What does it really take to bring clarity, speed, and structure to a complex product organization? In this episode, Dr. Thomas Gigant, Head of Product at Lingoda, shares what he’s learned leading product at companies like Blinkist, Go1, and Adevinta.

We explore:

• How to rebuild product velocity when things slow down

• The underrated power of structure and simplification

• What AI can—and cannot—replace in product work

• How to balance people, process, and strategy

• Why courage, not perfectionism, is the real product superpower

Whether you’re scaling a team, fixing a stuck org, or thinking about what great product leadership really looks like—this episode will give you the clarity and challenge you need.

Nesrine has built products used by millions — at Google, Spotify, Microsoft, and Skype. But her focus isn’t scale. It’s emotion. In this episode, she shares how features like background blur and emoji reactions came from empathy, not roadmaps. We talk about “Product Delight,” why B2H matters more than B2B, and how great teams listen deeply before they build.

https://nesrine-changuel.com/product-delight-book/

From consultant to product director, Ghazal shares the personal shifts that shaped her leadership style — and how trust, change, and vulnerability became core tools, not just soft skills. A powerful story about growing into your voice and making space for others to grow too.

How do you keep focus when your product and team are scaling fast? Mariano shares how he stays close to users, manages chaos without over-optimizing, and why great PMs need taste, not just process.

Are you at a turning point in your product career? Shobhit Chugh a former PM at Google and now a product career coach, shares how to navigate transitions with more clarity, less ego, and a stronger sense of self. From job titles to personal growth, this episode is a calm and thoughtful reminder that your role isn’t your identity.

Friederike Gaigl left her secure job as a UX designer at SAP to build something entirely her own. Now co-founder and Head of Product and Tech at Nyord, she shares how she’s building a real, scalable product—without a tech team. We talk about the power of Bubble, using AI as a co-creator, learning through doing, and the messy reality of early-stage decision-making.

Chakameh Shafii leads Product Management for Data & AI at Zalando Lounge, where she helps turn AI from a buzzword into real value. We talk about the real job of an AI product manager, the danger of chasing point solutions, how to balance experimentation with responsibility, and why solving the right problem is the most important skill of all.

What if your next big idea came to life with just six pages—starting with a press release? In this episode of Product&Cake, Paul and Ghonche are joined by Marcelo, founder and author of PRFAQ Labs and former Director of Product & Tech at Amazon, to unpack the power of Amazon’s PRFAQ framework, why traditional product tools often miss the mark, and how AI is reshaping the art (and science) of product management.

Jacob Bank left a director role at Google to build something faster, simpler, and more human: Relay, an AI agent platform for real businesses. In this episode, we talk about what happens when you stop chasing PRDs, why small teams often move faster than giants, and how action—not analysis—creates real information. A conversation about product, growth, AI, and the stories we tell ourselves along the way.

Kurtis Morrison has worked across startups like Bunch, Babbel, and Prematch—leading growth with a hands-on, data-driven, and refreshingly honest approach. In this episode, he shares how to find real leverage in early-stage teams, how AI is changing his day-to-day work, and what growth really means beyond marketing or sales. Plus: shipping fast, generalist struggles, and YAY/NAY hot takes on MVPs and build culture.