Podcasts about Product strategy

Krithika Shankarraman was the first marketing hire at OpenAI and Stripe and led marketing at Retool. At OpenAI, she established marketing foundations for ChatGPT for consumers and enterprises, as well as their developer API platform. While at Stripe, she spent over eight years building and scaling their marketing function from scratch. An engineer turned marketer, Krithika brings a uniquely analytical approach to marketing. She currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at Thrive Capital, where she helps portfolio companies on all things marketing.What you will learn:1. Why do most marketing playbooks often fail, and what's a better way?2. Which marketing lever should I pull first?3. Why is trying to be better than competitors usually a losing strategy?4. How do I craft positioning that actually converts?5. What makes messaging stick with developers, enterprises, and consumers?6. What pricing experiments actually move revenue?7. What is working at OpenAI really like?8. Why does consistency and quality matter more than speed?—Brought to you by:Eppo — Run reliable, impactful experimentsAirtable ProductCentral—Launch to new heights with a unified system for product developmentLinkedIn Ads—Reach professionals and drive results for your business—Where to find Krithika Shankarraman:• X: https://x.com/krithix• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krithix/• Website: https://krithix.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Krithika(04:22) Early marketing lessons from OpenAI(11:17) Diagnosing marketing needs(15:06) The DATE framework and why being cheaper is a race to the bottom(17:11) Marketing strategies at Retool(22:29) Insights from marketing at Stripe(32:33) The importance of consistent marketing communication(39:55) Criteria for hiring a marketing expert(41:43) “Capital M” vs. “lowercase m” marketing(43:05) ChatGPT vs. Claude: market dominance(45:31) The future of AI and its societal impact(47:09) Work-life balance(48:41) Transitioning to Thrive(52:35) Career advice for marketers(55:00) The importance of taste and creativity in the AI era(01:00:04) AI product pricing(01:03:21) AI tools in marketing(01:05:17) Failure corner(01:08:46) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• OpenAI: https://openai.com/• Stripe: https://stripe.com/• Retool: https://retool.com/• Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/• Sam Altman talks about his business model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLnyjxgFxew• The art and science of pricing | Madhavan Ramanujam (Monetizing Innovation, Simon-Kucher): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-art-and-science-of-pricing-madhavan• Pricing your SaaS product: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/saas-pricing-strategy• Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/• Stripe Connect: https://stripe.com/connect• John Collison on X: https://x.com/collision• Patrick Collison on X: https://x.com/patrickc• Cristina Cordova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinajcordova/• Hackpad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackpad• Building Wiz: the fastest-growing startup in history | Raaz Herzberg (CMO and VP Product Strategy): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-wiz-raaz-herzberg• Wiz: https://www.wiz.io/• Thrive Capital: https://thrivecap.com/• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Claude: https://claude.ai/new• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/• Lessons from scaling Stripe | Claire Hughes Johnson (former COO of Stripe): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/lessons-from-scaling-stripe-tactics• Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Tobi Lütke's leadership playbook: Playing infinite games, operating from first principles, and maximizing human potential (founder and CEO of Shopify): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/tobi-lutkes-leadership-playbook• OpenAI's CPO on how AI changes must-have skills, moats, coding, startup playbooks, more | Kevin Weil (CPO at OpenAI, ex-Instagram, Twitter): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/kevin-weil-open-ai• April Dunford on product positioning, segmentation, and optimizing your sales process: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/april-dunford-on-product-positioning• A step-by-step guide to crafting a sales pitch that wins | April Dunford (author of Obviously Awesome and Sales Pitch): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-step-by-step-guide-to-crafting• Severance on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/• Granola: https://www.granola.ai/• Some people think AI writing has a tell—the em dash. Writers disagree: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/09/ai-em-dash-writing-punctuation-chatgpt/—Recommended books:• Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning So Customers Get It, Buy It, Love It: https://www.amazon.com/Obviously-Awesome-Product-Positioning-Customers/dp/1999023005• Circe: https://www.amazon.com/Circe-Madeline-Miller/dp/0316556327/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

BONUS: Marcelo Calbucci reveals Amazon's secret innovation framework that transforms product development! Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this BONUS episode, we explore "The PRFAQ Framework" (visit also the website) with author Marcelo Calbucci. He shares how Amazon's innovative approach to product development can be adapted by founders, product managers, and teams across industries. Learn how this powerful methodology creates alignment, clarifies vision, and ensures customer-centricity in product development. The Origins of PRFAQ "I learned the PR FAQ method at Amazon and realized this is a great tool that would be valuable for founders and product leaders." Marcelo Calbucci shares how his experience at Amazon introduced him to the PRFAQ framework—a structured approach to product ideation and development. He explains how this methodology transformed his thinking about innovation and why he felt compelled to share it with a wider audience through his book. The framework addresses a critical gap he observed in how teams approach product development, often lacking the clarity and customer focus needed for success. Understanding the PRFAQ Framework "PR FAQ stands for press release and frequently asked questions—it's a method to talk about and define a vision for the product." The PRFAQ framework is a six-page document with a highly prescriptive structure. Marcelo breaks down the components: Page 1: A press release announcing the product Page 2+: Customer FAQ addressing potential questions Page 3+: Internal FAQ covering implementation details This document serves as the foundation for product development, helping teams align on vision and strategy before diving into execution. Marcelo emphasizes that the framework forces teams to articulate the "why" behind their work, not just the "what" and "how." The Alignment Challenge "Challenge: pick a few people from your organization, ask each one 'why are we doing this?' Chances are you will get a different answer from different people." One of the most significant challenges in product development is the lack of alignment across teams. Marcelo highlights how common it is for team members to have different understandings of product goals and strategy. Without a shared vision, teams risk building features that don't solve the right problems or address customer needs effectively. The PRFAQ framework creates alignment by documenting and socializing product vision in a consistent format that encourages discussion and feedback. Practical Implementation Tips "Use the PRFAQ as a textual document, instead of a PowerPoint presentation—the discipline of writing helps clarify thinking." Marcelo offers several practical tips for implementing the PRFAQ approach effectively: Write things out in paragraphs rather than bullet points Consider writing the FAQs before the press release Use the document as a tool for discussion, not as a polished deliverable Conduct review sessions with peers, team members, and stakeholders Focus on substance over style—the goal is to discover feedback He emphasizes that the act of writing forces clearer thinking and exposes gaps in logic or understanding that might otherwise remain hidden. The Amazon Way "At Amazon, every product starts with a PRFAQ. It starts with someone having an idea. The first thing they do is to write the PRFAQ." Marcelo provides insight into how Amazon implements this framework across the organization. Every product initiative begins with a PRFAQ document that articulates the vision and strategy. Teams spend time discussing and refining this document before moving into execution. This methodical approach allows Amazon to get early feedback on ideas, helping to identify potential issues before significant resources are invested. The framework has been a cornerstone of Amazon's ability to innovate consistently across diverse product areas. Customer-Centricity in Practice "Here's one lesson about product leadership: understand the problems better than even the customer understands them." The customer-centric nature of the PRFAQ framework is one of its greatest strengths. By forcing teams to anticipate customer questions and articulate benefits from their perspective, the framework ensures products are built to solve real problems. Marcelo explains that sometimes the "customer" might be internal, but the principle remains the same—deeply understanding the problems before proposing solutions. This approach has proven particularly effective at Amazon, where customer obsession is a core value. Learning from the Book Development Process "In interviewing teams using the method, I discovered that the problem was convincing the whole team about the PRFAQ method." Interestingly, Marcelo applied the PRFAQ framework to the development of his own book. Through this meta-application, he discovered that the biggest challenge wasn't explaining the method itself but convincing entire teams to adopt it. This insight shaped the book's approach—making product strategy discussions less academic and more practical. He focused on providing concrete examples and templates that teams could immediately apply to their work. Resources for Deeper Learning "Read examples first, pay attention to how you write the phrases in the document." For listeners wanting to explore the PRFAQ framework further, Marcelo recommends starting with examples to understand the tone and structure. His book website offers resources and templates to help teams implement the framework. He emphasizes that seeing the framework in action is often more valuable than theoretical discussions, which is why he includes numerous examples in his book and supplementary materials. About Marcelo Calbucci Marcelo Calbucci is a founder, product and engineering leader, and innovation expert passionate about solving customers' biggest challenges through software. With over two decades of experience, he has launched dozens of products across industries and mentored nearly a thousand founders and professionals, shaping the future of product development and innovation. Marcelo Calbucci is the author of "The PRFAQ Framework: Adapting Amazon's Innovation Framework to Work for You," which describes Amazon's PRFAQ method—a strategic approach designed to refine and present new product ideas by focusing on customer-centric narratives. You can link with Marcelo Calbucci on LinkedIn and connect with Marcelo Calbucci on Substack.

