In this episode, we explore how product strategy - even when not explicitly technical - has a profound and in most times invisible impact on software architecture. From market segmentation to feature prioritisation, many product decisions quietly affect long-term architectural consequences.

We unpack how phrases like "just support one more use case" or "we might add multi-tenancy later" seem innocent, but translate directly into complexity, coupling, and irreversible system shape. When architects are not present early, architecture becomes reactive, trying to retrofit decisions that were never meant to scale.

But it is not all doom. In this episode, we discuss what architects can do to influence strategy without blocking innovation: translating technical consequences into business terms, setting guardrails instead of rigid rules, and partnering with product teams to co-design for adaptability.

Real stories illustrate what happens when product and architecture can move in sync, and when they can not.

Topics covered:

• How product strategy quietly drives architectural direction
• The danger of "temporary" decisions that become permanent
• What signals architects should look for in product conversations
• Frameworks and mental models to map product to structure
• How to influence roadmap conversations as a technical leader
• Stories of success and pain - directly from the field