Podcasts about Product strategy

Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 67:47

Most PMs still think velocity = impact. They're wrong. If no one on your team owns adoption, retention, or revenue—then growth isn't anyone's job. Jayson Robinson joins Convergence.fm to unpack why most product teams are built to ship—but not to grow. From leading growth at Toptal and BairesDev to advising SaaS companies and launching enterprise products at M&S, Jayson has seen where traditional product orgs fall apart—and what high-agency PMs actually do differently. We cover how to spot deadweight roles, when founders need to let go, and what happens when you hire people who are better at agile ceremonies than business outcomes. 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 velocity without measurable outcomes is a red flag The critical differences between growth PMs and generalist PMs What high-agency PMs do that process-driven PMs can't replicate How to interview for ownership, not just experience The real reason “translator” PMs are getting phased out What happened when HP focused on output over market alignment How Duolingo's growth org became its engine of compounding retention Why founders who don't let go end up being the ceiling Lessons from Netflix, Shopify, and Linear on org design that scales Mentioned in this episode The HP Way by David Packard — Buy the book Duolingo's Growth Strategy — Lenny Rachitsky breakdown Shopify Product Leadership — First Round article Linear's Product Development Approach — Read on Linear's blog High Agency Hiring — Michael Dearing on First Round Jayson's blog post on the future of PM roles: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jaysonkrobinson_the-product-manager-role-is-speciating-activity-7315760215277121536-1LcF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGxt90BvpkwcznT5WbhfSl0aK9PPNhWLy4 Mind the product talk by ElevenLabs and build measure learn cycle Jason's Linkedin profile 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

Growth tactics from OpenAI and Stripe's first marketer | Krithika Shankarraman

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2025 74:02

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

Episode 287: The Strategy CFOs Use to Boost Liquidity and Cut Waste by Aligning AP & Treasury with Tamir & Rajiv

Corporate Treasury 101

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 58:42

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we explore how corporate treasurers can enhance collaboration with Procurement and Accounts Payable (AP) teams to optimize working capital, reduce the cost of capital, and improve cash flow visibility. Tamir Shafer and Rajiv Ramachandran from Coupa share insights on the interdependencies between Treasury, Procurement, and AP, and how technology platforms can break down silos and streamline these critical financial functions. With growing complexity in supply chains and supplier payment management, treasurers need new strategies and tools to drive efficiency and financial health across the organization.Tamir Shafer, Area Vice President at Coupa and a former Treasury practitioner, offers a unique perspective on how Treasury can better engage with Procurement and AP. Rajiv Ramachandran, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at Coupa Pay, explains how integrated spend management platforms empower companies to gain early visibility into payments and cash flow forecasts while enabling innovative solutions like dynamic discounting. Together, they unpack how Treasury can become a strategic leader by working closely with these departments.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeThe roles Procurement and AP play and their impact on Treasury operationsHow Treasury, Procurement, and AP interconnect to manage supplier contracts, payments, and liquidity riskWays data analytics and technology platforms like Coupa improve spend visibility and cash flow forecastingPractical insights on dynamic discounting and working capital optimization across the supply chainTips for breaking down organizational silos and fostering cross-department collaboration for financial transformationEpisode Breakdown & Timestamps [00:00] – Introduction and $100 AFP Certification Discount [00:37] – Meet Tamir Shafer and Rajiv Ramachandran from Coupa [02:17] – What Does a Procurement Department Typically Do? [06:11] – Supplier Contracts, Risk, and Treasury's Role [08:54] – Understanding the Accounts Payable Process [13:17] – Optimizing Working Capital through Dynamic Discounting [20:01] – Simplifying Payment and Financing with Technology [25:27] – Integration Challenges and Supplier Onboarding [30:10] – Interdependencies Between Procurement, AP, and Treasury [37:03] – How Coupa Enables Collaboration Through Unified Platform [42:54] – Learning Across Departments and Breaking Silos [48:00] – Why Coupa Linked Procurement, AP, and Treasury [56:00] – Final Advice: Treasurers as Superheroes and Change Agents [58:00] – Closing and How to Learn More About Coupa and Our GuestsFollow Our Guests:Tamir ShaferLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamir-shafer-0722434/ Website: https://www.coupa.com/ Coupa (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/coupa-software/ Rajiv RamachandranLinkedIn:

BONUS The PRFAQ Framework With Marcelo Calbucci

Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 28:15

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.