Who coaches PMs if Directors or CPOs don't understand how features get built? ...or don't understand how to build a strategy?Join Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel as we analyze Ravi Mehta's PM competency framework and debate which skills actually matter at each level of product management!#ProductManagement #Leadership #ProductStrategyREFERENCES"How to Become a Peak Product Manager" by Ravi Mehta: https://www.ravi-mehta.com/product-manager-skills/= = = = = = = = = = = =LINKS Arguing Agile: http://arguingagile.comYouTube: https://youtu.be/d9byEWuGbBoSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)

In this exclusive 5 Insightful Minutes interview, Omar Akilah, SVP of Product Strategy at Infios, joins Omni Talk to explore how AI is impacting retail order management systems. From modular OMS architecture to predictive inventory optimization and AI-enhanced customer service, Omar explains why the future of retail fulfillment depends on intelligent, scalable, and purpose-built solutions. Learn how leading retailers can ditch the spreadsheets and future-proof their operations today. Key moments include: 0:11 – Omar joins to talk about how AI is impacting OMS 0:30 – What is a modular order management system and why it matters 1:25 – How Shopify brands can scale with modular tech 2:00 – Why AI—not systems—should power retail functionality 2:52 – How predictive AI is transforming order orchestration and fulfillment 3:44 – Examples of AI in real-time inventory management and optimization 5:00 – Eliminating spreadsheets and manual what-if rules 6:10 – The future: AI as a companion to enhance—not replace—retail jobs 7:50 – AI-augmented agents for better customer service 8:11 – Final thoughts from Omar on intelligent systems and retail agility Music by hooksounds.com #aiinretail #ordermanagement #retailtech #omnichannel #Infos #RetailAI #inventoryoptimization #machinelearning #ecommerce #omnitalk #retailinnovation Sponsored Content

How do you move from dabbling with AI and vibe coding to building real, production-grade software with it? In this episode, Austin Vance, CEO of Focused returns and we transition the conversation from building AI-enabled applications to fostering AI-native engineering teams. Austin shares how generative AI isn't just a shortcut—it's reshaping how we architect, code, and lead. We also get to hear Austin's thoughts on the leaked ‘AI Mandate' memo from Shopify's CEO, Tobi Lutke.  We cover what Austin refers to as ‘AI-driven development', how to win over the skeptics on your teams, and why traditional patterns of software engineering might not be the best fit for LLM-driven workflows.  Whether you're an engineer,product leader, or startup founder, this episode will give you a practical lens on what AI-native software development actually requires—and how to foster adoption on your teams quickly and safely to get the benefits of using AI in product delivery. 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 Shopify's leaked AI memo was a "permission slip" for your own team The three personas in AI adoption: advocates, skeptics, and holdouts How AI-driven development (AIDD) differs from “AI-assisted” workflows Tools and practices Focused uses to ship faster and cheaper with AI Pair programming vs. pairing with an LLM: similarities and mindset shifts How teams are learning to prompt effectively—without prompt engineering training Vibe coding vs. integrating with entrenched systems: what's actually feasible Scaling engineering culture around non-determinism and experimentation Practical tips for onboarding dev teams to tools like Cursor, Windsurf, and Vercel AI SDK Using LLMs for deep codebase exploration, not just code generation Mentioned in this episode Cursor Windsurf LangChain Claude GPT-4 / ChatGPT V0.dev GitHub Copilot Focused (focused.io) Shopify internal AI memo 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. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post 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.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence

Listen or watch as Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel and Product Manager Brian Orlando debate whether communication is the primary function of product managers. We explore how and if PMs can balance effective communication across stakeholder groups while still delivering results, in addition to other topics, such as: What percentage really is communicationThe power-interest matrix for stakeholder managementBalancing narrative leadership vs technical excellenceCreating vision without authorityMaking the invisible turn visibleWhat makes a good one-page vision documents#ProductManagement #Agile #Communication= = = = = = = = = = = =REFERENCESArguing Agile 201: Mastering Stakeholder Communication and ManagementArguing Agile 205: Debating Impact versus Visibility in Product ManagementArguing Agile 123: PRDsWho Moved My Cheese, Spencer Johnson, 1998Geoffrey Moore, Crossing the Chasm, 1991Working Backwards, Bill Carr & Colin Bryar, 2021The Power/Interest Grid, Eden & Ackermann, 1998= = = = = = = = = = = =LINKS Arguing Agile: http://arguingagile.comYouTube: https://youtu.be/MEKYApOb4xcSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)

ABOUT FARNAZ AZMOODEHFarnaz is the CTO at Linktree, the leading social platform for creators and small businesses. Linktree enables its users to unify, curate, and monetize their online presence. Farnaz started her career at Google, focusing on the ad tech space. Farnaz then joined Snap, leading Snap's AR monetization team before scaling to run Snap's Platform and product engineering. Farnaz earned her bachelor's degree in computer science from Sharif University of Technology before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Southern California. After fulfilling the credits for a master's degree, she decided to enter the tech industry where she could contribute to human progress by bringing products to millions of users. Build AI Voice Agents with ElevenLabsElevenLabs is the leading Voice AI platform for developers with thousands of ultra-realistic, human-like voices across 32 languages.Developers use ElevenLabs to build life-like, conversational AI voice agents to handle customer support queries, appointment scheduling, and even offer personalized 1-1 tutoring.Get started for free at elevenlabs.io/elc SHOW NOTES:Taking on product & design 3 months into a new role (3:01)Going from delivery to discovery: mindset shifts for eng leaders (5:58)Identifying the current state of engineering, product & design (10:59)Decision-making based on anecdotes vs. data (12:50)Pivoting strategies to optimize for small, fast teams to improve cross-functional collaboration (15:04)Signals to pivot your product approach & ****make different bets (16:59)Complementary skill sets for rapid iteration (19:14)How to avoid silencing critical input & transform team frustration into product insight (20:41)Applying the 80/20 rule to complex product surfaces (23:46)Case Study: Reprioritizing the LinkTree product w/ 80/20 approach (25:46)Bringing on a strategic product partner & kicking off org change (27:28)Be honest about your knowledge gaps (29:09)How Farnaz's experiences at Snap inform her leadership as CTO (33:21)When pattern matching fails: frameworks for checking assumptions (35:22)Where EPD Is headed: cross-functional evolution in the age of AI (38:10)Rapid fire questions (38:58)This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-HostJerry Li - Co-HostNoah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Kiren Sekar, Chief Product Officer at Samsara, a $20+ billion company revolutionizing physical operations technology. Since its founding about 10 years ago, Samsara has become a leader in IoT and AI solutions for industries like transportation, manufacturing, and construction.As CPO, Kiren leads Samsara's product strategy and development, overseeing a team of ~700 people in R&D. Under his leadership, Samsara has successfully built an integrated platform that combines hardware sensors and cameras with sophisticated software solutions, collecting over 10 trillion data points annually to help businesses improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability.we explore how Samsara balances hardware and software development, uses their 70/20/10 framework for product roadmap prioritization, and leverages AI to enhance driver safety and operational efficiency. Kiren also shares insights on building and scaling product teams in a rapidly growing enterprise environment.What you'll learn:- How to implement a 70/20/10 framework for product roadmap prioritization- Strategies for building and scaling R&D teams across hardware and software- Methods for creating effective customer feedback loops combining data and field visits- Approaches to balancing customer requests with innovation initiativesKey Takeaways

In this episode of Beyond the Systems Podcast, I sat down with multi six-figure entrepreneur Jennifer Morilla to dive deep into her "one product, one funnel" business approach. After experiencing serious burnout in 2023, Jen completely restructured her business around a single signature offer - her Simplify to Implify Accelerator - and hasn't looked back.We explore how shiny object syndrome keeps entrepreneurs trapped in a cycle of creating multiple programs (when really, we should be doubling down on what's already working!). Jen shares the exact moment she realized she needed to simplify, including the hilarious story of making her OBM sign a contract promising not to let her create any new programs.If you're feeling scattered with too many offers or struggling to stay focused on one revenue stream, this episode unpacks why simplicity leads to sustainability. We discuss how Jen structures her program to maintain quality while reducing her time investment, her content marketing strategy for a single offer, and the mindset shifts required to trust that one excellent product can outperform multiple mediocre ones.What I love most about this conversation is Jen's transparency about her entrepreneurial journey - from travel blogger to burnt-out coach to focused business owner - and how personal development played a crucial role in her business transformation. Listen in for a refreshingly honest take on building a profitable, sustainable online business without the hustle.More about Jennifer Morilla: Jennifer Morilla is a multi-six-figure entrepreneur, business mentor, and TEDx speaker with over 10 years of experience, helping entrepreneurs turn their personal brands into thriving six-figure businesses through online marketing and brand-building strategies.Connect with Jennifer Morilla:Website: https://jennifermorilla.com/Instagram: @jennifer.morillaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermmorilla/Connect with Sam:Website: https://www.systemswithsam.com/services Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/systemswithsam/ ​​LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samwhiz/

Co-hosts Kat Garbis and Sean Rabbitt are joined by Suraj Mohandas (Vice President of Product Strategy), Emily McRoberts-Froese (Sr. Education Leadership Executive), and John Wetter (Director of Technology & Information Services Hopkins Public Schools) to discuss the current landscape for admins supporting K-12 .    Meet John Wetter, an IT Professional, Jamf customer, and public speaker out of Minneapolis, joins the Jamf team to discuss the current changes and evolution of supporting K-12, including security, privacy, budget, AI initiatives and more.    The team leans on Wetter's experience to understand how they are navigating cyber and physical threats in K-12 schools, best practices in identity, if AI has a place in education, and advice to other IT professionals in the K-12 space. 

In this extended episode of Audio Talks, we explore how the live events industry is rising to the challenge of the climate crisis. Recorded on Earth Day, Oisin Lunny discusses what a greener live music industry could look like with Claire O'Neill - CEO and Co-Founder of A Greener Future and Katy Templeman-Holmes - Senior Director of Product Strategy & Sustainability at Harman Professional. From cultural shifts across the live music industry, innovative solutions like Act 1.5, and the impact of power consumption, hear how everything from powerful collective action, food choices, and innovations in manufacturing are helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint and accelerate towards a greener future.

