynamics - keeping supply and demand in sync, supporting new sitters with no ratings, and using AI and personalisation to build confidence. Using AI responsibly - from accelerating customer insight analysis to improving customer support, AI speeds up decision-making but always in service of company strategy. Building empowered product teams - why Jamie invested early in product ops and product marketing instead of hierarchy, and how she's now preparing to scale with Product Directors. Commercial product management - the importance of PMs with business acumen who can link solving customer problems with driving commercial outcomes. Executive alignment as the hardest (and most valuable) job - why alignment across the C-suite is the best air cover a leader can provide for their teams. Lessons from leadership - why some of the hardest decisions are killing months of work, the surprise of soft skills dominating the CPO role, and why leadership still matters in the AI era. Check out Trusted Housesitters Check out Trusted Housesitters' website: https://trustedhousesitters.com/, or their careers page: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/careers/. Connect with Jamie You can connect with Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemercer/.
MariaDB is a name with deep roots in the open-source database world, but in 2025 it is showing the energy and ambition of a company on the rise. Taken private in 2022 and backed by K1 Investment Management, MariaDB is doubling down on innovation while positioning itself as a strong alternative to MySQL and Oracle. At a time when many organisations are frustrated with Oracle's pricing and MySQL's cloud-first pivot, MariaDB is finding new opportunities by combining open-source freedom with enterprise-grade reliability. In this conversation, I sit down with Vikas Mathur, Chief Product Officer at MariaDB, to explore how the company is capitalising on these market shifts. Vikas shares the thinking behind MariaDB's renewed focus, explains how the platform delivers similar features to Oracle at up to 80 percent lower total cost of ownership, and details how recent innovations are opening the door to new workloads and use cases. One of the most significant developments is the launch of Vector Search in January 2023. This feature is built directly into InnoDB, eliminating the need for separate vector databases and delivering two to three times the performance of PG Vector. With hardware acceleration on both x86 and IBM Power architectures, and native connectors for leading AI frameworks such as LlamaIndex, LangChain and Spring AI, MariaDB is making it easier for developers to integrate AI capabilities without complex custom work. Vikas explains how MariaDB's pluggable storage engine architecture allows users to match the right engine to the right workload. InnoDB handles balanced transactional workloads, MyRocks is optimised for heavy writes, ColumnStore supports analytical queries, and Moroonga enables text search. With native JSON support and more than forty functions for manipulating semi-structured data, MariaDB can also remove the need for separate document databases. This flexibility underpins the company's vision of one database for infinite possibilities. The discussion also examines how MariaDB manages the balance between its open-source community and enterprise customers. Community adoption provides early feedback on new features and helps drive rapid improvement, while enterprise customers benefit from production support, advanced security, high availability and disaster recovery capabilities such as Galera-based synchronous replication and the MacScale proxy. We look ahead to how MariaDB plans to expand its managed cloud services, including DBaaS and serverless options, and how the company is working on a “RAG in a box” approach to simplify retrieval-augmented generation for DBAs. Vikas also shares his perspective on market trends, from the shift away from embedded AI and traditional machine learning features toward LLM-powered applications, to the growing number of companies moving from NoSQL back to SQL for scalability and long-term maintainability. This is a deep dive into the strategy, technology and market forces shaping MariaDB's next chapter. It will be of interest to database architects, AI engineers, and technology leaders looking for insight into how an open-source veteran is reinventing itself for the AI era while challenging the biggest names in the industry.
On the show this week, we highlight a session from Robotics Summit 2025 titled “Beyond Manufacturing: AI-Powered Robotics and the Long Tail of Commercial Innovation,” featuring Dave Coleman, Chief Product Officer and Founder from Picknik Robotics. Co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Gene Demaitre discuss news of the week, including the recent World Humanoid Olympics in China, market data from IFR and A3, and Apple's recent announcement of its $100B American Manufacturing program. Mike and Gene offer their analysis of the latest news. ### – SPONSOR – Ever wondered why global giants like Rockwell, Micron, and HP chose Singapore for their cutting-edge manufacturing facilities? It's no coincidence that the city-state is the world's fifth-largest exporter of high-tech goods. From world-class talent to seamless supply chains and groundbreaking innovation, Singapore's advanced manufacturing ecosystem is powering the future of Industry 4.0. Ready to discover what makes Singapore the choice destination for manufacturing leaders and solution providers? Head to http://go.gov.sg/therobotreport to learn more.
