Design getting the seat at the executive table is still a steep hill to climb. 


For the 100th episode of the show, I'm bringing my friend and longtime coworker Clay Walter to talk about his growth into the VP of Design role. 


We discuss what you have to unlearn to become influential as a designer in your org and what is looked for in a VP of Design. 


Connect with Clay 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wayofproduct.com

100 - The Path to the VP of Design Role - Clay Walter, VP of User Experience @ ProducePay

A podcast on overcoming the challenges of collaboration within a product team. 

If you want to develop strong soft skills, product sense, and design taste, this show is for you!
 

www.wayofproduct.com

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Connect with Norma Løvhaugen on Linkedin. In this episode, Norma, a veteran in the video conferencing industry with 19 years of experience, shares her journey from starting in Hamburg and Cisco to becoming the Head of Product at Neat.  This company blurs the line between the office and remote workers. I am in awe of what goes into seamless videoconferencing experiences.  She discusses the magic of creating products that facilitate human connection across distances and the collaborative effort it involves, especially the intricate balance between design, technology, and user experience. Norma emphasizes the importance of design-driven approaches, the complexities behind the simplicity of video conferencing products, and how balancing various considerations like audio quality, compliance, and aesthetics leads to products highly valued by customers. She highlights the role of psychological safety and trust within teams, facilitating effective cross-functional collaboration, and the impact of directly engaging with customers and sales teams to understand better and meet their needs. Norma also touches on her reasons for joining Neat, the excitement of working in a startup environment, and the recent launch of Neat's second-generation video conferencing bar, encapsulating her passion for innovation in the industry. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:05 Norma's Journey in the Video Conferencing Industry 01:02 Inside the World of Video Conferencing Tech 04:53 The Magic of Product Development and Design 10:25 Learning from Mistakes: A Product Launch Story 13:11 Building a Culture of Psychological Safety and Trust 18:00 The Power of Inclusive Product Strategy 23:51 Transitioning from Cisco to NEAT: A New Chapter 26:51 Understanding Business Through Product Leadership 28:18 The Role of Design in Product Success 33:07 Collaboration Across Departments: A Key to Success 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wayofproduct.com

The most effective leadership style for ensuring beautiful and practical products

People don’t collect art; they collect the story. 


People will spend $200,000 on a Pokemon card, and the team at Rally understands that. 


On #wayofproduct this week, Rob Petrozzo, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Rally, shares his journey of creating a groundbreaking platform like a collectibles stock market. Rally has become a hub for trading everything from dinosaur fossils and classic cars to modern NFTs and trading cards, fostering a community of shared interests and passion.


Here's what we're diving into:


⭐ The inception of Rally and how it evolved from a concept to a thriving community around unique and emotional collectibles.
⭐ Rob's personal journey and how his passion for tangible art and design influenced Rally's development.
⭐ The challenges and strategies in making high-value collectibles like classic cars and Warhol paintings accessible to more people.
⭐ Insights into the storytelling aspect of products, emphasizing that it's not just the item but its story that creates value and captivates people.
⭐ How Rally's approach differs from traditional financial platforms by focusing on user experience, akin to exploring a museum, rather than just transactions.
⭐ The importance of authentic marketing and design that resonates with consumers on an emotional level, especially in a world where traditional advertising methods are becoming less effective.
⭐ Rally's strategy to build a strong community by offering a platform that's as engaging and informative as it is transactional.


Subscribe and listen to The Way of Product at www.wayofproduct.com


————————————————————
Hi! I'm Caden Damiano, I'm an interaction designer, collaboration coach, and lifelong student of the craft of product development.


I believe that product development is a liberal art, meaning you must experience multiple disciplines and perspectives to know how to make something that customers tell their friends about.


In short, I believe great products have free word-of-mouth marketing.


Follow me here on LinkedIn for daily clips from my interviews with product professionals and insights on making great products.

 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wayofproduct.com

How to find underserved markets, "word-of-mouth" as a success metric, and what makes a product valuable? w/ Rob Petrozzo CPO of Rally Ep 118

Understanding this secret will set you up for success as a product designer in this AI age. 


AI is “autocomplete” on steroids in its current form. 


On #wayofproduct this week, we're thrilled to have Michael Tinglin back on the show!


