Product Chats Podcast

By Pragmatic InstituteBusiness Marketing Management

Product Chats Podcast episodes

December 08, 2023Make Sure Your Product Management Strategy is Data-Driven for 2024: Insights from Mike Smart
"Data is the key to your success in this. Getting data about how your product is being used, getting data about the market and or customers or potential customers validation points on that data is absolutely crucial." - Mike Smart

Mike Smart is a seasoned product consultant specializing in accelerating product sales growth and developing market-driven practices for better business outcomes. He is the founder and managing principal at Egress Solutions and has served as an advisor for multiple startups.

Key Takeaways:
Strategic Planning Insights: Mike delves into the critical aspects of strategic planning for the year 2024, focusing on market dynamics, customer validation, and the crucial role of data analysis.
Four Pillars of Success: He elaborates on the four pillars of strategic planning: aligning with business strategy, in-depth market research, rigorous data analysis, and the efficient use of technology and resources.
Expectation Management: Emphasizing communication, Mike discusses the importance of managing expectations throughout the planning process.
Mike’s expertise provides a clear guide for professionals aiming to lead in a rapidly evolving market landscape, making it a must-listen for those seeking to enhance their strategic planning skills.

Want to learn more about using data in product practices and decisions? Take our Insight course to turn your data into product strategies.
42 min
December 01, 2023 Unlocking Success through Strategic Partnerships with EdTech Leader, Josey Borman

"As a product leader, you want to be able to come to the table with information that will get you heard. Sometimes it's less storytelling, more data, and really knowing your audience and knowing who you are working with and the way in which they will receive information best." - Josey Borman
In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, we are joined by Josey Borman, an EdTech expert and a firm believer in the power of education in product. Having transitioned from being a high school social studies teacher to a product and content development executive in EdTech, Josey brings a unique perspective on leadership, product management, and partnerships.
Key Takeaways:
- The Role of Data: Josey emphasizes the importance of data in making informed decisions, particularly in the area of product management and in deciding potential partnerships.
- Team Management: Josey shares insights on leadership, focusing on understanding audience diversity, nurturing team dynamics, and building relationships for success.
- Exploring Partnerships: Josey provides a detailed approach on exploring partnerships, considering strategic goals, core competencies, and the readiness of the organization to take on new initiatives.
Tune in to this episode to gain insight into Josey's unique approach to product management, leadership, and partnerships. Want to learn more about using data in product practices and decisions? Take our Insight course to turn your data into product strategies.
41 min
November 24, 2023Pricing Isn’t the Reason You Lost
“When they say you lost on price, that’s not a good enough answer. You have to peel the onion. You have to do the work to uncover the real answer”
– Spencer Dent

In this replay episode of Pragmatic Live, we are joined by co-Founder of Clozd—a leading provider of technology and services for win-loss analysis.

Key topics discussed include:
The Impact of Pricing Models: A big one-time payment can be intimidating. Breaking it down into smaller, monthly bites often feels more manageable and less risky to customers
Clear Pricing Wins Trust: No one likes hidden costs. Being upfront about your pricing not only builds trust but can also attract more buyers.
Remember, People Make Purchases: It's people, not companies, who make the final call to buy. Personalizing your sales approach to meet their specific needs can make a huge difference.
Additional Resources

Price
This course equips you with the essential tools to eliminate the uncertainties of pricing and boost your profits. Discover a tested pricing strategy that aligns with market willingness to pay and bolsters your organization's strategic goals.
>>Enroll Today

Accelerate Your Subscription Business
Pricing specialist Mark Stiving brings his deep knowledge of subscription models to the Pragmatic Learning Network, offering product teams vital insights to enhance their subscription ventures and spur growth. >> Learn More
30 min
November 17, 2023Creating a Blueprint for Exceptional Product Launches
"I often say to executive leaders that a launch may very well be the biggest cross-functional initiative your company participates in, with the exception of an acquisition."
- Dave Daniels, founder of BrainKraft

In this episode of the Pragmatic Product Chat Series, we are joined by Dave Daniels, a mastermind in product launches and the founder of BrainKraft. Dave shares his invaluable insights on crafting effective launch strategies and building organizational alignment for consistent market success.

