Now We Build

Ep 23 - Tara Sakhuja on building product at Facebook and Bumble, how AI is changing the way we build products, and why big tech culture can make or break you.

Listen Later

In this conversation, Tara Sakhuja shares her insights on the differences in business culture between the US and UK, the transition from corporate roles at Facebook and Bumble to founding her own startup, Data Dumpling. She discusses the importance of customer feedback in product development, the often underestimated role of sales in a startup, and how to evolve product strategy in a rapidly changing environment. Tara emphasizes the need for flexibility and customer-centricity in building products, and she encourages aspiring founders to focus on understanding sales and customer relationships.


Keywords


product management, startups, data-driven decisions, cultural differences, Bumble, Facebook, product development, entrepreneurship, marketing, career journey, business culture, startup, product management, sales, entrepreneurship, customer feedback, product development, AI tools, data dumpling, corporate experience


Takeaways

  • Tara's journey into product management began with a rejection of a law career.
  • Persistence and networking were key to landing a role at Facebook.
  • Cultural differences significantly impact product management strategies.
  • Data-driven decision-making is crucial in product development.
  • Startups should focus on the 80-20 principle for data tracking.
  • Testing small changes can lead to significant improvements.
  • Tara's motivation for joining Bumble was to address loneliness.
  • The speed of decision-making differs between UK and US companies.
  • Customer insights can drive data exploration and product development.
  • Building strong team culture is essential for product success. US culture is more action biased compared to the UK.
  • Bumble operates as a family of apps, not just one.
  • Internal tools can create significant divides in efficiency.
  • Feedback can be gathered without writing code.
  • Sales is a critical role for founders to understand.
  • Founders should learn from market leaders in sales.
  • Wireframes can provide valuable feedback before coding.
  • Great PMs empower their teams to be independent.
  • Customer-centricity is key in product development.
  • Engagement on platforms like LinkedIn is important for networking.


Titles

  • From Law to Product Management: Tara's Journey
  • Cultural Insights in Global Product Management
  • The Role of Data in Product Development


Sound Bites

  • "Go with the 80-20 principle."
  • "I wanted a new mountain to climb."
  • "US culture is more action biased."
  • "Bumble is not just the Bumble app."
  • "Internal tools create a big divide."
  • "I wish I had spent more time on sales."
  • "You can find me on LinkedIn."


Chapters

00:00 Journey into Product Management

03:03 Cultural Differences in Product Management Across Geographies

06:04 Data-Driven Decision Making in Product Development

08:52 Navigating Startup Challenges with Data

12:04 Transitioning to Bumble: New Opportunities and Challenges

15:02 Comparing Product Management in the UK and US

18:10 Cultural Differences in Business Speed

22:13 Transitioning from Corporate to Startup

26:20 Building a Product: Feedback and Iteration

30:00 The Surprising Role of Sales in Founding

32:50 Evolving Product Strategy in a Startup

35:33 Connecting with Tara and Data Dumpling


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store
Now We BuildBy Sam Marchant