Product Academy Tough Stuff

In this episode, Mareike Müller shares with Francesca Cortesi about her insights on maintaining high performance sustainably. Topics include assessing your current state, balancing work and private life, listening to your body, and practical tips for resilience and long-term success.

CHAPTERS

00:46 Sustaining High Performance: The Challenge

06:11 Defining Balance: A Personal Perspective

12:31 Mind-Body Connection: Listening to Your Body  

16:51 Rewiring Expectations and Self-Compassion

26:29  Navigating External Pressures and Meeting Demands

31:45 Long-Term Strategies for Sustainable Performance

OUR GUEST

Mareike Müller, Leadership coach and mentor focused on resilience

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mareikemuller/

Mareike Müller is a certified leadership coach and mentor, working with founders and senior leaders in VC-backed tech companies to help them navigate the pressure, pace, and increasing team size of fast-growing startups. Drawing on her experience as a Head of People, management team member, and communication expert, her work focuses on leadership, clarity, and high performance, helping her clients lead consistently at a high level, rather than "keep pushing through" and hoping for the best.

Her approach enables leaders shift from constant urgency and exhaustion into the confident, strategic leadership their stage demands, so they can delegate effectively, make clear decisions, and drive growth rather than slow it down.

When she's not working, you'll find Mareike training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (five years and counting), trying new recipes in the kitchen, exploring coffee shops around Barcelona or wherever she's traveling, or out on a long walk with Machete, her French Bulldog.

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Mareike’s favourite Khao Soi, Thai coconut noodle soup

OUR GUEST

Iulia Jacobsson is a product advisor and coach with 10+ years of experience leading product teams at scale — including as VP Product at Beekeeper and Head of Product at FIFA. She advises scale-up founders on product strategy and pricing, and brings a rare combination of hands-on operator experience and investor-fluent strategic thinking. Based in Zürich.

EPISODE

In this episode of Product Academy Tough Stuff, we explore the complexities of pricing, how to navigate internal and external factors, and share insights from Iulia Jacobsson’s experience leading a major pricing overhaul at Beekeeper. Whether you're refining your current strategy or starting from scratch, learn how to approach pricing with confidence.

Key topics:

• Why pricing is one of the most consequential product decisions

• The multidisciplinary nature of pricing involving finance, psychology, and market insights

• Who should own the pricing process within an organization

• Lessons learned from Beekeeper’s complete pricing strategy overhaul

• The role of beta programs and customer co-design in understanding value and willingness to pay

• Pricing models for new features, modules, and the impact of AI on pricing

• How to continuously adapt prices in fast-changing markets and technologies

• The importance of having a clear decision-making framework and ownership for price evolution

• Balancing short-term wins versus long-term customer targeting in pricing strategies

Connect with Iulia Jacobsson:

• LinkedIn

SHOWNOTES

PricingSaaS - is a great way to keep updated on trends and individual case studies 

• Their most recent report is a great source. It has the data that backs up what I’ve anecdotally seen with the companies I’m advising:https://pricingsaas.com/reports/plg-slg-2025-2026-analysis

What's working in SaaS pricing right now

The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy - Nick Romeo The Alternative by Nick Romeo review – moral substitutes for the free market model | Economics | The Guardian

Lessons from Lovable: Pricing for AI - Elena Verna

Issue tracking is dead – Linear - “Issue tracking is dead”

ENJOY THIS EPISODE WITH IULIA’S RECIPE

Swedish Waffles:

Ingredients:

• 400 ml wheat flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder:

• A pinch of salt

• Optional: 1-2 vanilla sugar or just a bit of vanilla 

• 500 ml milk

• 100g butter, melted

• 2 eggs

Instructions:

• Mix together the dry ingredients first

• Add milk and melted butter

• Add eggs

• Mix together (make sure there’s no lumps)

• Let rest for 30 minutes

Pro-tip: double the batch if you have neighborhood kids coming around, like our house (the waffles may be to “blame”) :) 

In this episode, Francesca Cortesi and Parveen Downer explore the concept of confidence, emphasizing that it is a skill that can be developed rather than an innate trait. 

They discuss the importance of taking action to build confidence, the role of mindset in overcoming inner criticism, and practical strategies such as rejection therapy and creating a confidence playlist. The conversation highlights the significance of consistency and preparation in cultivating a confident mindset, encouraging listeners to take small steps towards building their confidence.