Key Insights:
Focus on Outcomes, Not Outputs: Learn why focusing on outcomes, rather than mere outputs, is crucial for a successful product launch.
The Blueprint for Success: Discover Dave’s expertise in establishing clear objectives and fostering collaboration for effective product launches.
Building Launch Expertise: Understand how BrainKraft equips organizations with structured approaches and governance for repeated launch success.
Role of PMO: Dive into the critical role of the Program Management Office in ensuring consistent implementation of launch processes across various business units.
Use Your Resources: Dave shares actionable tips for defining clear launch objectives and highlights BrainKraft's resources for further guidance.
Tune in to this episode for a helpful discussion on mastering the art of product launches and developing the necessary "muscles" for consistent success. As a gift to our listeners, you can receive a free Launch Worksheet when you contact Dave.

Want to learn how to execute successful launches that align your entire organization around the same strategies and goals?

Our Launch course will teach you how to define measurable goals, measure and report on launch effectiveness, and how to craft a launch strategy that aligns your teams.
31 min
November 10, 2023Winning the Market with Competitive Intelligence: Your Guide to Stealth Marketing
"Everything boils down to a pain point and how you’re solving it. It’s our job to intimately understand our customer’s pain points." – Lindsay Sutula, Founder & CEO of Top Fox Marketing

In this episode, Lindsay Sutula of Top Fox Marketing shares essential tactics for understanding and outsmarting your competition through stealthy marketing strategies.

Key Takeaways:
Keyword Planning: Find out how to use Google's keyword tools to figure out what your competitors are up to and spot trends before they take off.
Ad Insights: Discover how to see every ad your competitor has run using tools like Google's Ads Transparency Center and similar features on Meta and LinkedIn.
Staying Alert: Learn to set up Google Alerts in a way that most businesses miss, keeping you informed about your competitors and industry shifts.
Tech Scouting: Use builtwith.com to learn what tech your competitors are using and how it can give you an edge, whether you're competing or looking for potential clients.
Tune in and learn how to gain the competitive intelligence you need to make smarter marketing decisions and keep your business ahead of the curve. Want to learn how to get to know your market and build the product marketing strategies that deliver results? Our Market course will teach you how to build buyer expertise and how to measure impact on the bottom line.
26 min
November 03, 2023How AI and Data Insights Can Help You Build Stronger Personas with David Tang
This episode is from our latest Product Chat webinar >> watch the webinar
In a world where customer expectations are ever-evolving, delivering personalized experiences isn't just nice to have, it's imperative.” – David Tang, Product Leader (fmr. Dropbox)In this episode, Product Leader David Tang talks about the transformative power of personalization in today's competitive market landscape, and how your company can learn from the players that do it best.Key Takeaways:
Personalization and Customer Data: Learn how personalization shapes buying decisions and why customer data is key to understanding different customer groups.
Customer Segmentation: Discover various methods of categorizing customers based on their behaviors and attitudes, and the importance of regular evaluation.
AI-Driven Personalization: Explore practical examples of how AI and machine learning contribute to personalization, like reducing customer churn and recommending products.
Evaluating Model Success: Understand the need for measuring the performance of personalization models using different metrics and KPIs to align with business goals.
Building a Strong Personalization Engine: Get actionable advice for creating a data-driven personalization engine that improves customer satisfaction and business growth.

Dive into this insightful discussion to enhance your personalization strategies, better engage with your customers, and stay ahead in the competitive market. Want to learn more about using data in product practices and decisions? Take our Insight course to turn your data into product strategies.
57 min
October 27, 2023How to Build Effective B2B Influencer Partnerships
“I don't care if you have the best creative in the world. I don't care if you have the best concepts in the world, but if you're reaching out screaming at the top of your lungs to the wrong audience, you’re not going to get any results” - Sarah Saffari

In this episode of Pragmatic Product Chat, host Rebecca Kalogeris interviews Sarah Saffari, Founder of InfluencerNexus, about best practices for influencer marketing. Sarah provides valuable insights from both sides of influencer partnerships.

They discuss:
How influencer marketing is “word-of-mouth at scale” due to loyal niche audiences
Vetting influencers carefully to avoid fraud and ensure an authentic audience
Developing genuine relationships and allowing creative freedom for best results
Measuring influencer impact through trackable links and other metrics
Case studies of successful influencer campaigns and partnerships
Why micro-influencers can sometimes outperform celebrity influencers
Keep Learning How to Market Your Product Effectively

Want to learn how to build effective product marketing strategies that resonate with buyers? Register for our Market course.

Course Overview:
Gain a thorough understanding of your buyers and how they like to buy so you can build product marketing strategies that deliver results.
Align across go-to-market teams by effectively sharing and leveraging your buyer knowledge to prioritize the right product marketing strategies.
Measure your strategies against the metrics that matter most to your organizations, focusing on outcomes and impact, not vanity.
Market is taught by leading experts with decades of real-world product marketing experience. And you can take it live online, in-person, or through private corporate training.

Learn More & Register
32 min
October 20, 2023The Benefits of a Kinder Workplace
“Being nice is about making the other person feel better, which may involve avoiding the truth or actions that could benefit them in the long run. Being kind can sometimes be hard,” - Jenny Martin

In this episode of Product Chats, host Rebecca Kalogeris and Agile Coach Jenny Martin delve into the heart of creating a nurturing and collaborative team environment.

Jenny, with her rich background in psychology and extensive experience in the tech sector, brings a fresh perspective on blending kindness, compassion, and collaboration to foster high-performing and psychologically safe teams.

They discuss
The role of collaboration in maximizing the benefits of collective effort, and how inviting diverse strengths in a team can lead to better problem-solving and innovation.
The difference between “nice” and “kind”
Why genuine listening and giving others the benefit of the doubt are steps towards understanding and practicing kindness.
Exploring new tools to measure kindness to offer a glimpse into assessing and enhancing the compassionate culture within teams.
Follow and connect with Jenny:
Website: thecollaborationcoach.net
YouTube: The Collaboration Coach
LinkedIn: Jenny Martin (Look for the profile picture with Jenny hiding behind Lego bricks)
39 min
October 06, 2023Tailoring Marketing Efforts for Growth with Alex Rainford
We are excited to have Alex Rainford, an experienced Senior Product Marketing Manager from Hubspot, on this episode. Alex will share insightful strategies to boost growth by aligning marketing efforts with your target market's needs to drive real results.

This episode is from a recent webinar, and you can watch the replay.

In this episode, Alex explains:
How to gain alignment in an organization for marketing efforts
Leveraging the 30, 60, 90 feedback rule
What it means to use agile marketing plans
Key components of positioning to communicate value
Finding growth areas
During this conversation, Alex recommends two resources:
Tools for Seeing Competitor Ads
Alex’s Favorite Book for Marketing Wisdom

Learn More with Market

If you're passionate about aligning marketing strategies with business goals like Alex, then our Market course is your next step! In this course, you’ll learn how to align across go-to-market teams by effectively sharing and leveraging your buyer knowledge to prioritize the right product marketing strategies.

Check out the course
54 min
September 29, 2023The Role of Psychological Safety on Product Management Teams
“Establishing psychological safety needs to be an explicit goal. It is something that you need to do continuously. ” – Dan Corbin

In this episode, our host, Rebecca Kalogeris, is joined by Pragmatic Instructor, Dan Corbin, to dissect the concepts of psychological safety and inclusivity within a team setting.

Psychological safety is more than just a buzzword; it's the foundation for open dialogue, creativity, and mutual respect within teams.

Dan explains, "If you can show where you are vulnerable, where you admit you don't know everything, and where you even admit a mistake, that sort of lowers the barriers for other people to be able to open up themselves."

They discuss:
Strategies for creating inclusive and secure environments
The importance of modeling vulnerability and admitting mistakes
Practical ways to assess and measure psychological safety
The role of working agreements in establishing behavioral norms
The impact of psychological safety on team productivity and individual well-being
Check out Dan's recent presentation on psychological safety here.
Foundations: Building a Market-Driven Product Team
In the realm of product management, understanding the market is the key to success. The Foundations course by Pragmatic Institute is designed to instill the essence of being market-driven, enabling you to comprehend the market and its complexities and utilize this knowledge to create products people desire.

What You Will Learn
Mastering the Pragmatic Framework
Building and sharing market expertise
Uncovering strategic opportunities
Implementation of market-driven strategies
Learn More
53 min

About Product Chats Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Pragmatic Live’s Product Chat is a podcast focused on tackling the biggest challenges facing today‘s product management, product marketing, and other market and data-driven professionals with some of…