In this episode of The Product Experience, Randy Silver speaks with Dariusz Dziuk, Product Lead for Music Expression at Spotify, about the origins and evolution of Canvas, the looping visuals that accompany music tracks. From early assumptions and first principles thinking to scaling and measuring marketplace success, he shares how a bold experiment turned into one of Spotify's most engaging features.Key Takeaways— Balancing Art and Science: Product management often lives between structured analysis and intuitive creativity—success lies in mastering both.— First Principles and Assumptions: Questioning defaults—like static, square cover art—can open doors to bold innovation.— Real Stakes Drive Real Creativity: Artist engagement with Canvas only truly emerged once the stakes felt genuine and public.— Marketplace Thinking: Canvas succeeded because it delivered value for all marketplace participants—creators, consumers, and the platform itself.— Innovation Through Structure: Weekly design sprints and rapid prototyping allowed Spotify's innovation lab to explore and discard ideas quickly, eventually landing on Canvas.— Scaling Insights: Measurable impact came later—higher engagement, saves, shares, and a new visual identity for music on Spotify.— Artist-Centric Focus: Prioritising the needs of the supply side (artists) can unlock cold start challenges and marketplace growth.Chapters0:00 – Marketplace Thinking at Spotify1:20 – Darius Jurek's Journey into Product2:45 – From Engineering to 0-to-1 Product Innovation4:00 – Is Product Management an Art or a Science?6:30 – The Brief: Connecting Creators and Fans8:20 – Building an Innovation Lab10:00 – Exploring Dozens of Ideas11:45 – Why Canvas Won Out13:10 – The Challenge of Validating a New Format16:00 – Questioning the Assumptions Around Cover Art19:00 – Real Stakeholder Feedback and Creative Buy-In21:00 – Marketplace Metrics of Success23:30 – Canvas and the Evolution of Music Discovery26:00 – Visual Design, Collaboration, and Artist Empowerment28:00 – Darius on Supplier-Led Product StrategyFeatured Links: Follow Dariusz on LinkedIn | Dariusz's website | Spotify | '#mtpcon @ Pendomonium 2024 Encore' recap Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.
Benoit Francou est Chief Product Officer chez Aetium, une entreprise qui vise à démocratiser l'action climat auprès des individuels et des entreprises grâce à des crédits carbone.
In this episode, Ellie sits down with Simmi Singh, Chief Product Officer at Hook Music, as we explore how she's building the "Instagram for music" - a platform that lets anyone create professional-quality remixes with just a tap while ensuring artists get properly compensated. Simmi shares her fascinating journey from investment banking during the 2008 financial crisis to scaling Saavn from 20M to 150M users, and reveals surprising insights about user behavior that completely changed Hook's product strategy, including how creators listen to their own remixes for 30+ minutes on repeat.
In this episode, I speak with Shiri Mosenzon Erez, Chief Product Officer at commercetools, a global leader in enterprise composable commerce that supports thousands of retailers in hundreds of countries, enabling tens of billions of dollars in revenue annually. Shiri's career journey has taken her from consulting into her first product role at Tesco, through product leadership at Ocado, and now leading at a scale-up with a global enterprise footprint. We cover a lot, including: What commercetools does: An API-first, composable commerce engine powering online trade for major global enterprises and manufacturers, enabling flexibility, resilience, and constant uptime for B2C and B2B commerce. Composable commerce explained: Allowing customers to mix and match best-of-breed components across the commerce value stream or opting for "pre-composed" solutions built on the same composable foundation. Strategic focus in a flexible platform: How the team decides where to build, buy, or partner, using value stream mapping to prioritise and avoid being pulled in too many directions. AI and agents in commerce: From data tagging to conversational assistants and dynamic pricing, Shiri shares early enterprise adoption patterns and the role of commercetools' MCP layer in letting customers plug in the agents they trust. Product team structure: A 55-person product org spanning UX, product management, and close engineering partnerships, with domain-focused teams and a strong CPO–CTO pairing model. Balancing explore vs exploit: Encouraging teams to pivot to higher-value domains when propositions mature, and celebrating decisions to stop work that's no longer impactful. Customer-led vs strategy-led delivery: Using proactive roadmap communication to align big customer requests with company strategy and KPIs, turning reactive asks into collaborative problem-solving. Technical and business balance in PMs: Moving from a largely technical PM base toward a mix of skills, with growing focus on business value and direct engagement with business stakeholders. Leadership approach: Shiri's focus on connecting product strategy to company strategy, advocating at the executive level, and ensuring her teams feel purpose, autonomy, and mastery in their work. Check out commercetools Check out commercetools's website: https://commercetools.com/, or their careers page: https://commercetools.com/careers/jobs. Connect with Shiri You can connect with Shiri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiri-mosenzon/.