What do candy bars, couches, and car dealerships have in common? For Andrew Glaser, they're all opportunities to understand how real people make decisions — and why most product teams get those decisions wrong.   In this episode, Andrew shares his journey from hedge fund manager to product strategist, and now founder of Swizzle, an AI product built around Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) thinking. He opens up about how false positives, feature bloat, and over-reliance on personas lead teams down the wrong path — and what it really takes to make something customers will hire. We get into the guts of JTBD, from how to know when you've hit causality in an interview, to why understanding tradeoffs is more useful than knowing demographics. Andrew shares practical frameworks and surprising stories — including what Snickers can teach you about product-market fit, why most sofas don't sell, and how Intercom 15x'ed revenue just by reframing how they talked about their product.  Whether you're building software or selling furniture, this conversation will challenge how you think about customer insight — and give you tools to sharpen your product bets. Inside the episode… Why false positives in customer research can wreck a strategy How JTBD helped turn around a billion-dollar furniture retailer The 4 real jobs behind buying a sofa  Snickers vs. Milky Way: A JTBD breakdown of context and tradeoffs What most people get wrong about customer interviews Why personas don't drive decisions — and what actually does How Intercom used JTBD to grow from $5M to $75M Using AI to support high-consideration decisions How to know what your product is allowed to suck at Why survey data without context leads to bad bets     Mentioned in this episode Andrew's Startup Swizzl -  https://swizzl.ai/ Andrew's cofounder Bob Moesta - https://therewiredgroup.com/about/bob-moesta/ Clay Christensen's HBR article: “Know Your Customers' Jobs to Be Done” - https://hbr.org/2016/09/know-your-customers-jobs-to-be-done “Demand-Side Sales” by Bob Moesta - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544509987/?bestFormat=true&k=demand%20side%20sales%20101&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_12&crid=8C2BLR9H1HF6&sprefix=demand%20side%20 “Competing Against Luck” by Clayton Christensen - https://www.amazon.com/Clayton-Christensen-Competing-Against-%E3%80%902018%E3%80%91/dp/B07KPWQQY3/ref=sr_1_2 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. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post 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.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence

Immigration compliance is a hot topic that businesses simply can't afford to ignore. With increasing scrutiny from government agencies and hefty fines on the line, staying on top of your I-9s has never been more critical. This week on THRIVE, Gene sits down with John Fay, immigration attorney and director of Product Strategy at Equifax Workforce Solutions, to cut through the noise and break down exactly what business owners need to know. You'll learn about common mistakes, the consequences of making them (hint: they're costly), and practical advice for protecting your business. Don't miss this timely conversation — it's essential listening for any employer. Get an in-depth tutorial on how to prepare for a surprise audit during this on-demand webinar: https://bit.ly/3GeFI3x [Frequently Updated] Here's your guide to all things Form I-9:  https://bit.ly/3Y98pFp Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 00:55 – Introduction to John Fay and his expertise 01:17 – Form I-9 overview 05:09 – Employer verification process 06:34 – Document retention and review 08:13 – Challenges in document verification 10:00 – Advice for employers amid increased scrutiny 12:26 – Employee protections and obligations 14:14 – ICE inspections and potential penalties 19:19 – E-Verify overview 23:20 – Future of immigration compliance 26:09 – Wrap up and thank you DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Text me your content win!Everyone is chasing passive income, but how do we achieve it with digital products?Whether you're a content creator or a travel content creator, adding digital products to your income streams can help you create passive income and more financial freedom. But here's the thing—most people make one huge mistake when launching their first product. In this episode, I'm exposing my entire 2025 digital product strategy so you can avoid the pitfalls and start profiting faster.

A frustrated CEO, a legacy system no one liked, and a looming contract deadline — this episode unpacks the story of how one team broke out of vendor-driven inertia and took back control of their tech strategy. What started as confusion and friction turned into clarity and confidence, all through the power of intentional facilitation and a tightly structured two-day workshop. You'll hear how a group of cross-functional stakeholders aligned on priorities, identified risky assumptions, and rapidly shaped a new path forward — including a validated RFP and scoring rubric — in just 16 hours. This episode is packed with practical tips for anyone facing a big, high-stakes decision with too many options and too little time. Inside the episode... A CEO's challenge with legacy tech and vendor pressure How a two-day workshop turned chaos into clarity The role of facilitation in accelerating strategic alignment Stack ranking, 2x2 matrices, and other prioritization techniques Why solo work before group discussion makes a huge difference Designing better user stories from the ground up Using ChatGPT to draft faster, better RFPs and rubrics How to spot and de-risk your most dangerous assumptions Tactical facilitation tips for running your own workshop The impact of intentional structure, breaks, and focus Mentioned in this episode ChatGPT RFP (Request for Proposal) templates and scoring rubrics Integral's Plus/Delta/Learn framework Facilitation techniques like 2x2 matrices, stack ranking, dot voting Data integration planning 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. Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post 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.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence

Send us a textIn this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino talks with Mauricio Steffen, Senior Director of Product Management at Ericsson, about the crucial role customer research and empathy play in successful product management. Mauricio shares his unique career path, transitioning from corrections officer to frontline support, then into product management, highlighting how deep, empathetic listening skills have been essential across all roles. The conversation explores how to scale customer feedback processes, synthesize insights effectively, and navigate stakeholder management. Mark and Mauricio challenge the common misinterpretation of Henry Ford's quote about customer research, emphasizing the importance of genuinely understanding underlying customer needs. Practical advice is offered for breaking through organizational blinders, advocating for meaningful change, and maintaining balance when strategic initiatives seem misaligned with immediate customer requests.Key TakeawaysEmpathy and Active Listening: Genuine empathy and active listening are key skills that transcend industry and job function, essential for product management success.Scaling Customer Feedback: Utilize scalable methods like AI (LLMs) to analyze and summarize customer feedback at scale, uncovering patterns and root causes effectively.Root Cause Analysis: Go beyond surface-level customer requests by digging deeper to uncover true underlying problems and needs, rather than just stated wants.Stakeholder Engagement: Engage stakeholders early, make them feel heard, and clearly communicate decisions to achieve alignment and minimize resistance.Embracing Customer Feedback: Treat customer feedback as a valuable gift; show appreciation and continuously demonstrate that input shapes your product decisions.Admitting Mistakes: Develop the courage to pivot or stop projects when customer and market feedback indicates potential failure; maintaining an honest, reflective process is key to sustainable success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Mauricio Steffen02:09 Career Journey: From Corrections Officer to Product Management06:57 The Role and Philosophy of Product Management09:59 Influencing Stakeholders: Education, Listening, and Empathy12:42 Scaling Customer Feedback and Leveraging AI15:34 Why “Faster Horse” Is a Cop-Out: Understanding Customer Needs22:49 Breaking Organizational Blinders with Customer Insights26:07 The Challenge of Admitting Mistakes and Changing Course29:37 Root Cause Analysis: From Wants to True Customer Needs35:33 Empathy as the Key Skill for All Stakeholder ManagementResources & LinksConnect with Mauricio Steffen on LinkedIn Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Fuzzy Math - B2B & Enterprise UX Design Consultancy

Cassidy Fein is currently leading growth for Autopatch within Windows Servicing and Delivery at Microsoft. Based in NYC, she has over 10 years of experience driving product innovation, scaling teams, and delivering customer-centric solutions. Throughout her career, she's demonstrated a passion for empowering the next generation of product leaders, especially through her teaching with Mind … The post 161 / 3 Core Tenets of Product Strategy and Execution, with Cassidy Fein appeared first on ITX Corp..

Zoom's journey from a popular video conferencing tool to a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by a wave of competition. But rather than being overwhelmed, Zoom has embraced new opportunities for innovation, especially with the rise of AI. Smita Hashim, Zoom's Chief Product Officer, shares insights into the company's response to the challenges of the pandemic and the rapid shifts in the tech landscape.Smita discusses her experience leading Zoom through this transformative period, highlighting the role of generative AI in shaping Zoom's future. With bold strides in AI and an evolving product portfolio, Smita offers a glimpse into what's next for the company as it adapts to a new era of growth and competition.Resources from this episode:Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletterConnect with Smita on LinkedIn

As the use of AI spreads outside the cloud and datacenter, data management and protection has never been more important. This episode of Utilizing Tech, sponsored by Solidigm, features Rick Vanover of Veeam discussing the importance of data protection with hosts Stephen Foskett⁠⁠ and Scott Shadley⁠. Data protection for backup and security is familiar in the datacenter but is not always considered at the edge. But as AI and sensors push data to the edge, we have to consider how to protect and manage it. Edge AI systems combine elements of endpoint, datacenter, and cloud technologies and often have limited or intermittent connectivity, creating a differentiated platform that challenges data protection software. Mixing these capabilities to build a useful platform is the key challenge for data protection at the edge. Data protection at the edge is different, with continuity and recovery from outages and attacks more important than long-term preservation of data, and IT pros are beginning to adjust their perspectives on the requirements for these systems as well.Guest:⁠Rick Vanover⁠, Vice President of Product Strategy at ⁠Veeam⁠Hosts: ⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠, President of the Tech Field Day Business Unit and Organizer of the ⁠Tech Field Day Event Series⁠⁠⁠Scott Shadley⁠⁠, Leadership Narrative Director and Evangelist at ⁠Solidigm⁠Follow Tech Field Day ⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠on X/Twitter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠on Mastodon⁠⁠. Visit the ⁠⁠Tech Field Day website⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming events. For more episodes of Utilizing Tech, head to ⁠⁠the dedicated website⁠⁠ and follow the show ⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠on Mastodon⁠⁠.

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Philipp Kandal, Chief Product Officer at Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super app serving over 40 million monthly active users across eight countries.Originally launched as a taxi-hailing service in Malaysia, Grab has evolved into a comprehensive platform offering ride-hailing, food delivery, financial services, and more. After acquiring Uber's Southeast Asia operations in 2018, Grab went public in 2021 and is now valued at approximately $20 billion, generating $2.8 billion in revenue with 19% year-over-year growth.We explore Grab's transformation from a single-service app to a super app powerhouse, diving into their hyperlocal approach to product development, organizational structure, and how they leverage technology to solve unique challenges in Southeast Asia.What you'll learn:How Grab evolved from a taxi-hailing service to a super app by following user needsStrategies for competing with global players through hyperlocal solutionsHow to structure product teams for both platform and business innovationThe role of user immersion in improving driver and consumer experiencesWays to balance growth with profitability in emerging marketsEpisode Chapters:(00:00) Introduction and Grab's Evolution(10:00) Building Product Teams at Scale(20:00) Hyperlocal Strategy in Southeast Asia(30:00) Product Development Through User Understanding(40:00) Balancing Growth and Profitability(50:00) Technical Innovation and ChallengesKey Takeaways

AI has significantly impacted software-based products and has started to change how product management is practised. But how is it affecting product strategy? Can AI-powered tools lead to better strategies? Can they even make strategic product decisions on their own? In this episode, I discuss the benefits and limitations of using AI to create a product strategy, as well as the foundations you should put in place to take full advantage of AI tools.

