Corporate Underpants

Corporate Underpants

By Tamara AdlinTechnology
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Corporate Underpants episodes

  • E8 AUDIO Bruce McCarthy on Alignment and Why Sometimes You Have To Let It Break

    Ever felt like the goals are fuzzy, the execs are fighting, and your roadmap is just a wish list? You're not alone. In this episode of Corporate Underpants Live, I talk with Bruce McCarthy, co-author of Aligned, about what really derails progress in product, UX, and leadership—and how to build alignment even when it feels impossible. 

    We cover: 
    💥 Why tornadoes = political power struggles 
    ⚠️ What to do when execs don’t agree (or even know the goals) 
    🧠 How “mining for conflict” can surface the truth 
    🛠️ Using Daci to clarify decisions 
    🙃 Why facts don’t win arguments (and what to use instead) 
    ⏳ And yes—you can change a system, if you’re patient enough Whether you’re managing up, navigating cross-functional chaos, or trying to make sense of your OKRs—this one’s for you.

    Check out my interview with Bruce's co-author Melissa Appel for more Alignment deliciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDav6y647vk&t=11s

    🎥 Prefer to watch the video version?
    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/69QqD0etKvA
    Watch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7304991585195155456/
    💬 Let’s talk about it:
    Got stories of your own corporate chaos? Drop a comment or tell me about it on adlininc.com.

     

    55 min
  • E11 VIDEO Andy Fitzgerald on Taxonomies, Trust, and Making Sense of Organizational Chaos
    Information architect and UX strategist Andy Fitzgerald joined me to talk about what happens when content systems reflect silos instead of shared understanding. We unpacked how messy navigation, broken taxonomies, and unclear content flows often reveal misalignment inside the org—not just design problems on the screen.
    We also talked about:
    • Using architecture to surface conflict
    • Why navigation is a trust signal
    • The difference between content systems and strategy
    • How cartography, not templates, might be your best metaphor
    • Why users—and teams—get stuck without context
      • Whether you’re working in higher ed, government, or any content-heavy org, this one’s packed with alignment gold.
      57 min
    • E10 VIDEO Bill Albert on UX Theater, Agency Traps, and What Research Is Really For
      Why do so many UX researchers end up doing the wrong work for the wrong reasons?
      In this episode of Corporate Underpants Live, I talk with Bill Albert—author of Measuring the User Experience and founding director of Bentley’s Design and Usability Center—about the sneaky ways research gets misused, the traps UX teams fall into, and how to start being strategic before you’re invited to be.
      We cover:
      • How research becomes a performance instead of a process
      • The hidden cost of acting like an internal agency
      • Why UX maturity models don’t equal real buy-in
      • What to do when you get pulled into stakeholder tornadoes
      • How to step into strategy without permission
      • Red flags like “we already know the users”
      • Why mapping stakeholders is just as important as mapping users
        • This episode is a guide to getting unstuck, getting heard, and doing research that actually matters.
         
        Subscribe for more uncomfortable truths, sharp tools, and real talk about leadership, politics, and UX strategy.
         
        #CorporateUnderpants #UXResearch #UXMaturity #StakeholderManagement #UserExperience #BillAlbert #TamaraAdlin #DesignLeadership #ProductStrategy #ResearchOps
        58 min
      • E9 VIDEO David Bland on Testing Business Ideas, Strategy Confusion, and Why VC Culture is Broken

        David Bland, co-author of *Testing Business Ideas*, joins Tamara Adlin for a candid conversation about what *actually* holds teams back from testing well, building great products, and aligning around a strategy that works. Spoiler: the biggest barriers aren’t lack of data—they’re misalignment, culture, and invisible power dynamics.


        This episode digs into the difference between performing strategy and actually having one, why VC culture often disincentivizes good product decisions, and how to prioritize what to test when everything feels risky.

        🔥 Key Takeaways:
        – Testing is not about proving you’re right.
        – Strategy without alignment = chaos disguised as agility.
        – Even CEOs need facilitation.
        – You can’t outsource clarity.

        💬 Favorite Quote from David:
        “You can do all the testing in the world, but if you didn’t prioritize your risk—or even agree on what your biggest risk was—you’re just running really fast in all directions.”

        👤 Guest Info:
        David Bland — Innovation coach, startup veteran, and co-author of *Testing Business Ideas* 
        https://davidjbland.com

        📚 Mentioned:
        – *Testing Business Ideas*
        – Strategyzer value proposition canvas
        – Corporate Venture vs. traditional VC

        🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
        Find more at www.adlininc.com

        59 min
      • E8 VIDEO Bruce McCarthy on Alignment and Why Sometimes You Have To Let It Break

        Ever felt like the goals are fuzzy, the execs are fighting, and your roadmap is just a wish list? You're not alone. In this episode of Corporate Underpants Live, I talk with Bruce McCarthy, co-author of Aligned, about what really derails progress in product, UX, and leadership—and how to build alignment even when it feels impossible.

        We cover:
        💥 Why tornadoes = political power struggles
        ⚠️ What to do when execs don’t agree (or even know the goals)
        🧠 How “mining for conflict” can surface the truth
        🛠️ Using Daci to clarify decisions
        🙃 Why facts don’t win arguments (and what to use instead)
        ⏳ And yes—you can change a system, if you’re patient enough Whether you’re managing up, navigating cross-functional chaos, or trying to make sense of your OKRs—this one’s for you.

        Check out my interview with Bruce's co-author Melissa Appel for more Alignment deliciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDav6y647vk&t=11s

        🎥 Prefer to watch the video version?
        Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/69QqD0etKvA
        Watch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7304991585195155456/
        💬 Let’s talk about it:
        Got stories of your own corporate chaos? Drop a comment or tell me about it on adlininc.com.




        55 min
      • E7 AUDIO Mike Neff on Puzzle Perspective and Decoding Leadership Behavior
        What if the real reason your product failed wasn’t the team or the timeline—but that you were solving the wrong puzzle entirely?
        In this episode, I talk with Mike Neff, a seasoned product design leader, about what happened when he joined a company headed for IPO—and discovered that everything he thought he knew about success, alignment, and leadership was just one small piece of a much bigger picture.
        We cover:
        • Why “doing everything right” isn’t enough
        • How to spot invisible misalignment before it wrecks your roadmap
        • Using design tools to align stakeholders (not just users)
        • What to ask when nothing makes sense
        • Why puzzle perspective is a leadership superpower
          • If you're a designer, PM, or exec trying to make a real impact in a complex org—this one’s for you.
          54 min
        • E7 VIDEO Mike Neff on Puzzle Perspective, Leadership Blind Spots, and Asking the Right Questions
          What if the real reason your product failed wasn’t the team or the timeline—but that you were solving the wrong puzzle entirely?
          In this episode, I talk with Mike Neff, a seasoned product design leader, about what happened when he joined a company headed for IPO—and discovered that everything he thought he knew about success, alignment, and leadership was just one small piece of a much bigger picture.
          We cover:
          • Why “doing everything right” isn’t enough
          • How to spot invisible misalignment before it wrecks your roadmap
          • Using design tools to align stakeholders (not just users)
          • What to ask when nothing makes sense
          • Why puzzle perspective is a leadership superpower
            • If you're a designer, PM, or exec trying to make a real impact in a complex org—this one’s for you.
            54 min
          • E6 AUDIO Melissa Appel on the Magical Powers of Alignment
            I quiz Melissa Appel, the co-author of 'Aligned,' on the intricacies of corporate misalignment and its impact on developing and launching successful digital products. We discuss the importance of stakeholder alignment, how to tackle internal politics, and various strategies to address misalignments effectively. Melissa shares insights from her work as a coach for product leaders and her extensive experience in product management. We also delve into practical tools like alignment personas and stakeholder canvases, and offer advice for those looking to make impactful changes within their organizations.
             