Wildfires, hurricanes, cyberattacks—utilities are under siege from extreme events. But what if there were a better, calmer, and smarter way to handle them? In this episode of Power Perspectives, host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester are joined by Matt Schnugg, Chief Product Officer at Schneider Electric's Digital Grid business to talk about a transformative new framework called Holistic Event Management. It's an approach that moves beyond siloed solutions and reactive decision-making—toward unified, proactive digital platforms that support operators in both blue-sky and black-sky conditions. Drawing from his experience leading the rollout of Schneider Electric's One Digital Grid Platform, Matt shares how utilities can reduce the **c**ognitive burden on their teams during moments of chaos and build a response strategy that's not just reactive—but anticipatory. From wildfire preparation to grid restoration, we explore how digital transformation is becoming a lifeline for resilience. Listen in to learn how today's utility event management got so fragmented and reactive, and how culture, alignment, and digital integration are key to successfully addressing emergencies moving forward. Key Links: Energy Central Post: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/the-utility-emergency-playbook-gets-a-makeover-2NtReLZGxsmg5zb Schneider Electric on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/SchneiderElectric Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lg_1xxFAai8 Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
E25 - Are Lawyers Adopting AI? With David Wong and Raghu Ramanathan In episode 25 of 'Legally Disrupted,' host Zach Abramowitz sits down with David Wong, Chief Product Officer at Thomson Reuters and Ragunath (Raghu) Ramanathan, President of Legal Professionals and Government at Thomson Reuters, to discuss the 2025 Future of Professionals Report. The conversation explores AI's increasing adoption and its impact on the legal industry. In this episode: Discussing the Future of Professionals Report AI Adoption and Productivity Insights Comparing In-House Legal Departments and Law Firms AI Strategy and Leadership in Law Firms Understanding the ROI in Law Firms Time Savings and Efficiency Gains Quality Improvements and Creative Benefits Adoption Strategies in Small vs. Large Firms Thomson Reuters' AI Strategy and Market Position Domain-Specific AI vs. General AI References: 2025 Future of Professionals Report - https://www.thomsonreuters.com/content/dam/ewp-m/documents/thomsonreuters/en/pdf/reports/future-of-professionals-report-2025.pdf Learn More: David - https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/about-us/executive-team Raghu - https://www.trust.org/people/ragunath-ramanathan/ Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/ Follow Along: David - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dfwong Raghu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raghunathr Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz
Episode OverviewIn this episode of CDO Matters, host Malcolm Hawker sits down with Jonathan Reeve, Chief Product Officer at BetaNXT, to explore the evolving partnership between Chief Product Officers and Chief Data Officers. Their conversation dives into how data can serve as a strategic product, the importance of post-launch customer feedback, and the shift from using AI for individual productivity to driving process efficiency across the business.They also explore the challenge of scaling products while meeting client demands, and why influence and storytelling are essential skills for product and data leaders. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to drive innovation through smarter data and AI strategy!Episode Links and ResourcesFollow Malcolm Hawker on LinkedInFollow Jonathan Reeve on LinkedIn
Customer service used to be seen as a cost center. Something to manage, streamline, and, if possible, outsource or automate. But what happens when AI shifts that narrative entirely? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Ryan Peterson, Chief Product Officer at Concentrix, to unpack how customer service is being reimagined as a revenue-driving engine. With 430,000 advisors handling millions of calls for brands across every major industry, Concentrix isn't theorizing about the future. They're building it. Ryan shares how blending human empathy with AI efficiency is creating faster resolutions, stronger loyalty, and in some cases, serious bottom-line results. One example saw upsell revenue rise from $500,000 to $1.6 million per month simply by supporting human agents with smart, context-aware AI assistants. We also talk about the evolution of the agent's role. Far from replacing jobs, AI is creating a new class of specialists called agent engineers. These are people responsible for maintaining, optimizing, and guiding AI systems that now work alongside human teams. This shift is opening doors for deeper personalization, real-time translation, and richer customer engagement across channels and geographies. Ryan also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Concentrix's award-winning IX...Low Platform, which was recently named Intelligent Personal Assistant of the Year. Supporting over 7,000 AI agents and offering robust security and integration capabilities, the platform is designed for scale and resilience. It's not just handling simple FAQs. From legal contract analysis to proactive service interventions, these AI agents are transforming how enterprise support works. We close with a forward-looking conversation about hyper-personalization, ethical AI integration, and the long-term role of trust in CX strategy. Ryan's optimism is clear, but it's grounded in metrics, use cases, and a deep understanding of what businesses actually need to deliver meaningful customer experiences. If you're curious about what customer service looks like when AI and humans collaborate effectively, or what it takes to move from handling complaints to driving conversion, this is the conversation you'll want to hear.