Here Comes the Sludge with Kelly Shortridge and Josiah Dykstra

Human-Centered Security

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 43:23

Users, threat actors, and the system design all influence—and are influenced by—one another. To design safer systems, we first need to understand the players who operate within those systems. Kelly Shortridge and Josiah Dykstra exemplify this human-centered approach in their work. In this episode we talk about:The vital role of human factors in cyber-resilience—how Josiah and Kelly apply a behavioral-economics mindset every day to design safer, more adaptable systems.Key cognitive biases that undermine incident response (like action bias and opportunity costs) and simple heuristics to counter them.The “sludge” strategy: deliberately introducing friction to attacker workflows to increase time, effort, and financial costs—as Kelly says, “disrupt their economics.”Why moving from a security culture of shame and blame to one of open learning and continuous improvement is essential for true cybersecurity resilience.Kelly Shortridge is VP, Security Products at Fastly, formerly VP of Product Management and Product Strategy at Capsule8. She is the author of Security Chaos Engineering: Sustaining Resilience in Software and Systems.Josiah Dykstra is the owner of Designer Security, human-centered security advocate, cybersecurity researcher, and former Director of Strategic Initiatives at Trail of Bits. He also worked at the NSA as Technical Director, Critical Networks and Systems. Josiah is the author of Cybersecurity Myths and Misconceptions: Avoiding the Hazards and Pitfalls that Derail Us.During this episode, we reference:Josiah Dykstra, Kelly Shortridge, Jamie Met, Douglas Hough, “Sludge for Good: Slowing and Imposing Costs on Cyber Attackers,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2211.16626 (2022).Josiah Dykstra, Kelly Shortridge, Jamie Met, Douglas Hough, “Opportunity Cost of Action Bias in Cybersecurity Incident Response,” Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 66, Issue 1 (2022): 1116-1120.

AA212 - Peak Product Management | Product Competencies

ai management forever svp eliminating oms product strategy akilah change order

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 46:44 Transcription Available

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)

director peak deeds pms product management product strategy competencies agile leadership stakeholder management cpos voice of the customer product leadership produc ravi mehta

How AI Will Change Order Management Forever With Infios SVP Omar Akilah | 5IM

Omni Talk

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 8:20

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

AI-Driven Development: Driving adoption on your product teams, Team Culture, and AI-Native Engineering Practices

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 44:22

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

AA211 - Communication Is Product's Only Job, OR IS IT?

product crossing visibility deeds pms product management chasm self advocacy product strategy spencer johnson ackermann agile leadership communicationthe bill carr colin bryar technical excellence

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 55:03 Transcription Available

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)

Lessons Leading EPD: Mindset, decision-making, 80/20 product strategy & pivoting for leverage/speed w/ Farnaz Azmoodeh #219

The Engineering Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 43:12

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/

How to category carve in B2B commerce | Jake Hookom, EVP of Product (Perforce) | LaunchPod

LaunchPod

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 38:32

Today, we're talking with Jake Hookom, EVP of Product at Perforce. In this episode, we'll explore: How Jake's focus on "category carving" at Four51 helped them soar above the sea of headless commerce tools and into a successful exit Why most PMs are wrong to measure success on features shipped - it's about solving user problems throughout the entire customer journey And, how Sitecore's enormous practitioner community provided market awareness and a means to drive product adoption beyond anything they could do alone disrupts the world Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobhookom/ Perforce: https://www.perforce.com/ Resources Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, Kevin Maney: https://www.harperacademic.com/book/9780062407610/play-bigger/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:17 Joining 451 During COVID 02:24 First 90 Days Strategy 04:21 Defining a New Category 08:07 Focusing on B2B Market 10:16 Product as a Spectrum 15:59 Importance of Compliance 19:37 Success and Acquisition 20:17 Joining the Java Champions Community 21:22 The Acquisition by Sitecore 22:29 Focusing on B2B Product Sales 24:16 Building a Practitioner Community at Sitecore 25:40 Leveraging Community Feedback 30:00 The Role of Product in Solving Problems 33:52 Engaging and Growing the Community 39:27 Outro Follow LaunchPod on YouTube We have a new YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@LaunchPod.byLogRocket)! Watch full episodes of our interviews with PM leaders and subscribe! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket combines frontend monitoring, product analytics, and session replay to help software teams deliver the ideal product experience. Try LogRocket for free today. (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr) Special Guest: Jake Hookom.

