What advice can a new VP of product, with extensive industry experience but limited product management experience, receive to succeed in their role?Advice for a new VP of product with industry experience but limited product management knowledge includes understanding product management as a craft, learning key concepts and methodologies, and leveraging industry expertise to empathize with customers. It's essential to establish a collaborative environment with product managers, focus on defining problems rather than solutions, and continuously engage with users to inform product strategy. Building strong relationships with engineering and design teams, while being open to feedback and learning, will help in successfully transitioning into the role.Episode resources:Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devGet a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissaCheck all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking
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Episode 239: Navigating the AI Shift at Stack Overflow with Jody Bailey
Jody Bailey, the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Stack Overflow, joins Melissa Perri to discuss the integration of AI and product strategy in one of the world’s largest online communities for technologists. Jody shares insights on how Stack Overflow is navigating the rapid technological advancements and adapting to maintain long-term trust within its community.They delve into the challenges and opportunities AI presents and how it influences product management at Stack Overflow. Curious about how AI is reshaping the product landscape and how Stack Overflow is positioning itself in this new era? Tune in to discover how Jody Bailey is leading the charge at the intersection of technology and community.You'll hear us talk about:06:52 - Building Trusted AI Knowledge for EnterprisesJody Bailey describes Stack Overflow's enterprise solution that maintains a positive feedback environment and identifies subject matter experts. He emphasizes the need for a trusted knowledge layer to manage and distribute proprietary information within organizations.13:43 - Leveraging Core Strengths in the AI EraJody discusses how Stack Overflow is focusing on its core strengths, such as human connection and technical information, to position itself as a vital source for technologists in a world increasingly turning to AI tools for quick answers.19:52 - Trust, Adoption, and the Limits of AI in Development WorkThe conversation covers the importance of trust in Stack Overflow's community and how the platform ensures transparency and reliability, especially when integrating AI into its offerings. Jody highlights the need for a balanced approach to using AI without compromising on human interaction and knowledge.Episode resources:Jody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodybailey/Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our courses: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Coming Up02:18 From retirement to Stack Overflow06:52 Building trusted AI knowledge for enterprise12:19 Redefining Stack Overflow’s strategy for the AI era19:52 Trust, adoption, and the limits of AI in dev work26:08 Keeping junior roles relevant in an AI future32:22 Internal transparency and advice for ambitious leaders
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Episode 238: Managing Success Beyond the Build
What product management principles can be applied in an enterprise setting where teams implement a purchased SaaS tool rather than building their own?The podcast discusses the role of product management in organizations that implement purchased software rather than building it. Melissa Perri emphasizes that product managers still need to evaluate whether the tools solve the right problems, customize them for their needs, and ensure they align with business goals. She encourages teams to practice good product management principles, regardless of whether they own the tools, and to communicate the importance of these practices to leadership.Episode resources:Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devGet a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissaCheck all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking
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Episode 237: Leading Creative Teams with Discipline with Keith Lucas
Keith Lucas, author and former product leader at Roblox, joins Melissa Perri to discuss his new book "Impact," which focuses on building high-performing, innovative teams. Keith shares insights from his experience leading teams at Roblox and explores how visionary leadership and mission-driven strategies can inspire and align teams for success. The conversation delves into creative constraints, the balance between vision and mission, and the continuous improvement necessary for effective leadership.Ready to learn how to lead innovative teams and align them with your organization's mission? Tune in to gain valuable insights from Keith's experience and discover practical strategies for building impactful teams.You’ll hear us talk about:05:45 - Visionary Leadership and Team AlignmentKeith explains the importance of visionary leadership and involving teams in strategy formation to inspire and align them with the organization's goals. He discusses how this approach helps in building trust and fostering a shared sense of purpose among team members.15:30 - Creative Constraints and InnovationIn this section, Keith emphasizes the need for creative constraints and maintaining flow states to foster innovation. He shares strategies on how leaders can set boundaries that encourage creativity without stifling the team's potential.27:20 - Decency Over Niceness in LeadershipKeith talks about the distinction between being decent and being nice as a leader. He argues that transparency and honesty are more valuable than mere niceness, especially when it comes to making tough decisions and fostering a culture of trust.Episode resources:Impact book: https://keithvlucas.com/writing/impact/Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvlucas/Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/devCheck our course: https://productinstitute.com/Timestamps:00:00 Coming Up02:40 Why Keith wrote Impact09:33 Creating focus and the year of growth15:30 OKRs, cadence, and Kanban approach22:58 Mastery and ownership in high-performing teams33:11 Course correction and tough calls35:40 Decency over niceness and creating space for creativity44:56 Intuition, mastery, and first steps for leaders
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Episode 236: Real Career Advice From Product Leaders
Join Melissa Perri as she dives into some of the best advice about career growth in product management from an incredible group of industry leaders. Monica Lewis from LinkedIn, Kristin Dorsett from Viator, Dheerja Kaur from Robinhood, Lucie Buisson from Contentsquare, Ben Hafele from the Lean Startup Co., Marco De Freitas and Amber Brestowski from Vanguard, Oliver Seil from Belkin International, David Myszewski from Wealthfront, and Eilon Reshef from Gong share their insights on developing strategic judgment, embracing learning, and leveraging AI for productivity.Discover how focusing on impact over scope, obsessing over problems, and starting small can accelerate your growth in product management. Our guests also discuss the importance of market fit strategy, learning from missteps, and being open to unexpected opportunities.Want to accelerate your product management career with practical advice from industry leaders? Tune in to this episode for actionable insights and strategies to help you grow and succeed.You’ll hear us talk about:07:45 - Embracing Learning on the JobKristin Dorsett talks about not sweating the small stuff and embracing learning on the job, emphasizing that nobody has it all figured out and the value of continuous growth in product management.15:22 - Leveraging AI for ProductivityLucie Buisson explains how using AI can enhance productivity, allowing product managers to focus on strategic thinking and customer engagement by freeing up valuable time.23:10 - Starting Small to Prove ConceptsBen Hafele introduces the "Convinced Do Loop," highlighting the importance of starting small to prove concepts instead of trying to convince everyone at once, thereby enabling more effective product management strategies.Episode resources:Monica Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamlewis/Kristin Dorsett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/Dheerja Kaur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheerja/Lucie Buisson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucie-buisson/David Myszewski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmyszewski/Amber Brestowski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-brestowski-019b56ab/Marco De Freitas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-de-freitas-80416714/Oliver Seil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-seil/Eilon Reshef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eilonreshef/Ben Hafele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hafele/Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overviewTimestamps:00:00 Introduction03:03 Monica Lewis: Grow where you are04:28 Kristin Dorsett: Don’t sweat the small stuff07:36 Lucie Buisson: Use AI to reclaim time for strategy11:12 David Myszewski: Lean into what’s working13:30 Amber & Marco: Obsess over problems, be ruthless with priorities18:50 Oliver Seil: Learn with intention21:20 Ben Hafele: Start small and let doing drive buy-in
Successful product management isn’t just about training the product managers who work side by side with developers everyday to build better products. It’s about taking a step back, approaching the systems within organizations as a whole, and leveling up product leadership to improve these systems. This is the Product Thinking Podcast, where Melissa Perri will connect with industry leading experts in the product management space, AND answer your most pressing questions about everything product. Join us each week to level up your skillset and invest in yourself as a product leader.
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