In this episode of Reboot IT, host Dave Coriale sits down with Rob Wenger, CEO and Chief Product Officer at Higher Logic, to discuss the evolving landscape of association technology, the impact of AI and automation, and strategies for enhancing member engagement.Summary:AI and Automation:Rob emphasizes the importance of AI and automation in the association world, highlighting how these technologies can streamline tasks and improve efficiency. He discusses the use of various AI tools, including ChatGPT, Cursor, and Glean, to enhance productivity and decision-making. Rob shares insights on the balance between using AI for personal and professional tasks, and the importance of data security and compliance.Member Engagement:The conversation delves into the significance of member engagement in associations and how technology can facilitate this. Rob explains the concept of member journeys and how predictive analytics can help identify and support members at different stages of their engagement. He highlights the role of community platforms and marketing tools in fostering meaningful interactions and delivering personalized content.Ethical Considerations and Future Outlook:Rob and Dave discuss the ethical implications of AI, including concerns about data privacy and the potential for job displacement. They explore the role of associations in creating valuable, forward-thinking content and the importance of maintaining high standards in content creation. Rob shares his vision for the future, emphasizing the need for associations to adapt to technological advancements while safeguarding their core values.
Lee Turlington talks about the early days of TNF, early collaborations with Apple on apparel, and other stops at iconic brands like FILA, Nike, and more! Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU's website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Subscribe to our ORA newsletter: https://outdoorrecarchive.substack.com/ Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/
In this episode of The Product Experience, Lily and Randy dive into the nuanced world of team collaboration with Jenny Wanger, product ops consultant. Jenny challenges the overuse of RACI matrices in product teams, arguing they often obscure deeper organisational issues rather than solve them. They discuss better alternatives, the root causes behind requests for RACI, and the value of prioritising human relationships over rigid frameworks. Chapters0:00 – The accountable vs. responsible dilemma0:37 – Meet Jenny Wanger: Product ops and Reforge1:20 – RACI: A quick explainer3:16 – Why RACI falls short in product teams7:00 – Infantilisation and territorialism9:18 – The flaws in the terminology10:14 – The consulted conundrum11:05 – RACI as a conversation starter12:01 – Better alternatives: Rapid and others14:20 – When RACI might be useful18:01 – Team dysfunction and RACI misuse23:00 – A case study in resolving collaboration issues26:00 – RACI as scaffolding, not infrastructure28:02 – AI, documents, and relationships30:05 – Diagnosing the real problem behind a RACI request32:38 – Job descriptions vs. RACI35:25 – Everyone's a bit of everything37:04 – Focusing on mission and collaboration39:57 – Final thoughts and where to find Jenny's workKey Takeaways— RACI isn't a cure-all: It often signals deeper dysfunction like poor team structure, unclear mission, or lack of trust.— Healthy teams don't need RACI: When collaboration and communication are strong, formal frameworks become redundant.— Use RACI as scaffolding: Let it initiate conversations, but don't enshrine it as a permanent solution.— Language matters: Terms like “accountable” and “responsible” are often confused, making the framework less clear than intended.— Consider better alternatives: Frameworks like RAPID offer more clarity around decision-making without creating silos.— Prioritise relationships over roles: Documents don't build culture—conversations and mutual understanding do.Featured Links: Follow Jenny on LinkedIn | Jenny's RACI feature at her website | Dave Johnson's page at The Pragmatic Agilist Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.