Michael is a design leader who has worked at places like 7-Eleven, and Fannie Mae, and recently was Head of Design at Confluence. 


He taught me about the non-linear career path, where you can jump between management and IC work depending on your interests. 


A designer from Dallas, Texas, Michael has a passion for UX and product design. 


Michael brings his unique insights into AI and product design, emphasizing that AI is not “a magic bullet” but a tool that, when utilized thoughtfully, can be transformative.


In this episode, we dive into:


⭐ The state of AI in the media and marketing world and how it's not as “new” as many think.
⭐ The importance of not just adding AI for the sake of it but ensuring it adds real value and ROI.
⭐ How AI might be the next phase of true personalization in e-commerce, moving beyond creepy ads to genuinely valuable recommendations.
⭐ The conversation around strategy in design and product management and how agile is often a tactic rather than a strategy.
⭐ Michael's perspective on innovation as a business growth mechanism and how companies like Berkshire Hathaway transformed from furniture stores to investment giants through innovative thinking.


Subscribe and find where to listen to “The Way of Product” at


way+of+product+dot+com (LinkedIn will throttle this post for sharing a link)


———————————————————
Hi! I'm Caden Damiano; I'm an interaction designer, collaboration coach, and lifelong student of the craft of product development.


I believe that product development is a liberal art, meaning you must experience multiple disciplines and perspectives to know how to make something that customers tell their friends about.


In short, I believe great products have free word-of-mouth marketing. 


Follow me here on LinkedIn for daily clips from my interviews with product professionals. 


#UXDesign
#AI
#ProductDesign
#Innovation
#WayOfProduct
#CreativeStrategy

 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wayofproduct.com

Crafting AI User Experiences, What it Means to be an “Artist” and What you should Look for in your next role after a layoff w/ Michael Tinglin, Design Leader, ex 7-Eleven, Atlassian EP 117

On #wayofproduct this week, join us as we dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Bryan Zmijewski, a veteran in the design world, design lecturer at Stanford, and a pioneer in integrating design thinking and engineering concepts. With his extensive experience in design and technology, Bryan shares his unique perspectives on how design fits into today's business ecosystems.


In this episode, we explore:


⭐ The origins of design thinking from engineering and its practical applications in business and design.
⭐ Bryan's extensive experience in helping companies like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney craft great things through design.
⭐ The evolving role of design in product development and the shifting dynamics between product design and UX design.
⭐ The importance of system thinking in design and how it influences the creation of user experiences.
⭐ Bryan's approach to design as a tool for facilitating organizational change and producing impactful products.
⭐ The role of intuition in the design process and the balance between gut feelings and structured testing.
⭐ A deep dive into understanding customer needs and integrating feedback loops into design and product development.
⭐ Bryan's insights on successful product development despite team dysfunctions and the focus on creating great products.
⭐ An introduction to Helio, Bryan's continuous discovery tool, and its impact on gathering rapid customer feedback for digital products.


Subscribe and listen to The Way of Product on...




Engineers invented design thinking! The history of the product design profession, thinking like an engineer, and UX as a Discipline w/ Bryan Zmijewski CEO of Zurb EP 116

On #wayofproduct this week, we're joined by Mitch Clements, a seasoned product design manager whose career journey has taken him from a budding startup in a basement to a pivotal role in a billion-dollar unicorn. Mitch shares his transformative experiences and insights on leading design innovations and influencing company culture in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.


Here's what we're diving into:


⭐ Mitch's unique journey from a small basement startup, Simple Nexus, to its acquisition by nCino, valued at $1.2 billion.
⭐ The critical role of design vision and strategy in propelling a company's growth and maturation.
⭐ How continuous user-focused design and customer listening shaped Simple Nexus's success and acquisition appeal.
⭐ The power of sharing and collaborating on design visions company-wide, creating a unified direction and excitement.
⭐ Mitch's transition from hands-on design to empowering and leading a team of designers in a larger corporate environment.


Subscribe and listen to The Way of Product on...




Experiencing a startup exit, creating your own table instead of getting a seat at the table, what it takes to sell a compelling vision w/ Mitchell Clements Design Manager @ nCino Ep 115

100 - The Path to the VP of Design Role - Clay Walter, VP of User Experience @ ProducePay

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