CHAPTERS

00:46 Understanding Confidence: A Skill, Not a Trait

03:43 The Confidence Loop: Action, Competence, and Growth 

06:41 Overcoming Inner Criticism: Strategies for Speaking Up

09:44 The Role of Mindset and Preparation in Confidence 

12:53 Building Confidence Through Small Steps

15:44 Rejection Therapy: Embracing No for Growth 

18:35 Practical Tips for Cultivating Confidence

21:34 Consistency is Key: The Path to Lasting Confidence

24:47 Final Thoughts: Small Actions Lead to Big Changes

OUR GUEST

Parveen Downer, Career Coach, PM instructor, Speaker, Stand-up Comedian

Parveen Downer is a product manager turned confidence coach with a distinctly portfolio-shaped career. After building her reputation in tech — across operations, regulated industries, and highly technical product roles — she now coaches ambitious professionals to speak up, get noticed, and lead with impact. She teaches product management, designs a circular fashion line celebrating cultural heritage, and occasionally tests her own confidence on stage as a stand-up comedian. Blending evidence-based coaching with real-world product experience (and a healthy dose of humour), Parveen helps quietly brilliant people show the world what they’re capable of.

SHOWNOTES

1. Mark Manson on confidence: https://markmanson.net/how-to-be-confident

2. The Quietly Confident club: https://www.consultwithparveen.com/the-quietly-confident-club/

3. Rejection therapy: https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/100-days-of-rejection-therapy

4. Parveen’s confidence playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6OtMyKLk7vj2izFiWpZM9M?si=12b56610943448d5

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Parvee’s go-to pancakes, worth watching the entire video to get all the best tips:

https://www.epicurious.com/video/watch/epicurious-101-the-best-way-to-make-perfect-pancakes

In this conversation, Tanja Lau and Stéphane Turquay discuss the Shape Up methodology, a product development framework that emphasizes fixed timelines with variable scopes. Stéphane shares insights on the shaping and building phases, the challenges faced during implementation at SmallPDF, and the importance of team dynamics. They explore how Shape Up allows for greater ownership among teams and the need for a mature product and skilled team members for successful adoption.

Chapters

00:00    Introduction to Shape Up

01:17      Understanding the Shape Up Methodology

01:56     The Shaping and Building Phases

05:08    Real-World Application of Shape Up

06:05    The Pitch Process in Shape Up

10:43     The Betting Table and Team Dynamics

15:52      Introducing Shape Up at SmallPDF

21:14      Benefits and Challenges of Shape Up

22:57     Recommendations and Pitfalls for Implementation

OUR GUEST

Stéphane Turquay is a Principal Product Manager at Smallpdf, one of the world’s most popular platforms for PDFs and document management.

With a decade of experience in SaaS growth and monetization, he helps build products that delight millions of users worldwide.

Based in Zurich, Stéphane has worked across international organizations, corporate spin-ups, and startups, driven by curiosity, clarity, and impact.

USEFUL RESOURCES

• https://basecamp.com/shapeup

• https://www.houseful.blog/posts/2023/shape-up-at-zoopla/

• https://techblog.beefree.io/one-year-of-shape-up-part-2-why-it-works-for-us-bb9413b497ab#32d3

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoCGibVonBE

• https://marmelab.com/blog/2024/09/26/shape-up.html 

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Warm Tuna Sashimi with Rucola, Parmesan & Rice Noodles 

In this episode, Francesca Cortesi and Caroline Clark talk about the complexities of imposter feelings, exploring their prevalence, the impact of perfectionism, and the importance of language in framing these experiences. They discuss strategies for overcoming feelings of inadequacy, emphasizing the significance of connection and belonging in professional environments. Caroline shares insights from her research on imposter feelings among product professionals, revealing that these feelings are common across various levels of experience. The conversation concludes with practical tips for navigating imposter feelings in career growth and the importance of recognizing that these feelings are a shared human experience.

CHAPTERS

00:46 Introduction to Imposter Feelings

03:49 Understanding Imposter Feelings 

06:32 The Role of Perfectionism  

09:52 The Language of Imposter Feelings

12:31  Overcoming Isolation

15:52 Creating a Sense of Belonging

21:51 Survey Insights on Imposter Feelings

24:44  Navigating Imposter Feelings in Career Growth

27:41 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

OUR GUEST

Caroline Clark, Leadership consultant and coach

Caroline Clark is a leadership consultant and coach specialising in performance psychology for leaders in tech and space. As an ex-Product Director with more than 12 years in Product, she understands the unique pressures facing product teams. Her work equips product leaders with evidence-based tools to transform leadership potential into performance - and achieve the impossible.

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Caroline’s Lentil dahl - this hearty and fragrant dish is perfect for the colder nights closing in, you can make it as hot or mild to your taste by adjusting the amount of chilli!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp cooking oil

• 1 onion

• 2-3 cloves of garlic

• 1cm piece of fresh ginger, grated

• Spices: 1 tsp dried birdseye chillies, 1 tsp turmeric, 2.5 tsp garam masala

• 150g dried red lentils

• 750ml vegetable stock

• 1x can coconut milk

• 1 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos

• whole courgette, grated

• bag of spinach

  
  

To make:

• Dice the onion, crush the garlic and grate the ginger, then combine in pan over medium heat, turning until onion browns (a few minutes)

• Add the spice mix and stir in well

• Add the lentils and dry stir until coated in oil and spices

• Add stock slowly, stirring into lentils

• Add coconut milk and soy sauce or coconut aminos, stirring in

• Leave to simmer for 5 minutes until liquid starts to reduce, then add courgette and stir well

• Leave to simmer for 20 minutes, then add spinach and stir well

• Leave to simmer for 5 mins - then it's ready to serve!

• Serve with rice or naan bread and enjoy!

In this conversation, Francesca Cortesi and Alena Ipanova dig into the complexities of navigating cultural differences in the workplace, especially for expats. They discuss the importance of understanding both personal and national cultures, the significance of effective communication, and the challenges of aligning personal values with company culture. Alena emphasizes the need for self-awareness and the willingness to explore unfamiliar cultural interactions to foster better relationships and collaboration in diverse environments.

CHAPTERS

00:46 Navigating Cultural Differences at Work

09:01 Understanding Personal and National Culture

16:06 Improving Communication Across Cultures 

19:40 Bridging Company Culture Gaps 

26:13 Exploring Unfamiliarity in Cultural Interactions 

OUR GUEST

Alena Ipanova, Cultural Intelligence Expert and Trainer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ialena/

Alena is a cultural intelligence expert, trainer, and coach who helps global leaders and teams work better across differences. With a background in psychology, communication, and intercultural leadership - and over 15 years of experience across various industries - she’s trained thousands of professionals to build trust, communicate clearly, and create inclusive, high-performing teams.

She specializes in helping organizations identify and bridge the hidden gaps between cultures, expectations, and mindsets - turning potential friction into stronger collaboration and smarter decisions.

Alena is also a mom of three, living a nomadic life - moving to a new country every year with her family and turning each new culture into a learning adventure.

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Alena’s go-to dessert for surprise guests or impatient kids who want it now :

https://scandinaviansimpleeating.com/2019/03/29/crumble-pie-with-summer-berries-smulpaj/

Dive into the latest episode of Product Acaemy Tough Stuff Season 3, where Francesca and Todd Birzer tackle one of the most challenging questions in the professional world: "How do I manage my time better?" .

Discover why traditional time management techniques might not work for product managers and learn about strategic focus and strategic neglect. Todd shares insights from his career, including the importance of setting boundaries and leaving time for relationships. Tune in for practical tips and a fresh perspective on balancing priorities.

CHAPTERS

00:46 The challenges of traditional time management techniques

05:47 Strategic focus and neglect

10:47 Balancing priorities

15:47 Practical tools and techniques to manage your time

20:47 Setting boundaries and building relationships

25:47 Final tips

OUR GUEST

Todd Birzer, Product Management Leader https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddbirzer/

Todd Birzer has over 25 years of experience in product management—leading product teams in the US and Canada and consulting with teams worldwide. Todd is a lecturer at Temple University, an instructor partner at Udemy, and author of the book The Three-Minute Product Manager.

Todd’s latest course: https://www.udemy.com/course/new-manager-make-an-impact/?referralCode=2F6FD10589F611C481F5

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Tod’s favorite corn bread: Warm corn bread, with butter and honey, ahhh…glorious 

1 cup cornmeal

¾ cup flour

3 Tablespoons sugar

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

¼ cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 205 degrees C or 400 degrees F

2. Mixed dry ingredients in a big bowl

3. In a small bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and butter

4. Pour the milk / egg / butter mixture into the cornmeal mixture, stir gently (until just

moistened)

5. Pour entire mixture into a greased baking pan

6. Bake for 20 minutes

For myself, I usually don’t use milk but instead mix three big spoons of natural yogurt

with enough water to make one cup.

The trick for this recipe: find nice quality cornmeal! Look for cornmeal with both the

“germ” and the “bran” – which are the source of nice flavor and texture. I use Bob’s Red

Mill Medium Grind Cornmeal.

Enjoy!

Francesca Cortesi and Kai Stevens discuss the complexities of conducting discovery in hardware. They explore the unique challenges faced in hardware development, including long timelines, irreversible decisions, and the need for robust usability testing. 

Kai shares insights on balancing discovery with development, innovative approaches to user feedback, and the importance of collaborative decision-making among stakeholders. The discussion emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to discovery that accommodates the specific demands of hardware while remaining agile and responsive to user needs.

CHAPTERS

00:46 Introduction to Hardware Discovery Challenges

02:47 The Context of Hardware Product Management

05:15 Understanding the Risks in Hardware Development

08:58 Balancing Discovery and Development Timelines

12:38 Innovative Approaches to User Feedback

15:18 Usability Testing in Hardware

17:10 Decision-Making in Hardware Development

19:57 Optimizing Discovery Processes

23:41 Collaborative Decision-Making for Product Viability

26:29 Final Thoughts on Balancing Discovery and Execution

OUR GUEST

Kai Stevens, Product Leader & discovery coach https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaistevens/

Kai Stevens is the founder of Discovery Doctors, a training and consultancy company dedicated to helping product teams master continuous discovery. As a former Group Product Manager at tado°, Kai led a group of cross-functional teams to develop and launch the next-generation smart thermostats of tado° in May 2024. His hands-on experience applying continuous discovery in the connected hardware space inspired him to support other product teams in building better products through a discovery-driven approach."

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Kai’s favorite vietnamese spring rolls:  https://www.hungryhuy.com/how-to-make-goi-cuon-vietnamese-spring-rolls/

In this conversation, Corinne Ruckstuhl (Product Manager Data & AI at SRF) shares her insights on transitioning to internal product management, discussing the unique challenges and dynamics involved. Tanja and Corinne discuss the importance of stakeholder management, prioritization, and balancing efficiency with business value. They explore ways of of measuring success through user satisfaction and adoption as well as strategies for building habits among users to ensure successful adoption of internal products.

CHAPTERS

(Time slots start after the introduction jingle)

00:00 Transitioning to Internal Product Management

02:59 Stakeholder Dynamics and Prioritization Challenges

06:01 Balancing Efficiency and Business Value

09:00 Measuring Success in Internal Products

12:02 Ethical Considerations in Product Management

14:59 Building Habits and User Adoption

17:59 Build vs. Buy Decisions in Product Development

OUR GUEST

Corinne is a Product Manager for Data & AI at SRF where she develops user-centric data and AI products, driving innovation in the media industry. With a Master’s degree in Business Innovation & Technology and AI studies at MIT, she leads the full product lifecycle—from discovery to delivery—ensuring impactful solutions. Passionate about shaping Switzerland’s tech landscape, she mentors aspiring product managers, invests in startups, and advocates for diversity.

RESOURCES

Team Topology - Organizing Business and Technology for Fas Flow: Especially the part about platform teams is interesting to get a view on the topic of internal product management (more information: https://teamtopologies.com/) 

RECIPE

We serve every episode of our podcast with a recipe you can cook while listening. 

Corinne shares her recipe for Quesadillas with chickpeas: https://fooby.ch/de/rezepte/21415/

Francesca Cortesi and Tim Herbig dive into one of the trickiest questions in product: how do you know when you’ve done enough discovery?

They talk about the real purpose behind discovery, how to avoid getting stuck in process for process’ sake, and why defining your assumptions early matters more than sticking to a framework. From using strategic clarity to guide your work, to building a strong narrative around your findings (and even turning discovery into a game to keep teams engaged) this episode is packed with practical tips and honest reflections.

CHAPTERS

00:46 Navigating the Discovery Dilemma

03:33 Understanding the Purpose of Discovery

06:51 The Balance of Process and Value

09:45 Defining Success in Discovery

12:43 Time Boxing Discovery Efforts

15:44 Strategic Clarity in Discovery

18:45 Identifying and Validating Assumptions

21:40 Creating a Compelling Narrative for Discovery

24:37 Gamifying the Discovery Process

OUR GUEST

Tim Herbig (Product Management Coach)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/herbigt/

Tim Herbig is a Product Management Coach who helps companies like StepStone, Deutsche Telekom, and Specsavers treat their ways of working like products—focusing on value over theoretical correctness.

With over a decade of hands-on experience across b2c and b2b products—from Premium memberships at XING to Enterprise SaaS platforms—Tim brings unique insight into making product practices truly valuable in different contexts.

Through his consulting and training, Tim helps product teams move beyond rigid frameworks by connecting Strategy, OKRs, and Discovery in ways that work for their specific situation.

COOK WHILE LISTENING

Tim is a true coffee aficionado, here below you can find two coffee brewing recipes

• If you are just starting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oB1oDrDkHM

• Tim’s favorite (right now): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUsHI7jdX1k