This week Laura and Kevin discuss one of the most pressing threats in tech today: AI voice cloning. They're joined by Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail and a longtime leader in telecom security, to break down how generative AI is being weaponized for scams and what can be done about it.Alex shares how tools that used to need hours of audio can now mimic your voice from a voicemail greeting or a TikTok clip. He explains how scammers have become more sophisticated than ever, targeting different demographics with tailored tactics, texting one person, calling another, and emailing a third with a fake callback number. He also walks us through why voice authentication, once considered cutting-edge, may now be obsolete. The episode covers everything from how to help your grandma avoid IRS impersonators, to what businesses like banks and law firms should be doing today to avoid being the next deepfake headline.If you've ever picked up a call from an unknown number or left a voicemail, this episode is for you. Alex gives clear advice for individuals and organizations on how to stay a step ahead and why it's time we rethink how we prove who we are over the phone.Alex Quilici is an entrepreneur with over 25+ years of experience in the tech industry. Holding a PhD in Computer Science from UCLA, his expertise spans telecommunications and security, boasting over 30 patents in these fields. Today, Alex holds the title of CEO of YouMail, a totally free robocall blocking app and call protection service for mobile phones, since 2007. Alex leads a globally distributed team spanning seven countries, driving the company's mission to enhance communication safety and effectiveness. Under his direction, YouMail launched the Robocall Index in 2015, offering valuable insights into the landscape of robocalls in the United States, a testament to his commitment to consumer protection and technological advancement. Alex's influence extends beyond his company, serving on advisory boards and recognized as a national authority on robocalls by regulatory bodies and media alike. Prior to his leadership at YouMail, Alex co-founded and was CEO of Quack, a startup later acquired by AOL, where he served as Vice President and Chief Product Officer, significantly contributing to the growth of AOL's voice services division. He also served as a professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Known for his innovative approach, he has a reputation for bridging advanced research with practical user needs, particularly leveraging artificial intelligence to solve software challenges.
Starting with 2020 and the pandemic, fintech has run at blazing speed. Today it's adopted large language models; tomorrow the explosive power of quantum computing. On this episode Gareth Gatson, Chief Product Officer of Candescent, takes us on tour through the near — some would say very near — future of banking in the digital age that makes the most of AI while expanding service and product platforms like never before.
This episode is sponsored by Hummingbirds, learn more by booking a call with their team!As co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Angela drives Little Spoon's insights-driven product innovation strategy. She started her career working in food-related television production, where she was involved in creative planning and execution. An avid chef and boutique fitness junkie, Angela is passionate about health, wellness, design and the future of food. Angela grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and received her BS in Marketing from St. Joseph's University. She lives in New York City.Little Spoon is on a mission to make parents' lives easier and kids healthier. Pioneering a new era of kids food, Little Spoon was built to meet the needs and standards of the modern parent by delivering uncompromising quality and time-saving convenience. From first bites to big kid years, Little Spoon's rigorous ingredient sourcing, product testing, and format innovation take the stress away from fueling your kids without sacrificing peace of mind.what we chat about:Success of the brand via DTC only for first 7 yearsRigorous testing standards — first & only US baby food brand to meet EU standards & why this mattersWhy parenting is thriving in DTC spaceThe brand's mission of making parent's lives easier while respecting their full identitiesWhat's next for Little Spoon (collabs, innovation, etc)IG littlespoon | littlespoon.comFind Me:IG + TikTok citrusdiaries.studiocitrusdiaries.com | hello@citrusdiaries.comCreate your podcast today! #madeonzencastr
Welcome back to the Pear Healthcare Playbook! Every week, we'll be getting to know trailblazing healthcare leaders and diving into building a digital health business from 0 to 1.We would greatly appreciate if you took a moment to listen to the episode on either Apple or Spotify and leave us a rating! Your support helps our guests' insights reach a larger audience!Today we're grateful to get to know Amar Kendale, Co-founder and President of Homeward, a company reinventing how care is delivered in rural America. Amar has spent the last 20 years building healthcare products that make life better for patients, providers, and health plans. At Homeward he is focused on improving access to care in rural communities. Before that, he helped grow Livongo from an early-stage startup to its $18B acquisition by Teladoc, where he became Chief Product Officer.In this episode, we're diving into how Homeward started, the challenges in building in rural health, how Homeward operates and gets paid, and how the company hopes to scale and navigate the upcoming year.
