Jose Quesada on Discovery, Strategy, and the Value of Product Management 

Jose Quesada, VP of Product Management at American Express, joins Rina Alexin to unpack how Amex built a globally recognized mobile app by running discovery and delivery in parallel. From killing bad ideas quickly to making strategy concrete, Jose shows how product leaders can balance long-term vision with day-to-day execution... all while keeping skeptical stakeholders on board. 

Key Topics Discussed in This Episode 

Discovery ≠ delivery 

Why Amex runs two tracks in parallel and why “killing hypotheses” is as valuable as proving them. 

Stakeholder judo 

How to align skeptics, win champions, and use communication, relationships, and data to build trust. 

Strategy that sticks 

Building blocks of a good strategy, why context is everything, and how to link product bets to company goals.

Why Listen to This Episode? 

In this thought-provoking episode, you’ll gain: 

• A practical model for running discovery and delivery in parallel 

• Tactics for disproving bad ideas fast (and celebrating the red) 

• Stakeholder management techniques that actually lower friction 

• A blueprint for building strategies that align with business context 

If you’re tired of being told “be more strategic” without any how-to, this conversation will give you concrete tools and mindset shifts you can use tomorrow. 

Related Resources 

Check out these additional tools and resources to add to your PM belt: 

• Productside Resource Library 

• More Productside Stories Podcast Episodes 

• Explore Productside Courses