Product Talk

In this "Super Episode" of Product Talk, dive into the minds of the world's top product leaders as they reveal the secrets to building game-changing products. Join host Renee Niemi, Resident CPO of Products That Count, for a master class in product leadership.

The episode takes you on a journey through the evolving role of product leadership. Hear from industry luminaries as they share their unique perspectives honed from decades of experience.

Tune in for insights from:

- Siddharth Mantri, former Disney Plus CPO, on generating "power moments" for customers by blending Silicon Valley innovation with local product development expertise.

- Jim Denney, NBC Universal CPO, on balancing customer needs and business goals through a mix of art and science in product management.

- Olivier Houpert, Altria CPO, on fostering a culture of curiosity and leveraging the transformative potential of AI and Gen AI.

- Sabrina Ellis, Pinterest CPO, on the ethical considerations behind AI-powered accessible products and the importance of human oversight.

- Irana Wasti, Bill's CPO, on aligning product strategy with broader business priorities to navigate post-pandemic challenges for SMBs.

Get ready to elevate your product career and make your mark on the industry. This is a master class you won't want to miss.

Dive into a master class in product leadership with this special "super episode" of the Product Talk podcast. Hosted by one of the first Chief Product Officers in the world and Products That Count's Resident CPO Renée Niemi, this curated discussion features defining career moments from some of the top CPOs across diverse industries.

Get ready for a playbook on becoming a world-class Chief Product Officer, as Renée guides you through the unique journeys of leaders from Disney, NBC Universal, Altria, and Extreme Networks. Uncover the invaluable insights that have shaped their approaches to product management, innovation, and leadership.

Hear from:

- Siddharth Mantri, former CPO of Disney Plus for emerging markets, who reveals how he customized the streaming giant's product for international markets.

- James Denney from NBC Universal, who reflects on his path from TiVo to leading the Olympic streaming innovations.

- Olivier Houpert, who transitioned from Procter & Gamble to become the CPO at Altria, and shares how a clear company purpose has driven his work.

- David Feuer from Galileo Financial Technologies, who recounts his pivotal move from engineering to product management.

- Nabil Bukhari from Extreme Networks, who highlights a transformative moment that underscored the impact of human-centered product development.

This special "super episode" is a must-listen for anyone aspiring to become a top Chief Product Officer. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with a playbook for your own product leadership journey.

What's the secret to building products that stand out in a crowded market? In this episode hosted by Daniel Feldman, Raycaster Co-Founder Levi Lian shares insights on the evolving role of product management and the importance of integrating product marketing and design for rapid execution. Hear how Levi's background in ethnography and user research shaped his approach, and learn about the unique challenges and opportunities in the enterprise sales space.

How are leading organizations leveraging AI to enhance journalism and drive innovation? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series, Renée Niemi sits down with New York Times CPO Alex Hardiman to discuss the company's strategic approach to using generative AI. Alex shares insights on how the Times is using AI responsibly to make their journalism more accessible, drive monetization, and boost productivity - all while protecting the human expertise that is core to their mission. She also explores the evolving role of product managers in an AI-powered world, emphasizing the importance of creativity, judgment, and customer-centricity in the face of this transformative technology.

How is Palo Alto Networks innovating to address the evolving cybersecurity landscape? In this episode hosted by Justin Fowler, Palo Alto Networks Product Line Manager Priyanka Neelakrishnan discusses her book Autonomous Data Security and the company's platformization strategy to provide holistic cybersecurity solutions. Priyanka also shares insights on the growing challenges driven by AI and cloud adoption, and the importance of autonomous data security.

What makes a successful Chief Product Officer in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, SAP President and CPO Ritu Bhargava shares her insights on the importance of decisiveness, building trust with customers, and adapting to the transformative impact of AI. Ritu emphasizes the power of saying "no" to clear the path for innovation, the value of becoming a trusted advisor to customers, and the need for product leaders to stay agile and reimagine their offerings in the face of technological disruption.

How can product leaders navigate product growth and communication challenges? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Barbara Bermes, Atlassian Fmr Head of Product Jens Schumacher speaks on building a strong product culture, navigating communication challenges, and implementing effective decision-making frameworks to scale a successful SaaS business. Discover strategies for managing stakeholder expectations, leveraging data to drive product decisions, and fostering a collaborative, customer-centric approach to product development.

How can product leaders drive transformative impact at scale? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Target CPO Prat Vamana shares his insights on leveraging curiosity, transparency, and coaching to shape strategy, accelerate execution, and prepare for the future of AI. As a seasoned CPO with experience across large enterprises, Prat has witnessed the evolving role of product management in defining organizational direction and delivering tangible business results. He discusses how product teams are now empowered to actively shape strategy, not just execute on top-down initiatives. He also shares personal anecdotes on the key mentors and practices that have shaped his own leadership approach, emphasizing the importance of building trust, fostering discussion-based rituals, and developing the next generation of product talent.

How can product leaders leverage generative AI to enhance product efficiency and customer value? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Thomson Reuters CPO David Wong discusses how his team is harnessing the power of generative AI to transform their products and better serve their customers. David shares insights on Thomson Reuters' unique position to capitalize on the AI revolution, the significant efficiency gains they've achieved in areas like legal research and document analysis, and his strategic approach to balancing build, partner, and acquisition strategies for growth. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the evolving role of product management in the age of AI and how leading CPOs are adapting to this technological shift.

How are leading AI companies scaling their enterprise businesses? In this episode hosted by Sid Shaik, we dive deep into the strategies and insights from Vectara CEO Amr Awadallah and Vectara Head of Marketing Sean Anderson, as they share their experiences in scaling enterprise software businesses. As the AI market continues to evolve rapidly, Amr and Sean discuss the importance of adaptability, identifying worthy problems to solve, and building high-performing teams to navigate the challenges. They explore the nuances of product-led growth, the role of instrumentation and data-driven decision making, and their predictions for the future of the AI platform ecosystem. This conversation offers a unique perspective from seasoned entrepreneurs and executives at the forefront of the AI revolution, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to scale their enterprise software business.