Send us a textIn the finale of our three-part series, Matt LeMay takes on the tech world's shiniest object: artificial intelligence. From summarizing meeting notes to influencing million-dollar decisions, AI is here to stay. But Matt warns against using AI as a goal unto itself. Product teams must ground their experimentation in business logic—or risk becoming distractions.Detailed Analysis: Episode 39 brings a timely and pragmatic take on AI in product management. Matt acknowledges AI's strengths—particularly in summarizing information and idea generation—but urges caution. When AI tools lack source context, they can mislead as easily as they can inform. The key is discernment: understanding when AI adds value and when it distracts.The team unpacks how AI is impacting product roadmaps, budgeting, and even job security. Matt shares war stories of teams told to "do something with AI," only to later realize the result consumed $200K to close a $50K deal. Oops.But this isn't an anti-AI rant. Matt offers frameworks to leverage AI wisely while keeping business impact front and center. If you're going to play with shiny tools, make sure they're solving real problems.Now you can interact with us directly by leaving a voice message at https://www.speakpipe.com/CustomerSuccessPlaybookCheck out https://funnelstory.ai/ for more details about Funnelstory. You can also check out our full video review of the product on YouTube at https://youtu.be/4jChYZBVz2Y.Please Like, Comment, Share and Subscribe. You can also find the CS Playbook Podcast:YouTube - @CustomerSuccessPlaybookPodcastTwitter - @CS_PlaybookYou can find Kevin at:Metzgerbusiness.com - Kevin's person web siteKevin Metzger on Linked In.You can find Roman at:Roman Trebon on Linked In.

In the Building Better Developers podcast episode, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche share valuable insights into effective product enhancement strategies. They explore how businesses can improve and expand their products and services without adding unnecessary complexity or sacrificing quality. If you're a business owner, product manager, or developer, this episode is packed with practical advice on how to grow your offerings sustainably in a customer-focused manner. Why Product Enhancement Strategies Matter Rob opens the discussion by pointing out that technology is often one of the biggest business expenses after staffing costs. Whether it's software, infrastructure, or digital services, improving your product shouldn't be about simply adding more—it should be about increasing value. When done right, product enhancements can: Improve customer satisfaction Strengthen brand loyalty Open new revenue streams Reduce friction in the customer experience Three Smart Ways to Enhance Your Product Rob and Michael break down three key ways to approach product enhancement: Add Meaningful Features or Integrations Focus on features your customers actually want. This could be reporting tools, new integrations, or quality-of-life improvements that solve real problems. Expand Service Offerings For service-based businesses, enhancement may involve broadening what you offer. For example, moving from just front-end development to full-stack services. Improve Quality and Performance Not all enhancements need to be visible. Sometimes, the best improvement is making your product faster, more reliable, and easier to use. Avoiding Common Product Enhancement Pitfalls The hosts emphasize that not all enhancements are good enhancements. Adding unnecessary features can bloat your product, confuse customers, and increase maintenance overhead. Michael introduces the concept of product quality of life—the long-term usability and effectiveness of your product. If you're not careful about how you enhance your products, they can become outdated or inefficient over time. They also warn against growing too fast. Adding too many features without the proper infrastructure can stretch your team thin and reduce overall product quality. How to Stay Customer-Centric A key theme of this episode is the importance of listening to your customers. Rob and Michael recommend: Conducting regular customer surveys or interviews Building relationships with power users Testing enhancements quickly and rolling back if they don't add value Your product enhancement strategies should always be driven by honest feedback, not assumptions. Your Next Step The episode wraps up with a challenge: What is your next product enhancement strategy? Before your next release or feature update, ask yourself: Does this enhancement provide real value to my customers? Do I have the resources to support it? Will it improve the overall customer experience? If you're unsure, start by gathering feedback. Your customers' input is the key to meaningful, sustainable product growth.

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Vrushali Paunikar, Chief Product Officer at Carta—the company revolutionizing how private companies manage equity and capital. Originally starting as a cap table management solution, Carta now manages over $150 billion in assets and positions itself as the "Network ERP for Private Capital," supporting over 50,000 companies from early-stage startups to pre-IPO giants.As CPO at Carta, Vrushali has been instrumental in driving the company's evolution from a single-product focus to a comprehensive platform serving various stakeholders in the private capital ecosystem. Her unique background, including experience at Rocket Lawyer and an interesting hobby as an amateur florist, brings a fresh perspective to product leadership in fintech.In this episode, we'll explore Carta's transformation from a cap table management tool to a comprehensive platform for private capital, diving into organizational structure changes, international expansion strategies, and innovative approaches to product development.What you'll learn:How Carta expanded from cap table management to fund administration by deeply understanding customer needsStrategies for restructuring product teams from a business unit model to a modular approachInsights into different approaches for international expansion (organic vs. acquisition)The role of micromanagement as a temporary coaching tool in product developmentHow to balance platform ambitions with focused executionContent:(00:00) Introduction and Personal Background(05:00) Carta's Evolution Story(15:00) Organizational Transformation(25:00) International Expansion Strategy(35:00) Leadership Philosophy & Management Style(45:00) Product Strategy & Market PositioningKey Takeaways

Join us for this episode with Claire Lecarpentier, Director of Product Strategy & Operations for Platform AI at ServiceNow. After experiences in consulting and corporate venture, Claire transitioned to Product Strategy at leading enterprise service provider ServiceNow. This is a great episode if you are interested in learning how to transition from consulting or banking into the technology industry, especially at AI-driven firms. If you like the show, make sure to share it with a friend, and feel free to leave a comment, too!

In this episode of Making Sense, we delve into the transformative world of in-car payment solutions. Join Bal Ahir, global head of Mobility Payment Solutions, and Abdullah Pandit, Product Strategy and Global Partnerships lead, as they explore the future of connected cars and how they are revolutionizing the way we think about payments on the go. Discover the opportunities and challenges facing the automotive industry as it embraces seamless, frictionless payment experiences. From strategic partnerships to innovative use cases like Mercedes Pay, learn how industry leaders are driving change.   Check out the latest issue of Payments Unbound: https://www.jpmorgan.com/payments/payments-unbound/magazine/articles/next-gen-approaches-payments-privacy-security    This episode was recorded on January 31, 2025.   J.P. Morgan and third parties listed on this page have not entered into a legal partnership to provide the services described above. Third party trademarks, brand names, and descriptions of products and services that appear on this page are provided by the respective third party. J.P. Morgan is not liable or responsible for such trademarks, brand names, descriptions of products, companies and or services. J.P. Morgan may generate profit from the use of any services or products provided by the third parties. Nothing in this material shall be taken as an endorsement of any third party or advice on the suitability of the third party's services for the client. You shall make an independent determination for selection of the services provided by the third parties. Neither J.P. Morgan, nor its affiliates, shall be liable to you for any loss or liability suffered by you from the use of the third party's services. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of J.P. Morgan, its affiliates, or its employees. The information set forth herein has been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the author nor J.P. Morgan makes any representations or warranties as to the information's accuracy or completeness.  The information contained herein has been provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, advice or recommendation, to make any investment decisions or purchase any financial instruments, and may not be construed as such. Any Future capabilities of mobility payment systems are under development; features and timelines are subject to change at the Bank's sole discretion.   © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Deposits held in non-U.S. branches are not FDIC insured.  Non-deposit products are not FDIC insured. The statements herein are confidential and proprietary and not intended to be legally binding. Not all products and services are available in all geographical areas. Visit jpmorgan.com/paymentsdisclosure for further disclosures and disclaimers related to this content.

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Ashok Bania, Senior Vice President of Product at SoundCloud.SoundCloud is the original open platform that disrupted the music industry alongside Spotify, providing massive distribution to millions of artists, including superstars like Billie Eilish and Post Malone. It's a free music app available on web and mobile that connects DJs and singers with over 150 million fans worldwide. After a period of strategic shifts, SoundCloud became profitable for the first time in 16 years.Ashok oversees product strategy, growth, and monetization at SoundCloud. He has a proven track record of building successful consumer subscription products and marketplaces at companies like Spotify, Lyft, Tumblr, and Headspace.In this episode, we'll explore SoundCloud's turnaround from near collapse to profitability, specific AI use cases that enhance music discovery and community engagement, and Ashok's unique approach to product development and growth strategies.What you'll learn:- Ashok's journey to becoming SVP of Product at SoundCloud and his insights on the platform's transformation.- The challenges and strategies involved in revitalizing a global, open music platform.- How to prioritize features and innovations in a fast-paced, creator-centric environment.- The future of music technology, including AI-powered remixes and personalized discovery.Key Takeaways

Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Coach Om Patel are listening and reacting to Melissa Perri on Lenny's Podcast as she makes claims about product management, agile, frameworks, and why most companies struggle with product management. We discuss many of her claims, including:Product Management has nothing to do with the Manifesto for Agile Software DevelopmentScrum is only for Large OrganizationsLarge Organizations Lack Infrastructure to support Product ManagementRigid Processes Can Crash Your Entire Company...and many, many more!Whether you're in a startup or enterprise, Silicon Valley or your average FinTech, this discussion offers practical insights on balancing process with customer-centricity.#ProductManagement #AgileLeadership #TeamDevelopmentTags: product management, agile coaching, scrum, kanban, product strategy, team development, organizational design, product owner, product manager, safe framework, agile transformation, continuous delivery, silicon valley, enterprise agileReferences:Lenny's Podcast with Melissa Perri, https://youtu.be/wbi9chsAHp4Marteen Dalmijn's newsletter about Waternet: https://mdalmijn.com/p/how-a-digital-transformation-canAA199 - W. Edwards Deming's Profound Knowledge for Transforming OrganizationsAA187 - The Future of AI, According to Big Tech= = = = = = = = = = = =YouTubehttps://youtu.be/c0htPyVTKeESubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8XUSoJPxGPI8EtuUAHOb6g?sub_confirmation=1Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)

How do CPOs balance keep teams engaged in meaningful work while building a product strategy from scratch? Stephanie Leue, Chief Product Officer at Doodle at the time of this recording, shares how she integrates customer feedback, collaboration with internal teams, and data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions, underscoring the value of communication and using various artifacts to convey the product strategy effectively across the organization. By engaging in discovery while leveraging foundational work, teams can build trust and demonstrate progress to stakeholders. Stephanie's experience as a seasoned product leader in B2B SaaS, along with her focus on leadership coaching and diversity and inclusion, underscores the critical role of experienced product leaders in making the craft of product management appear seamless.  Overall, her approach emphasizes the iterative nature of product strategy development, de-risking bets with data and discovery, and fostering collaboration and trust within teams to drive meaningful progress and innovation in product development. Resource Links Visit Stephanie's webpage Follow Stephanie Leue's Substack Follow Stephanie Leue on LinkedIn Visit the Doodle website Follow Holly on LinkedIn Visit the Product Science Group website Explore Product Science Workshops and Courses Quotes from Stephanie Leue:"We just don't want to build one feature after another. We want to have kind of a bigger picture in mind and we want to achieve that bigger version of what we are today, right?" “If you show them 1 minute 20 about the future of a product, they immediately have 20,000 things that will never work out. And they have 20,000 questions and like tons of ideas why things will take way longer than expected. But to be honest, that's exactly the discussion you want to have, right?”  “We needed to train ourselves to ask the right questions. We needed to get answers to these questions. We needed to understand the data we got. We needed to compose a picture out of that data. So that takes a while because that's like a team effort.” Lab Notes Lab Note 604.1: Experienced product leaders make the craft of product management look easy Lab Note 604.2: Strategy is a series of bets that can make even the CPO uncomfortable Lab Note 604.3: Use different communication approaches for different audiences of your product strategyLab Note 604.4: Find foundational alignment and begin executing while you are developing your bigger product strategy Ready to elevate your product leadership game? Dive deep into practical solutions for real-world product challenges. Register now: https://www.productsciencegroup.com/services View the transcript and the ⁠full episode description on the Product Science Podcast website here.⁠

My guest on this week's episode is James Borow, the Vice President of Product and Engineering at Comcast's new Universal Ads effort, which was introduced this January. James was previously the Global Director of Product Strategy at Snap.The topic of our conversation is the evolving TV advertising ecosystem. Among other things, we discuss:The current state of performance advertising on TV;The historical process of buying linear TV advertising inventory;The boundaries between CTV and linear TV advertising;How advertisers approach measurement with CTV;Where YouTube fits into the CTV space;What linear TV can do to provide performance capabilities to marketers;The demographics of TV that make it attractive to marketers.Thanks to the sponsors of this week's episode of the Mobile Dev Memo podcast:INCRMNTAL⁠⁠. True attribution measures incrementality, always on.ContextSDK. ContextSDK uses over 200 smartphone signals to detect a user's real-world context, allowing apps to deliver perfectly timed push notifications and in-app offers.Interested in sponsoring the Mobile Dev Memo podcast? Contact ⁠Marketecture⁠.The Mobile Dev Memo podcast is available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

In this special episode of CLOC Talk, recorded live from the CLOC EMEA Summit in London, Rachel St. Peter, Global Head of Legal Operations & Functional Excellence, Nestlé and member of our EMEA Advisory Committee, leads a panel discussion on the future of the legal ops profession with Kristen Zmrhal, Vice President of Product Strategy at DISCO, and Melissa Sauser, Legal Tech Manager for Philip Morris International. The panel emphasizes the need for managing culture and shifting mindsets to stay ahead. They also share insights on data-driven decision-making, storytelling with data, and the adoption of new technologies. Kristen and Melissa discuss how a positive culture is crucial for successful change management and highlight the importance of collaboration and leveraging resources across departments. Tune in as the panel shares their predictions for the legal ops industry by 2030, including the importance of understanding data and legal departments being measured on the value they generate.

This week, we are revisiting a conversation between Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano and Johnny Ho, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Perplexity. Perplexity is the AI powered search engine that is rapidly growing and challenging the industry status quo. Johnny and Michael talk about his background as a competitive programmer, the business model of search, and Perplexity's Publisher Program, where publishers earn a share of advertising revenue.Johnny has been ranked number one in the world of competitive programming. He previously worked at Quora as a software engineer –  he accomplished all of this before graduating from Harvard. Episode Chapters(00:00) Introduction(00:40) Johnny Ho's Engineering Background and IOI Achievements(02:44) Transition to Product Strategy(05:39) Perplexity: The Answer Engine(11:06 )Technology Behind Perplexity(15:47) Challenges and Future of AI Models(19:41) Growth and Distribution Strategy(23:54) Setting and Achieving Team Goals(25:35) Perplexity's Business Model and Future Plans(31:01) Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Search(32:55) Publisher Program and Content Credibility(39:59) Voice and Multimodal Experiences(42:04) What's Next for Perplexity?(43:12) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsStay in touch:www.lsvp.comX: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.coEmail: generativenow@lsvp.comThe content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Chiara McPhee, Chief Product Officer at Postscript, a leader in SMS marketing for e-commerce. Postscript is revolutionizing how e-commerce brands engage with customers. With over $100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and more than 20,000 Shopify merchants using their platform, Postscript has become a powerhouse in conversational commerce. Their SMS marketing tools have helped generate over $2 billion in e-commerce revenue for their customers annually, with open rates exceeding 90%, far outpacing traditional email marketing.In this episode, Chiara shares her insights on:* Leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.* How AI agents are outperforming human customer support in certain areas.* Key revenue leading indicators in SMS marketing and setting up effective attribution models.* Overcoming challenges in scaling infrastructure to achieve $100M in Annual Recurring Revenue.* The benefits of focusing exclusively on Shopify.* The "Horizon Strategy" approach to building teams tailored for Horizon 1 (cash cow), Horizon 2 (growth), and Horizon 3 (moonshots), balancing short-term wins with long-term ambitious goals in product development.In this episode, we'll explore how Postscript is leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver personalized customer experiences, driving revenue and redefining e-commerce marketing. We'll discuss leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue, how AI agents are outperforming human customer support in certain areas, overcoming challenges in scaling infrastructure to achieve $100M in Annual Recurring Revenue, and the benefits of focusing exclusively on Shopify. What you'll learn:* Chiara's journey to becoming CPO at Postscript and her insights on the power of SMS marketing.* How generative AI enables personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.* Key strategies for SMS marketing, including compliance, personalization, and integration with other channels.* How to structure product teams using the "Horizon Strategy" to balance short-term wins with long-term innovation. Key Takeaways:*Personalized Conversations: Chiara emphasizes the importance of leveraging generative AI to create personalized, one-to-one conversations that drive revenue.*Focus on Shopify: Chiara highlights the company's strategic decision to focus exclusively on Shopify, and the impact it had on business outcomes.*Horizon Strategy: Chiara shares the benefits of the "Horizon Strategy" approach to building product teams tailored for different stages of growth and innovation.

We're exploring the false dichotomy between being good at your job and being seen as valuable by leadership!The framework for this conversation was an eye-opening yet brutally honest post about the tactics one product manager claims to use to advance his career without delivering real impact. We ask, "is success about making an impact or just being seen as valuable," while we explore the tactics described in the article:Focusing on vision while ignoring executionUsing positivity to mask problemsAvoiding accountabilityDealing with the Inevitable burnoutWhether you're a product manager, leader, or team member, you won't want to miss our conversation around building sustainable career success without sacrificing integrity.References:Ronald Westrum: A typology of organisational cultures, 2004AA201 - Mastering Stakeholder Communication and ManagementAA199 - W. Edwards Deming's Profound Knowledge for Transforming OrganizationsAA195 - Tyranny of Plans & Planning in Software DevelopmentAA117 - You Should Do Time-Based Estimates (Article Review)AA87 - Burnt-Out Product ManagersAP52 - Taylorism: The Principles of Scientific Management#ProductManagement #LeadershipCulture #AgileTeams= = = = = = = = = = = =YouTubeApplehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)

Feeling pressure to hit fundraising goals while trying to build lasting donor relationships?I've been there too. It's like walking a tightrope—balancing board expectations, donor engagement, and strategic goals without losing sight of your nonprofit's mission.

About Vijay Verma:Vijay Verma is a seasoned product leader currently serving as VP of Product Strategy at TeleVox Healthcare in the NYC metro area, where he spearheads AI-driven initiatives and contact center innovation. With 20+ years of experience driving digital transformation, he specializes in creating exceptional customer journeys that drive engagement and business growth. A specialist in Conversational AI and CX, he has pioneered AI-driven engagement platforms, impacting 30M+ users, and led enterprise-scale transformations resulting in significant NPS improvements. Vijay excels at leveraging emerging technologies, data-driven insights, and cross-functional teams to create innovative solutions that resonate with users and deliver measurable business growth.Things You'll Learn:Good communication is crucial for achieving positive clinical outcomes, necessitating platforms that work for both institutions and patients. TeleVox focuses on bridging communication gaps through patient-centered experiences that improve health outcomes and drive financial success for healthcare providers.Generative AI is poised to significantly impact healthcare by alleviating staff shortages and simplifying complex processes. A major pain point in healthcare is the friction in communication, often leading to frustrating experiences for patients and staff burnout.Omnichannel communication strategies are essential for providing consistent and convenient patient experiences across various channels, including voice, SMS, and mobile apps. Generative AI enables the efficient repurposing of healthcare content across different channels and languages.Smart Voice combines the empathy of a voice channel with the automation of a virtual agent and the intelligence of a call center. Resources:Connect with and follow Vijay Verma on LinkedIn.Learn more about TeleVox Healthcare on their LinkedIn and website.