Electric Air Taxis, Crypto AI Bets, AI Copyright Wars | Aug 4, 2025 Eric Allison, Chief Product Officer of Joby Aviation, talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about Joby's acquisition of Blade and the future of electric air taxis. We also talk with Paul Veradittakit, Managing Partner of Pantera Capital, about crypto's intersection with AI and robotics, and Sylvia Varnham O'Regan about the White House's mixed messaging on AI copyright.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/electric-surprising-acquisition-lets-electric-taxi-startup-joby-commercialize-earlyhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/behind-white-houses-mixed-messages-ai-copyrighthttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/tesla-board-grants-elon-musk-23-7-billion-stock-awardhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/inside-openais-rocky-path-gpt-5 TITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode, I speak with Hannah Kershaw, Chief Product Officer at Domestic and General, a company that you might not have heard of but absolutely need in your corner the next time your dishwasher breaks. Hannah's journey took her from marketing to e-commerce, into product leadership at GoCompare, and now to transforming Product at a billion-pound growth organisation. We cover a lot, including: What Domestic and General actually does: A century-old, billion-pound business with 6.5 million subscribers across 12 markets, providing repair and replacement services for household appliances through service plans and insurance products. A behind-the-scenes powerhouse: Domestic and General powers customer journeys via major retail and manufacturer partnerships (e.g. Argos, AO, Hotpoint), often handling registration, support, and repair logistics under their partners' brands. Product complexity in a partner-led model: Coordinating customer experience, retailer requirements, manufacturer constraints, and service delivery logistics - without directly employing a single repair technician. Building product from scratch: How Hannah established a product function at Domestic and General, moving from a traditional delivery model to domain-based product teams focused on growth and customer retention. Evolving team structures: Starting with customer and partner-aligned squads before transitioning to domain-oriented teams, reflecting shifts in strategic focus and incorporating feedback from engineering and delivery teams. Product vs Proposition: Domestic and General brings together digital product managers and proposition managers - handling platforms and customer experiences on one side, and the commercial performance of insurance offerings on the other. Philosophy of simplification and belief: Encouraging resilience and optimism, Hannah champions a mindset that anything is possible - helping teams cut through complexity and deliver tangible outcomes. Pragmatism over product purism: While Domestic and General aspires to be product-led, the focus is on real-world delivery - balancing best practice with the pace and realities of a high-growth, partner-centric business. Executive-level impact: Demonstrating the value of Product by delivering outcomes. Early wins - such as improving online claims and conversion rates - helped build credibility and demand for product ways of working. Check out Domestic and General Check out Domestic and General's website: https://www.domesticandgeneral.com/, or their careers page: https://careers.domesticandgeneral.com/. Connect with Hannah You can connect with Hannah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-kershaw-421b7b25/.
As former Chief Product Officer at Whoop, Ben Foster had a front-row seat to one of the boldest product decisions in wearables: selling hardware as a subscription. In this encore episode, Ashok and Ben explore what it takes to align hardware, firmware, and software teams to create a seamless membership experience—and how that strategy set the stage for Whoop's continued success, including the recent release of the Whoop 5. The Convergence.fm podcast team is taking a break in the month of August, but we'll be back with new episodes in the fall. Until then, Ashok wants to share one of his favorite episodes, starring Ben Foster of Prodigy, who opens up about building hardware-enabled subscription products and crossing the product-market chasm. We'll be back in September with a new set of episodes on fostering engaged teams who ship delightful products. Thanks for watching and listening. This Episode originally aired May 21st, 2024 You'll hear how Whoop adapted to serve both elite athletes and everyday health-minded users, how Ben's frameworks helped prioritize roadmaps under pressure, and how the team leveraged personas and retention metrics to shape the product strategy. If you're navigating the shift from services to scalable product thinking—or just love geeking out on wearable tech—this one's for you. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Inside the episode… Why Whoop bet on a subscription-only hardware model—and how it paid off Navigating product strategy across hardware, firmware, and software What it really means to build for product-market fit A breakdown of Whoop's layered user personas How to cross the chasm without losing your early adopters The importance of clarity, vision, and playing offense as a product team Lessons on persona development and roadmap prioritization What product leaders get wrong about saying “no” Behind the book: Build What Matters and the frameworks inside Mentioned in this episode Whoop Prodigy Group Build What Matters (book) Integral Product Success Lab Microsoft Spot Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.
Michael George, CEO of Synchro, and Dee Zepf, Chief Product Officer, discuss the evolving landscape of managed service providers (MSPs) and the transformative potential of AI in their operations. They reflect on how automation has been a longstanding goal in the industry, but recent advancements in AI and technology have accelerated this evolution. The conversation highlights Synchro's strategic shift towards leveraging AI and automation to enhance their platform, particularly through the launch of their XMM platform, which integrates RMM, PSA, and Microsoft 365 management.The XMM platform aims to simplify the management of Microsoft technologies for MSPs, allowing them to deliver better security and efficiency to their clients. Dee shares insights on the rapid adoption of this platform among existing partners, emphasizing how it has streamlined operations and improved security management. The discussion also touches on the competitive landscape, with Michael noting that while Microsoft is increasingly moving towards the MSP space, Synchro views their relationship as complementary rather than competitive.As the conversation progresses, they explore the importance of workflow efficiency for small and midsize businesses, suggesting that MSPs should focus on enhancing their service offerings to remain competitive. Michael emphasizes the need for MSPs to evolve from traditional IT support roles to strategic partners that help clients leverage AI and automation effectively. This shift is seen as crucial for MSPs to differentiate themselves in a market where many are at risk of falling behind.Finally, the discussion delves into the implementation of AI technologies within Synchro's products, particularly in areas like smart ticket management and sentiment analysis. Dee explains the challenges of measuring the quality of AI-generated responses and the importance of maintaining a human element in the process. They conclude by encouraging MSPs to start small with AI implementations, helping clients understand its potential and gradually integrating more advanced solutions into their operations. All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech
Crowdfunding: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Ecommerce with CrowdCrux | Crowdfunding Demystified
How do you launch a rugged, modular battery system and raise over $100,000 with your first product? In this episode, we speak with Marco Vanella, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of MAAK Outdoor, the company behind the Scout Battery. Designed for off-grid professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who needs reliable power in the field, the Scout Battery is a smart, stackable energy solution that just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign. We talk about: The origin story of Scout and how it solves real-world energy problems Marco's background in industrial design and product development How MAAK overcame the challenges of launching a hardware product What worked in their campaign strategy — and what they'd do differently If you're building a hardware product or launching something rugged and outdoorsy, this interview is packed with practical insight. Resources and Tools Mentioned: Book a coaching call Subscribe for Weekly Crowdfunding Tips Fulfillrite: Kickstarter and crowdfunding reward fulfillment services. They come highly recommended! Download their free shipping and fulfillment checklist FREE Kickstarter Course Kickstarter Launch Formula Audiobook Scout Battery: Smart, Rugged, and Modular Power on Kickstarter MAAK Outdoor Website
In this special episode of Hacking Humans, while Joe and Maria take a well-earned summer break, we're joined by a special guest host: Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker. Rob dives into the tactics and profile of the cybercriminal group known as Scattered Spider—a crew that's gained notoriety for its cunning use of social engineering over traditional hacking techniques. Known for being young, agile, and highly manipulative, Scattered Spider has successfully bypassed security measures not by breaking systems, but by fooling the people who use them. Tune in for a fascinating breakdown of how this group operates and what you can do to defend against them. A listener caught this catch of the day on campus—an email claiming a “salary increase” and urging them to click a sketchy link. It came from outside the company, was riddled with grammar issues, and asked for info HR should already have. Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Resources and links to stories: Scattered Spider weaves web of social-engineered destruction Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
SMBs are drowning in a sea of disconnected financial tools, juggling separate platforms for banking, payments, accounting, and lending. Many business owners find themselves logging into five or six different systems just to manage their daily operations, creating inefficiency and driving up costs at a time when economic pressures are mounting. U.S. Bank's latest 2025 Small Business Survey shows that SMBs are looking to their FIs to collapse these various digital solutions into one integrated experience. "They are overwhelmed by the number of standalone software solutions which exist in the marketplace," explains Shruti Patel, Chief Product Officer for the Business Banking segment at U.S. Bank. "They would like to consolidate these so that they're not constantly juggling with multiple tools or playing mental gymnastics, all while streamlining costs." The survey data, drawn from approximately 1,000 SMB owners across the country with revenues up to $25 million, shows a clear trend toward viewing banks as comprehensive financial hubs rather than simple repositories for funds. SMBs are seeking integrated solutions that combine banking, payments, and software capabilities under one roof. Listen to this podcast to learn about U.S. Bank's Shruti Patel is helping U.S. Bank position itself as the primary re-bundlers of financial services in the post-pandemic era.