Samsara CPO on Building a $20B Tech Giant by Digitizing Non-Tech Industries | Kiren Sekar | E266

tiktok ai strategy sustainability methods persona approaches iot industries product management data driven chief product officer focuses tech giants product strategy samsara emphasizes digitizing carlos gonzalez

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 35:07

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

From Burnout to $70K Months: The One-Product Strategy with Jennifer Morilla [Ep 76]

Beyond The Systems Podcast | Business Systems & Growth Strategies For Your Online Business

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 32:56

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/

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Jamf After Dark - Current Landscape of Security and Privacy for K-12

Jamf After Dark

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 56:51

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.

ai school education identity security minneapolis privacy wetter k12 product strategy cyber threats mdm it professionals current landscape jamf jamf after dark

Greening the Live Events Industry

Audio Talks

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 52:45

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.

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The Power of Small Data With High Signal - A Jobs To Be Done Masterclass with Andrew Glaser

The Paychex Business Series Podcast with Gene Marks - Coronavirus

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 74:48

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 Attorney John Fay: I9 Compliance Essentials for Employers

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 27:05

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.

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65: Exposing My 2025 Digital Product Strategy

The Travel Creator: Tips For Travel Influencers

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 15:44

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.

live exposing product strategy digital product

Taking Control: How One Exec Team Reclaimed Their Tech Strategy

design philosophy practical empathy scale senior director uncovering product management henry ford ericsson product strategy customer needs faster horses

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 10:56

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

Beyond Faster Horses: Uncovering Customer Needs at Scale

UX Leadership by Design

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 37:11 Transcription Available

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

161 / 3 Core Tenets of Product Strategy and Execution, with Cassidy Fein

Product Momentum Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 32:40

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..

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Zoom's CPO on Evolving Product Strategy in a Post-Pandemic Market (with Smita Hashim)

The Product Manager

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 21:51 Transcription Available

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

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Grab CPO on Building the Leading Super App in Southeast Asia | E263

tiktok tech evolution uber scale persona marketplace malaysia southeast asia customer experience profitability product management chief product officer southeast asian product strategy hyperlocal carlos gonzalez technical innovation

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 33:27

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 and Product Strategy

Roman Pichler

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2025 12:55

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.

ai product strategy

Customer Success Playbook S3 E39 - Matt LeMay - AI Is Not a Strategy

The Customer Success Playbook

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 12:34 Transcription Available

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.

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Product Enhancement Strategies: How to Add Value Without Adding Bloat

Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 23:30

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.

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Carta CPO on Going Multi-Product to Grow from $20M to $500M ARR | Vrushali Paunikar | E262

director ai operations product strategy servicenow enterprise ai

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 54:24

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

ServiceNow: Product Strategy in Enterprise AI

Wharton Tech Toks

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 35:32

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!

Payments Unbound: The future of connected car payments

Market Matters

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 20:20

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.

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SoundCloud SVP of Product on Leading a Turnaround from Near Collapse to Profitability | Ashok Bania | E261

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 45:21

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

AA206 - Reacting to Lenny's Podcast with Melissa Perri on Agile, Scrum, and SAFe

The Product Science Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 56:29 Transcription Available

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)

The Stephanie Leue Hypothesis: Developing Product Strategy is a Critical, Ongoing Piece of the Chief Product Officer Role

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 32:00

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.⁠

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Shaping Legal Ops: Predictions for 2030

CLOC Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 38:57

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.

predictions vice president legal disco shaping global head nestl product strategy philip morris international legal operations

Postscript CPO on Driving Product Revenue with SMS | Chiara McPhee | E260

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 43:53

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.

AA205 - Debating Impact vs. Visibility in Product Management

planning focusing plans visibility agile deeds debating leadership development product managers product management scrum product strategy organizational culture product owners career advancement agile coach edwards deming agile coaching

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 58:34 Transcription Available

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)

Navigating Stakeholder Expectations and Building Sustainable Fundraising Strategies

Friday5 with Tammy Zonker

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 53:06

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.

strategy navigating vice president expectations write sustainable roi fundraising stakeholders product strategy cherian

Ex-Instagram VP of Product on Scaling & Monetizing Marketplaces | Tanya Cordrey, CPO at Motorway | E259