In this episode, Carlos González interviews Tanya Cordrey, Chief Product Officer at Motorway, the UK's fastest-growing used car marketplace.Motorway is revolutionizing the used car industry in the UK, with a gross market value of $2.5 billion per year and over half a million people selling their cars through their network. Founded recently, Motorway has quickly become a digital powerhouse, offering both sellers and dealers innovative ways to engage in the used car market.Tanya leads product experience and strategy for Motorway's digital portfolio, including their marketplace platform that connects individual car sellers with professional car dealers. Prior to Motorway, Tanya held leadership positions at Instagram, eBay, and The Guardian, bringing a wealth of experience in scaling digital products and marketplaces.In this episode, we'll explore the challenges of building a C2B marketplace, how Tanya and her team are leveraging technology to deliver excellent experiences for both sellers and dealers, and the future of automotive technology. We'll discuss features such as AI-assisted photo uploads, weather-based reminders, and end-to-end solutions for dealers, all designed to streamline the car selling and buying process.What you'll learn:- Tanya's journey to becoming CPO at Motorway and her insights on building global product teams.- The challenges and strategies involved in creating a C2B marketplace in the used car industry.- How to prioritize features and innovations in a fast-paced, two-sided marketplace environment.- The future of automotive technology, including AI-assisted processes and marketplace efficiencies.Key Takeaways:- Marketplace Efficiency: Tanya emphasizes the importance of understanding and optimizing both sides of the marketplace to create value for sellers and dealers.- Innovative User Experiences: Motorway is pushing boundaries with features like AI Image Assist and weather-based reminders to reduce friction in the car selling process.- Data-Driven Product Development: Tanya highlights the use of specific KPIs and user behavior analysis to guide product decisions and improvements, focusing on key moments in the user journey.Social Links:- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here- Join Product School's free events here - Find out more about Product School hereCredits:Host: Carlos Gonzalez de VillaumbrosiaGuest: Tanya Cordrey

In this episode, I sit down with Leif, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Public, an investing platform built for people who take investing seriously. We discuss how Public raised $400 million, doubled its user base in just 48 hours, and evolved beyond commission-free trading to offer options, treasuries, bonds, and more. Leif shares their no-payment-for-order-flow approach, emphasizing transparency and trust, and reveals how product velocity and AI integrations are helping them reach the mass-affluent market.We also dive into the importance of keeping teams lean, focusing on discipline over hype, and staying true to the company's mission despite market cycles. From avoiding organizational meltdowns to crafting a long-term product strategy, this conversation sheds light on Public's journey toward becoming a comprehensive fintech powerhouse.00:00:00 - $400M Raise & Doubling Users00:01:31 - Building for Serious Investors00:04:07 - Payment for Order Flow Explained00:06:49 - Public's No-PFOF Decision00:09:01 - GameStop's Impact & Funding Surge00:11:54 - Upgrading Product & Brand Tone00:14:44 - Aiming at Mass-Affluent Clients00:19:06 - Podcast & Media Strategy00:22:15 - AI & Alpha: The New Frontier00:25:20 - Complexities of Fintech Builds00:29:06 - The 2024 Big Product Launch00:34:21 - Org Meltdown & Lessons Learned00:39:16 - Surviving the Fintech Winter00:42:46 - Balancing Discipline & Growth

Global Agile Summit Preview: Unifying Strategy, Discovery, and Delivery in Product Development With Roman Pichler In this BONUS Global Agile Summit preview episode, we explore a crucial topic that's shaping how we approach product development—sometimes in ways that serve us well and sometimes in ways that hold us back.  There's a growing trend in our industry to explicitly separate strategy, discovery, and delivery into distinct activities or even different teams. On the surface, this seems logical: strategy decides the right thing to do, discovery figures out how to do it, and delivery gets it done. But is this division actually helping us? Or is it creating barriers that make great product development harder? The Origins of Product Discovery "I think it's partly based, at least on Marty Cagan's work, and his insight that many teams are very much focused traditionally on delivering outputs, on writing code. And I think his original intention was to say, 'Let's not worry about creating outputs. Let's also make sure that what we creating makes sense.'" Roman Pichler shares insights on how the concept of product discovery emerged as a reaction to teams being overly focused on outputs rather than outcomes. He explains that conceptually distinguishing between product strategy, discovery, and delivery can be helpful—much like organizing clothes into different sections of a wardrobe. However, in reality, these activities must be connected, informing and guiding each other rather than existing as sequential steps. The Risks of Separating Product Strategy, from Discovery, and from Delivery "If we have a group of people who takes care of strategic decisions, a different group focusing on product discovery, and another group—the tech team—who focuses on product delivery, and those groups don't talk as much as they could and should do, then suddenly we have a sequential process and handoffs." One of the primary challenges with separating strategy, discovery, and delivery is the risk of creating handoffs between different teams. Roman highlights how this sequential approach can slow down value creation, lead to knowledge loss, and increase the likelihood of introducing mistakes. This separation can create barriers that ultimately make product development more difficult and less effective. In this segment, we refer to the podcast interview with Tim Herbig on the concept of Lateral Leadership, and how that is critical for product people. Integrating the Work Streams "What I usually use as a visualization tool is three work streams: a strategy work stream, a discovery work stream, and a delivery work stream. The strategy stream guides the discovery stream. The discovery stream guides the delivery stream, and then the delivery stream informs the discovery stream, and the discovery stream informs the strategy stream." Rather than seeing strategy, discovery, and delivery as separate phases, Roman suggests visualizing them as parallel work streams that continuously inform and guide each other.  This approach recognizes that strategy work doesn't just happen at the beginning—it continues throughout the product lifecycle, adapting as the product evolves. By integrating these work streams and ensuring they're interconnected through feedback loops, teams can create a more cohesive and effective product development process. The Power of Collaboration "The important thing is to make sure that the different areas of work are not disjointed but interlinked. A key element to make that work is to use collaboration and teamwork and ensure that there aren't any handoffs, or avoid handoffs as much as possible." Collaboration and teamwork are essential to successfully integrating strategy, discovery, and delivery. Roman emphasizes the importance of bringing product people—who understand customer needs, business models, and stakeholder relationships—together with tech teams to foster innovation and create value. This collaborative approach helps overcome the challenges that arise from treating these activities as separate, sequential steps. Building an Extended Product Team "Form a big product team, a product team that is empowered to make strategic decisions and consists not only of the person in charge of the product and maybe a UX designer and a software developer, but also key business stakeholders, maybe somebody from marketing, maybe somebody from sales, maybe a support team member." Roman advocates for forming an extended product team that includes not just product managers, designers, and developers, but also key business stakeholders. This larger team can collectively own the product strategy and have holistic ownership of the product—not just focusing on discovery or delivery. By empowering this extended team to make strategic decisions together, organizations can ensure that different perspectives and expertise inform the product development process. Practical Implementation: Bringing it all Together "Have regular meetings. A specific recommendation that I like to make is to have quarterly strategy workshops as a rule of thumb, where the current product strategy is reviewed and adjusted, but also the current product roadmap is reviewed and adapted." Implementing this integrated approach requires practical mechanisms for collaboration. Roman recommends holding quarterly strategy workshops to review and adjust the product strategy and roadmap, ensuring they stay in sync with insights from development work. Additionally, he suggests that members of the extended product team should attend monthly operational meetings, such as sprint reviews, to maintain a complete understanding of what's happening with the product at both strategic and tactical levels. Moving Beyond Sequential Thinking "Unfortunately, our software industry has a tendency to make things structured, linear, and assign ownership of different phases to different people. This usually leads to bigger problems like missing information, problems discovered too late that affect 'strategy', but need to be addressed in 'delivery'." One of the challenges in adopting a more integrated approach is overcoming the industry's tendency toward linear, sequential thinking. Roman and Vasco discuss how this mindset can lead to issues being discovered too late in the process, after strategic decisions have already been made. By embracing a more iterative, interconnected approach, teams can address problems more effectively and adapt their strategy based on insights from discovery and delivery. About Roman Pichler Roman Pichler is a leading product management expert specializing in product strategy, leadership, and agility. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has coached product managers, authored four books, and developed popular frameworks. He shares insights through his blog, podcast, and YouTube channel and speaks at major industry conferences worldwide. You can link with Roman Pichler on LinkedIn and check out the resources on Roman Pichler's website.