We revisit our conversation with Frances Ibe, Chief Experience Officer at Tide. Frances shares invaluable insights on her journey from developer to product leadership and how to avoid common pitfalls during the discovery process.Chapters01:07 – Meet Frances Ibe02:05 – Common Discovery Pitfalls03:34 – Embedding Continuous Discovery04:51 – The Myth of Talking to 20 Customers06:38 – What is a Data Prototype?08:03 – Building Confidence in Product Bets10:42 – Sharing Insights Across the Business13:52 – Keeping Sprint Reviews Engaging15:49 – Discovery Through Observation17:21 – Responding to Data-Driven Disruption18:30 – The Power of Storytelling20:49 – Training Teams in Storytelling22:36 – Maintaining Message Consistency23:48 – Collaborating Across Disciplines25:01 – Francis' Game-Changing AdviceFeatured Links: Follow Frances on LinkedIn | Tide | 'Six things we learned at the Pendomonium and #mtpcon roadshow - London 2024' feature by Louron PrattOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.
Rare Beauty just dropped its most personal product yet — a fragrance — and we're giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how it came to life. Joyce Kim, Chief Product Officer at Rare Beauty, joins us to talk about what it's like working with Selena Gomez and what it takes to create products that truly resonate, beyond just going viral.We get into the development journey behind Rare Beauty's new scent, Rare Eau de Parfum (including how our Glams got to test it first through Gloss Angeles Confidential!), the global inspiration behind the ingredients, and how the team prioritized inclusivity in every design detail, down to the bottle cap.Join our Slack for testing opportunities!Shop this episodeWatch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
Fernando Fanton is one of the most respected product leaders in Europe, having held Chief Product Officer roles at Monzo and Just Eat. He previously led product and tech at Rappi, one of Latin America's most valuable startups. Today, Fernando is the CPO @ Property Finder; one of the biggest breakout unicorns from MENA. Agenda: 00:00 – Is “having a vision” actually killing great product teams? 03:15 – Why do most products suck—and what separates the great ones? 07:20 – Should we kill the PM role entirely? Fernando says maybe. 11:45 – Is Monzo's obsession with trust more powerful than speed? 16:10 – What's the #1 reason internal tools will never replace SaaS? 21:00 – Will AI wipe out the need for designers and PMs? 26:30 – Is it arrogant for product teams to protect users from “bad” choices? 32:15 – What's the future of product when OpenAI controls the whole stack? 37:40 – What Monzo product blew up—and why no one saw it coming? 42:55 – Can a bank built on principles really become a $100B company?
What does it take to turn social media into a serious business driver for B2B companies? Chris Hackney, Chief Product Officer at Meltwater, joins the show to unpack how his team connects social engagement to pipeline and revenue. In this episode, we dive into Meltwater's approach to content strategy, channel differentiation, and analytics that prove impact across the funnel. Chris also shares how his team structures workflows, leverages influencer voices, and balances brand personality with professionalism in a global enterprise. Full Episode Details Chris joins hosts Zontee Hou and Jennifer Harmon on this episode of Social Pros to share how Meltwater's social media strategy drives real business outcomes, especially in the B2B space. He breaks down how the team maps social content to different stages of the funnel, tailors messaging by channel, and uses data to prove the impact of social on both awareness and pipeline. Chris discusses how Meltwater's global team balances centralized governance with regional execution, and how they tap into employee voices and influencer partnerships to expand reach and relevance. Chris also shares lessons from recent initiatives like their Meltwater Champions program, and explains why social media teams should think more like editorial hubs than traditional marketing arms. Chris reflects on the rise of AI in social workflows—calling it “in its toddler phase”—and urges marketers to stay curious as the tools mature. He also shares his take on where social apps are headed next, predicting even deeper tribalism and fragmentation across platforms. All that and more on an all-new episode of Social Pros! In This Episode: 1:50 - Protecting your brand and earn back trust in the face of disinformation 6:02 - Opportunities for AI in marketing and communications 10:56 - Chris's advice for success in human team members meeting AI technology 14:41 - How to connect one-to-one when platforms are constantly changing 17:51 - How Chris manages which platforms to invest time, energy, and money into 20:12 - Using tools like media intelligence to stay on top of trends 22:34 - Producing a framework to keep on top of the things you need to know, and how to empower your team to react in real time 31:24 - Chris's advice for aspiring social pros Resources: Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Visit the Meltwater website Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.