            02:06 Meet Melissa Appel!
            03:18 Meeting Bruce & Writing Aligned
            06:04 "Us Vs. Them" Mentality
            07:38 Mining for conflict (even when you have clear goals)
            09:27 Seniority means becoming a stakeholder manager
            10:53 Underpants Story: A 'delivery' problem was actually a 'culture' problem.
            16:06 Melissa's two-pronged approach: quick fixes plus longer-term culture shifts
            19:35 Find champions by figuring out individuals' goals
            20:40 The bad apples & two kinds of assholes
            25:19 Glossaries: the unsung heroes of alignment
            27:36 Being brave enough to say "let me get this straight..."
            30:58 How to tweak the language you use to get results
            33:14 How Alignment Personas fit with Aligned the Book
            39:42 Get Melissas & Bruce's Free Stakeholder Canvas
            45:07 Politics vs Alignment vs Agreement vs Acceptance
            49:02 How Melissa builds roadmaps
            50:50 Melissa's Pre-Quit Checklist For Changing Jobs
            56 min
          • S1E6 VIDEO Melissa Appel on the Magical Powers of Alignment
            I quiz Melissa Appel, the co-author of 'Aligned,' on the intricacies of corporate misalignment and its impact on developing and launching successful digital products. We discuss the importance of stakeholder alignment, how to tackle internal politics, and various strategies to address misalignments effectively. Melissa shares insights from her work as a coach for product leaders and her extensive experience in product management. We also delve into practical tools like alignment personas and stakeholder canvases, and offer advice for those looking to make impactful changes within their organizations.
             
            02:06 Meet Melissa Appel!
            03:18 Meeting Bruce & Writing Aligned
            06:04 "Us Vs. Them" Mentality
            07:38 Mining for conflict (even when you have clear goals)
            09:27 Seniority means becoming a stakeholder manager
            10:53 Underpants Story: A 'delivery' problem was actually a 'culture' problem.
            16:06 Melissa's two-pronged approach: quick fixes plus longer-term culture shifts
            19:35 Find champions by figuring out individuals' goals
            20:40 The bad apples & two kinds of assholes
            25:19 Glossaries: the unsung heroes of alignment
            27:36 Being brave enough to say "let me get this straight..."
            30:58 How to tweak the language you use to get results
            33:14 How Alignment Personas fit with Aligned the Book
            39:42 Get Melissas & Bruce's Free Stakeholder Canvas
            45:07 Politics vs Alignment vs Agreement vs Acceptance
            49:02 How Melissa builds roadmaps
            50:50 Melissa's Pre-Quit Checklist For Changing Jobs
            56 min
          • E5 VIDEO: A Lively Debate About Things We (Mostly) Agree On with Jared Spool

            Oh. My. God. You guys. Jared Spool is on Corporate Underpants. 🎉

            In this episode, I sit down with the Jared Spool to talk about UX, product, and—of course—the corporate messes that make our jobs way harder than they need to be. We kick things off by diving into the early, wild days of UX (back when “user experience” wasn’t even a thing), and Jared shares hilarious and infuriating stories about fighting for better design before anyone knew why it mattered.

            Then we get into the real stuff:

            ⚡ Why proving UX’s value is still an uphill battle (and what to do about it)
            ⚡ How business metrics—not just usability—can make UX indispensable
            ⚡ How to stop waiting for a seat at the table and make leadership pay attention

            Jared also casually drops the fact that he accidentally invented voicemail (oops), helped define the way we use keyboards, and somehow made usability testing sound fun. If you’ve ever had to fight for UX, justify your work, or convince execs to stop launching terrible products, you need this episode.

            04:24 Jared's Early Badassery: The 70's and 80's
            07:15 The Era of "Computer Operators"
            09:49 The First Word Processors in the Era Before UX
            13:27 Jared Accidentally Invents Voicemail
            17:06 Getting People To Think About "Users"
            18:23 Early 2000's: The First Research Into "What Makes A Good Website?"
            21:05 The Trick: What Does Great UX Mean To Your Team or Org?
            23:40 De mocratization vs. Delegation
            25:14 The First Usability Lab
            30:39 Jared's Work Today: How To Get A Seat At The Table
            31:26 We Know How To Design Things. So Why Are Things Still Poorly Designed?
            32:31 The 2010s' Boom: 6,221 Days Without Becoming a Bank
            36:12 Our Snobbishness About "The Bottom LIne"
            38:28 The Face Weasel
            38:58 How To Become Hyper-Valuable To Mount Olumpus
            41:59 Tamara And Jared Argue Over Job Titles
            43:12 How To Become Powerful In An Organization
            46:49 Leaders Of Awesomeness Helps You Become Undeniably Valuable
            48:30 Pro-tip: Metrics Aren't "Numbers." They're "Measuring Change."
            49:22 Shifting from Tactical Research to Strategic Research
            53 min

          About Corporate Underpants

          From the publisher's feed

          Uncomfortable truths, hidden dynamics, and the messy underbelly of corporate life—welcome to Corporate Underpants, the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the challenges holding back great teams…