What's the difference between being a product manager at an agency vs. in-house? In this episode of Productside Stories, host Rina Alexin sits down with Anne Veit, Head of Product Strategy at Razorfish, to dive deep into how agency product management works, how to navigate rapid innovation, and why problem-solving skills matter more than industry expertise. If you've ever wondered what it's like to manage products on behalf of multiple clients, this episode is a must-listen. Key Topics Discussed in This Episode Key topic #1 Product Acceleration Teams: How Razorfish builds cross-functional teams that rapidly innovate and execute at speed. Key topic #2 The Agency vs. In-House Product Manager Experience: The unique challenges and advantages of leading product in a client-driven environment. Key topic #3 AI & Product Innovation: How agencies help companies cut through AI hype and find real business value. Why Listen to This Episode? In this thought-provoking episode, you'll gain: Learn how to thrive in an agency product role – Managing multiple stakeholders and moving fast without breaking things. Get insights on cross-functional collaboration – How blending data, design, and tech accelerates innovation. Discover the secrets of product acceleration teams – The agency approach to shipping fast, learning faster, and keeping clients ahead of the curve. Understand AI's real role in product management – Why “AI everywhere” isn't always the right answer, and how to separate hype from strategy. If you're in product—whether agency or in-house—this episode will challenge how you think about strategy, execution, and innovation. Related Resources Check out these additional tools and resources to add to your PM belt: Productside Resource Library More Productside Stories Podcast Episodes Explore Productside Courses 

This episode is sponsored by Beyond Identity. Visit https://www.beyondidentity.com/idac to learn more.In this sponsored episode of the Identity at the Center podcast, Jeff and Jim host Sarah Cecchetti, Director of Product Strategy at Beyond Identity. They discuss the transition away from password-based systems to more secure, passwordless authentication methods. Sarah explains the unique differentiators of Beyond Identity, their integration with security tools, and how they leverage cryptographic keys stored in device secure enclaves. The conversation covers user resistance to biometrics, deployment strategies, and the importance of shared security signals. Sarah also shares personal anecdotes about her backpacking trip across Spain and informs listeners about upcoming events like BeyondCon, featuring live demos and a private performance of Broadway hits.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Passwordless Authentication00:34 What Makes Beyond Identity Unique?01:35 Welcome to the Identity at the Center Podcast02:01 Introduction of Sarah Cecchetti03:04 Beyond Identity's Approach to Authentication09:31 Balancing Security and Usability16:00 Use Cases and Customer Success Stories19:15 Technical Insights and Future Directions24:32 Understanding Customer Policy Changes24:48 Real-World Scenarios of Shared Signals25:10 Implementing Shared Signals in Security27:47 Policy Simulation and Auditing28:31 Addressing Identity-Based Threats29:57 The Future of Passwordless Security33:56 Challenges in Identity Deployment37:49 BeyondCon and Industry Events41:12 Personal Adventures and Reflections46:42 Final Thoughts and FarewellConnect with Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcecchetti/Learn more about Beyond Identity: https://www.beyondidentity.com/idacBeyond Con: https://insights.beyondidentity.com/beyondcon-west-2025/aboutConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com and watch at https://www.youtube.com/@idacpodcast

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Karen Ng, Senior Vice President of Product and Partnerships at HubSpot.HubSpot is a leading software platform empowering over 184,000 businesses across 120 countries to manage their sales, marketing, and customer support teams. In 2024, HubSpot generated over $2.5 billion in revenue, driven by significant investments in Artificial Intelligence.Karen oversees critical products like Smart CRM, Operations Hub, and Ecosystem, while driving strategic partnerships and business development. Her technical expertise is notable, with three patents. She has also published research in stress detection, interactive health assessments, and robotic expressivity when she worked as a Machine Learning Researcher at MIT.In this episode, we'll explore Karen's approach to deploying AI Agents across HubSpot's product portfolio, her decision-making process for when to Build, Buy, or Partner, and her innovative approach to product org design. We'll discuss how product teams can leverage AI Agents to augment their impact and automate workflows, and how product leaders can elevate their roles as key drivers of revenue.What you'll learn:Karen's journey to becoming SVP of Product and Partnerships at HubSpot and her insights on the company's AI transformation.The challenges and strategies involved in creating a global, multi-product platform for businesses.How to prioritize features and innovations in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment.The future of business technology, including AI-powered tools and self-service products.Key Takeaways

Highlights from this week's conversation include:Early Aspirations: Becoming a Doctor (1:09)The Shift to Business Studies (3:54)Father's Influence on Career Path (4:39)Interest in Statistics and Psychology (6:47)Networking and Early Career (10:24)Developing a Passion for Data (12:09)Joining a Startup Accelerator (17:30)Data and Engagement Metrics (21:39)Lessons on Data Fidelity (23:40)Entrepreneurial Journey in a VC-Backed Incubator (26:15)Software Engineering School Initiative (30:21)Growth and Market Timing (35:08)Post-Exit Consultancy Experience (36:36)Finding RudderStack (38:53)  Behavioral Data Revolution (40:44)Advice for Aspiring Product Managers (44:20)Understanding Customer Pain Points (46:29)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (47:03)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we'll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

Marisol Schulte, CPCU, AIC, is a Senior Consultant of Personal Lines Strategic Planning and Insurance at TransUnion. Marisol supports in developing and executing TransUnion's product strategy for the personal lines property and casualty markets. She has over 18 years of property and casualty insurance experience, beginning in claims, with additional positions in R&D and Product Management for State Farm, CSAA, and Farmers. Schulte attained her CPCU in 2017 and graduated cum laude from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a bachelor's and master's degree in Mathematics. In this episode of In the Know, Chris Hampshire and Marisol examine the current conditions in Southern California in the wake of the January 2025 wildfires and discuss her journey in the insurance industry.   Key Takeaways Marisol's humble upbringing underscored the importance of education. From claim rep to actuarial work to the vendor side, Marisol has found there is always something new to learn in the insurance industry. You don't need to have a family member in the industry to succeed in your insurance career. The importance of networking in a successful career. The impact of the Southern California wildfires on insurance ratings and carrier approvals. Increasing insurance premiums are creating unique challenges for vendors.  Long-term solutions for insurance in California. The pros and cons of moving from claims to strategy. CPCU courses provide insights into every aspect of the insurance industry. Marisol's decision to move from the carrier to the vendor side. Insurtech aims to address the unicorns of the technology industry. Marisol's decision to earn her CPCU designation stemmed from the example of her mentors.  Insights into what's coming next in the insurance industry, the market, and the economy as a whole.  A five-year look at the future role of insurance in the constantly changing environment. Strategies for fostering a more welcoming insurance industry. Marisol's bold advice to her early career self.   Quotes “If you are willing to network, there will be someone willing to help.” “Beyond just insurance, there has to be something more that someone comes up with that helps with the new climate that we're in.” “Going through the CPCU courses allowed me to see what else is out there.” “In CPCU courses, I was having deeper and more meaningful conversations with different folks within the insurance industry.” “Everything is changing, and we have to keep abreast on how we can provide solutions in this changing environment.”  

We're taking a critical look at the Double Diamond model, aka. Dual Track Development, aka. Dual Track Agile.This widely-adopted model might be leading leadership and/or teams astray, so we're taking some time to explore its limitations in real-world applications. From the misconception of linear progression to the crucial importance of keeping customers involved throughout the process, Brian tries to convince Om that the model needs significant rethinking!Other things we discuss are:Why the "messy middle" is where the real magic happensHow to properly involve your whole team in both discovery and deliveryThe importance of continuous customer involvementWhy organizational support is crucial for success#ProductManagement #AgileMethodology #ProductDevelopment #Leadership #ProductStrategyproduct management, agile methodology, product development, leadership, team development, double diamond, product discovery, product delivery, agile coaching, product strategy= = = = = = = = = = = =Watch on YouTubeSubscribe on YouTubeAppleSpotify= = = = = = = = = = = =Toronto Is My Beat (Music Sample)By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)

ABOUT JAMES CAMPBELLJames Campbell is the co-founder and CTO at Great Expectations, the leading open-source data quality product. Prior to his life at a startup, James spent nearly 15 years working across a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytic roles in the US intelligence community, ultimately serving as Chief Data Scientist at CIA. He studied Math and Philosophy at Yale, and international security at Georgetown. He is passionate about creating tools that help communicate uncertainty and build intuition about complex systems.This episode is brought to you by Clipboard HealthClipboard Health is looking for the next generation of exceptional software engineering leaders, not just managers. They're a profitable unicorn, backed by top-tier investors, and they take the craft of engineering management seriously.Clipboard Health matches highly qualified healthcare workers with nearby facilities to fulfill millions of shifts a year - revolutionizing healthcare staffing with a fast, flexible, and user-friendly platform.Learn more & browse their open roles at clipboardhealth.com/engineeringSHOW NOTES:The origin story of Great Expectations & James' founding journey (3:28)Pitching / validating your idea through community (6:24)Transitioning from federal government to co-founder of a company (9:20)Recommendations when considering the founder / collaboration path (11:30)James' experience starting with open source & getting 10k stars on GitHub (13:15)Engaging with your audience to drive growth & share your product's message (15:17)How open source impacts Great Expectations' marketing / communication (16:58)Navigating the tension between product vision & product roadmap (19:21)Where that tension showed up in Great Expectations' early days (22:11)Capturing & synthesizing insights from your users (23:54)Strategies for removing biases from product-related decisions (25:37)Finding the balance between your perspective & community insights (27:13)James' perspective on different levels of product analysis (29:54)Lessons learned from Great Expectations' phase changes (31:22)Takeaways from the org's latest experience / transition (34:51)Defining the “Heilmeier Catechism” & how it impacts James' leadership style (37:07)Rapid fire questions (40:40)LINKS AND RESOURCESCIA Guide to Analytic Tradecraft - Primer published by the CIA to assist analysts in dealing with the perennial problems of intelligence.American Prometheus - Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's definitive biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, a brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb for his country in a time of war, and who later found himself confronting the moral consequences of scientific progress.This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-HostJerry Li - Co-HostNoah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/

Substack Week: AI in Product Management, Enhancing Product Development Through Artificial Intelligence with Toni Dos Santos In this Substack Week episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming product management with Toni Dos Santos, co-author of The Product Courier newsletter. From automating routine tasks to enhancing strategic decision-making, Toni shares practical insights on leveraging AI to build better products faster and more efficiently. From Music to Banking to AI Product Management "I wanted to work in that area to find ways to put innovation to service to the consumers, and making it as invisible as possible." Toni's journey into AI and product management began in an unexpected place - the music industry. After working as a music producer, his interest in innovation led him to banking, where he discovered the untapped potential of data analytics. His experience working with machine learning and deep learning in banking laid the foundation for his current work with generative AI in product management. The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 sparked his deep dive into applying AI to product management challenges. Revolutionizing User Story Creation with AI "User stories are a big pain for many product managers, particularly junior ones... The idea is that you provide the AI with a PRD or description of the product, and it's going to write user stories based on best practices." Toni explains how AI can transform the process of writing user stories by automating the initial drafting while preserving the essential collaborative aspects. He emphasizes that while AI can handle the mechanics of writing, the real value comes from using it as a springboard for deeper discussions with the team. The technology can suggest edge cases, highlight potential gaps, and provide a structured foundation for further refinement. AI as a Tool for Understanding User Needs "Use all the transcripts, the feedback from user interviews that I have, feed it to AI and retrieve from it the key pain points, the major patterns that it identifies." Rather than replacing human insight, AI serves as a powerful tool for analyzing user feedback and identifying patterns. Toni shares practical examples of using AI to: Process and analyze app store reviews at scale Identify clusters of users with similar pain points Extract key themes from user interviews Validate qualitative findings with quantitative data Strategic Role of AI in Leadership "For product leaders, they should be the ones thinking how AI will affect their work because to define a strategy, to define a roadmap, AI can summarize tons of data, tons of information that you cannot do yourself." Toni challenges the notion that AI primarily impacts lower-level tasks. He argues that AI's ability to process vast amounts of information makes it particularly valuable for leadership roles. Leaders can use AI to: Prepare more effective meetings with relevant agendas Create alignment across different departments Practice important presentations and interviews Generate and evaluate strategic options Best Practices for Getting Started with AI "The best resource is to go into it... get ChatGPT, Gemini, whatever, and just dive into it and try and get learning and start practicing right away." For product managers looking to incorporate AI into their workflow, Toni emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience. He recommends: Starting with practical experimentation rather than just theoretical learning Understanding AI's limitations (20% error rate) and always double-checking outputs Treating AI interactions as conversations rather than one-off prompts Focusing on areas where AI can augment rather than replace human judgment Resources For Further Study BOOK: Bret King, Bank 3.0: Why Banking Is No Longer Somewhere You Go But Something You Do Toni's Product Courier Newsletter The AI focused episode with Marshall Goldsmith AI Course by IBM: Armin Ries, free AI course by IBM [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Substack Week: Why Product Management is Broken and How to Fix It With Anton Zaides In this SPECIAL Substack Week episode, we dive deep into the current state of product management with Anton Zaides, a seasoned software engineer and leader. Anton shares his perspectives on why product management is fundamentally broken and offers practical solutions for organizations looking to improve their product development processes. The Journey to Engineering Leadership "I started to search for content from other engineering managers and focused on practical insights." Anton's journey spans 15 years in software engineering, from game development to DevOps and scaling startups. His transition to leadership revealed a gap in practical leadership content, which inspired him to start sharing his own experiences. Drawing from his four years as an engineering leader in a startup, Anton noticed patterns in product management that needed addressing, leading to his viral article on the topic. The Broken State of Product Management "My team was working on a feature, that got canceled the day after it was released." Product management faces several critical challenges in today's technology landscape. Anton identifies key issues including the development of unused features, increasing software complexity, and misaligned incentives that discourage innovation. Through his conversations with industry professionals, he discovered these problems were widespread, with teams frequently building features that get canceled or go unused. Despite following Agile methodologies, many organizations fail to properly evaluate feature impact, leading to wasted resources and frustrated teams. Product Managers vs. Program Managers "The PM spent only 5% of his time on talking to customers." One of the core issues Anton identifies is the transformation of product managers into glorified program managers. In many organizations, product managers spend most of their time managing JIRA tickets and dependencies rather than engaging with customers and driving innovation. The pressure to deliver on predetermined roadmaps, often dictated by executive teams, leaves little room for challenging assumptions or testing ideas with minimal scope. This shift away from customer interaction and strategic thinking has reduced the product manager's role to primarily managing internal processes. Fostering Better Product Management "PM's should be like a founder for the product business." To improve product management, Anton advocates for several key changes: Offloading program management responsibilities to the team Trusting product managers to make strategic decisions Requiring specific industry knowledge and experience Encouraging face-to-face customer interactions Moving product managers closer to commercial roles Involving engineers in customer conversations Organizational Structure and Communication "The more links you have in the communication chain, the worse the information gets communicated." Anton proposes a shift towards a more functional organizational structure where Product and Engineering work together more closely. He emphasizes the importance of direct communication between technical teams and customers, warning against over-reliance on data alone. The solution involves bringing everyone closer to the business side and creating stronger networks between organizations and engineers. Practical Implementation Tips "Get engineers to visit customers." Key recommendations for improving product management include: Involving engineers in customer and sales conversations Giving engineers visibility through release messaging and communications Establishing strong collaboration between engineering leaders and product managers Ensuring product managers have deep domain expertise Creating opportunities for direct customer interaction Treating product managers as business owners rather than project managers Recommended Resources for Further Study Anton's Article that we review in this interview: “Product Management is broken, a change is coming”  John Cutle's article on Product Manager's Responsibilities  Anton's Article on how to work effectively with your Product Managers A book recommendation: Empowered by Marty Cagan An episode of Lenny's podcast with Brian Chesky [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

How can product leaders balance short-term wins and long-term product health? In this podcast hosted by EY Platform Operations Lead Justin Leibow, Zuora VP of Product Strategy Ken Houseman will be speaking on balancing short-term business pressures with long-term product strategy. Ken shares insights on effectively communicating the value of addressing technical debt, developing a T-shaped skill set, and the importance of self-reflection and mentorship in product management.

Chandra Janakiraman is the chief product officer, executive vice president, and a board member at VRChat. Previously, he was a product leader at Meta, where he led Facebook's social experience interfaces and Reality Labs' growth; served as CPO at Headspace, where he helped relaunch the platform, driving a 4x subscriber boost; and was a GM at Zynga, delivering massive hit games that reached hundreds of millions. In our conversation, Chandra shares:• His playbook for developing a product strategy• The difference between “small s” and “big S” strategy• How to run strategy sprints• Who should be involved in strategy work• Common pitfalls in strategy development• The role of AI in future strategy development• More—Brought to you by:• Eppo—Run reliable, impactful experiments• Airtable ProductCentral—Launch to new heights with a unified system for product development• OneSchema—Import CSV data 10x faster—Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/an-operators-guide-to-product-strategy-chandra-janakiraman—Where to find Chandra Janakiraman:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandramohanj/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Chandra's background(04:47) The importance of strategy(12:40) Defining product strategy(15:42) Developing a winning strategy: an overview(18:51) The preparation phase(30:46) The strategy sprint process(45:51) The design sprint (51:19) Document writing(57:39) Rolling out your strategy(01:01:28) Resourcing and roadmapping(01:04:42) Strategy lessons from Zynga(01:11:34) Strategy lessons from Meta(01:15:55) Big S strategy(01:26:58) AI in strategy formulation(01:38:12) Final thoughts and lightning round—Referenced:• Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/• Good Strategy, Bad Strategy | Richard Rumelt: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/good-strategy-bad-strategy-richard• 5 essential questions to craft a winning strategy | Roger Martin (author, advisor, speaker): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-ultimate-guide-to-strategy-roger-martin• VRChat: https://hello.vrchat.com/• Andrew Chen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmandrewchen/• Template: Working Backwards PR FAQ: https://www.workingbackwards.com/resources/working-backwards-pr-faq• How LinkedIn became interesting: The inside story | Tomer Cohen (CPO at LinkedIn): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-linkedin-became-interesting-tomer-cohen• Making time for what matters | Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky (authors of Sprint and Make Time, co-founders of Character Capital): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-time-for-what-matters-jake• Identify your bullseye customer in one day | Michael Margolis (UX Research Partner at Google Ventures): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/finding-your-bullseye-customer-michael-margolis• Chandra's flow chart: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SLmQ0oRFadzJnNM3MJetnLUvB18U4W4GXU4KtJ2ujEQ/edit?tab=t.0• Chandra's strategy template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iNeYUaMnpicvkpVZO-gj9cCxLeHfWN0xtGm_QoxgemE/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.5d3jz6v86yrs• Zynga: https://www.zynga.com/• David Foster Wallace's quote about water: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/97082-there-are-these-two-young-fish-swimming-along-and-they• Oculus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oculus• Elon Musk's quote: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wf8TadbGYok• Concept car: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_car• Acquired podcast: The Mark Zuckerberg interview: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/the-mark-zuckerberg-interview• Armand Ruiz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armand-ruiz/• What is a multi-armed bandit? Full explanation: https://amplitude.com/explore/experiment/multi-armed-bandit• IF on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/IF-John-Krasinski/dp/B0CW19SCVW• Dune: Part 2 on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/dune-part-two/umc.cmc.363aycnv6vy9qgekvew6fveb9• Dune Prophecy on Max: https://www.max.com/shows/dune-prophecy-2024/57660b16-a32a-476f-89da-3302ac379e91• Capybara Go on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ph/app/capybara-go/id6596787726• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/• Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Lost-Interview/dp/B01IJD1BES—Recommended books:• The Art of War: https://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Sun-Tzu/dp/1599869772• Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors: https://www.amazon.com/Competitive-Strategy-Techniques-Industries-Competitors/dp/0684841487/• Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Strategy-Bad-Difference-Matters/dp/0307886239/• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Win-Strategy-Really-Works/dp/142218739X• Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Time-Focus-Matters-Every/dp/0525572422• Sprint: https://www.amazon.com/SPRINT-Jake-Zeratsky-Knapp/dp/0593076117• Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination: https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Triumph-American-Imagination/dp/0679757473• Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Overcoming-Inspiration/dp/0593594649/• The Ten Faces of Innovation: Strategies for Heightening Creativity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385512074—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe