Product Team Success

🔥 JUST DROPPED: The Product Management Masterclass! 🔥

Dive into an exhilarating conversation with the Product Director of FT.com, Debbie McMahon, as she demystifies the dynamic world of product management.

Join us on "Product Team Success" and uncover:

➛ **BECOMING A PRODUCT MANAGER**: Debbie's non-linear journey into the realm of product. How embracing opportunities, even when they seem peripheral, can lead you closer to your passion.

  > "I sort of knocked on my boss's door and didn't specifically ask for a product job straight off. I kind of said, well, I could do some of this... And I sort of slowly started to do some parts around the edges that then got me closer and closer."

➛ **UNDERSTANDING YOUR ORGANIZATION**: A masterclass on immersing oneself in an organization's ethos. Debbie shares the quintessence of crafting products that resonate profoundly with both the business and its customers.

  > "The thing that is really important is you really understanding your organization... if you've not walked some time in other people's shoes and you don't really understand how your business operates, you're never gonna be able to figure out what is gonna be that thing, that idea, or the product that will really resonate."

➛ **EMPATHY IN PRODUCT MANAGEMENT**: The heart and soul of product management lies in empathy. Learn from Debbie about understanding diverse challenges and how this underpins a product manager's success.

  > "But if you can't sit with someone and emphasize... if you can't empathize with the challenge that the person in front of you, say in sales or marketing, has, then you're not ultimately gonna be as good at your job as you could be."

➛ **THE FUTURE OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT**: Step into the future with Debbie as she ruminates on the trajectory of product management, the intersection with AI, and the evolving roles in the corporate cosmos.

  > "I think questioning and people who work for me... Does product head to the C-suite or doesn't it? And alongside AI, what do any of our roles become in that context? It's both really interesting and quite a big challenge and dilemma."

🔊 Embark on this enlightening journey NOW

👇 Don't miss out on these invaluable insights! 👇

Forge ahead with clarity. Absorb, Adapt, Achieve.

Stay with us. Your ascent to product management excellence is on the horizon.

🎧 Do you aspire to lead high-performing product teams that deliver results? This episode is essential listening!

Vikas Seth, Chief Product Officer at ID Now, joins us to share their product leadership journey.

⚡️ Key insights:

"But to augment themselves or take themselves to the next level, they need to understand the finance part of the product as well."

Discover why Vikas emphasizes product managers need a 360-degree view, including finances.

"For me, the number one soft skill was curiosity, meaning the willingness to explore other things more than what you have learned, what you have studied in your college, for example."

Hear why curiosity tops the list of soft skills Nikasich looks for when hiring PMs.

"Companies do not have the conflict. I can tell you they cannot be successful because people are not challenging each other enough. So in that regard, I think, the conflicts are healthy as long as these conflicts are task-based conflicts and people are challenging each other."

Find out why Vikas believes constructive conflict fosters collaboration and better solutions.

"How do you communicate a message, your vision, your strategy in such a way that people get it at different levels and all, especially when people are coming from different cultures, different time zones, different locations, different maturity level and all."

Learn why clear communication is critical for leading diverse, distributed teams.

Join us for an insightful discussion on empowering product managers, enabling growth, optimizing team performance, and leading with impact.

🔥 Dive into the intricate world of product management with Laura Jenner, Director of Product at ITV. 🔥

This episode of "Product Team Success" decodes:

➛ PURPOSEFUL PROBLEM SOLVING: Before diving headfirst into challenges, ask, "Why are we solving it?" Laura stresses the need for leaders to understand the importance of purpose in their decision-making. ❓

➛ MINDSET MATTERS: Transition from a project-end approach to a continuous product improvement mindset. Laura explains why it's all about the journey and not the destination. 🔄

➛ FOUNDATIONS FIRST: The dangers of rushing and overlooking core understanding. Laura discusses why it's vital to lay strong foundational knowledge for sustained product success. 🏗

➛ MVP CHALLENGES: The nuanced world of MVPs – not every MVP is made equal. Laura delves into the alignment challenges and sheds light on how to navigate them. 🔍

➛ LEADERSHIP & SAFETY: Dive into the dynamics of psychological safety. Laura explains the leader's role in taking risks to provide a protective layer for their teams. 🛡

Hosted by Ross Webb and Henry Latham, this episode promises a deep dive into the essentials of product management.

🔊 Immerse yourself in Laura's insights now:

Stay engaged. Stay curious. Stay with us.

🔥 For everyone navigating the maze of Product Management Leadership, THIS episode is your beacon! 🔥

Picture this: Stepping into the world of product management. The weight of diverse roles, from marketing to customer support, rests on your shoulders. 😲

Enter the arena, Jamie Mercer, a trailblazer in Product Management, who not only embraces the challenges but offers insights into the importance of a versatile skill set. 🌟

(Yes, we still love our vibrant Product imagery here at Product Team Success... 😉)

🚀 Jump in with "Product Team Success" as we unfold:

➛ VERSATILITY MAGIC: How Jamie's journey through different business facets became his strength. Hear about the language of marketers, support teams, and account managers from one voice.

➛ REAL GROWTH MINDSET: It’s more than just a buzzword. Discover Jamie’s tangible technique - asking "Imagine the you of today met the you of 3 years ago. What are three things you've learned that you'd like to teach the you of the past?" Understand the essence of humility, vulnerability, and authentic growth.

➛ THE STRATEGIC 90: Jamie’s 90-day onboarding plan, a secret sauce for settling into new roles, inspired by Michael Watkins.

➛ PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY: The vital element in a team culture. Dive into the importance of making mistakes, learning from them, and maintaining transparency.

➛ CUSTOMER AT THE HEART: Jamie’s burning passion to connect with customers and develop products that resonate with their needs.

Co-hosted by the ever-enthusiastic Henry Latham and me, Ross Webb, get ready for a session brimming with invaluable takeaways for every Product Management Leader.

Equip yourself. Evolve. Keep listening.

On today's episode, we're thrilled to have Tom Shurrock, a crucial figure in Tesco's response to the unprecedented panic buying at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom brings his unique insights from the frontlines, sharing the strategies, challenges, and victories as a product manager.Tom begins by discussing how they managed the unexpected surge in demand and the strategies Tesco implemented to effectively stagger customer flow, ensuring a safe and efficient shopping environment for everyone.We then delve into the fascinating world of consumer behavior during a crisis. Listen as Tom describes the measures Tesco took to curb panic buying, from adjusting basket size to manipulating promotions. These critical adjustments helped maintain stock stability and kept customer satisfaction high.Tom underscores that during these trying times, Tesco's guiding principle was prioritizing customers' needs over revenue. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process that ensured everyone had access to their necessary groceries.Navigating corporate relationships is an art, and Tom discusses his journey of internal networking within Tesco. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and influence, particularly when you're seeking buy-in within a large corporation.Tom gives us a peek into Tesco's unique corporate culture, including the mandate that everyone from the CTO to the CEO works one shift in a Tesco store each year. This practice encourages a culture of empathy and customer-centric thinking.Feedback is a fundamental part of product development. Tom talks about the need for product managers to use their own products and provides valuable insights based on his experiences.Wrapping up, Tom provides an invaluable piece of advice for aspiring product managers: strive to become a T-shaped manager. He stresses the importance of understanding all divisions well, rather than focusing solely on one vertical.Join hosts Ross Webb and Henry Latham as we navigate the storm of pandemic panic buying with our esteemed guest, Tom Shurrock.You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn here. This is an episode packed with insights you won't want to miss!

In the latest episode of Product Team Success, host Ross Webb talks with Apple exec Jonathan Boice about AI and product team success.

Here are three key takeaways from this insightful episode:

1. AI can amplify human behavior and experiences, but it can also disregard empathy and consideration for human impact if not used properly.

2. Businesses should aim for MDPs (minimal, delightful products) rather than MVPs (minimal viable products) to create a core product that is already good before adding extra features.

3. Balancing empathy and data-driven decision making is crucial for success in product management, and AI technology can help achieve this balance.

Listen now for more insights on AI and product team success from this thought-provoking episode

Jonathan Boice is the founder of Digital Visionary, a consulting agency that assists businesses in navigating the world of artificial intelligence (AI) without sacrificing their human touch. Boice recognizes the growing apprehension and excitement surrounding AI and aims to help companies use it to create impactful products and improve people's lives. He prides himself on finding the middle ground between the autonomous business model and the traditional approach, ensuring that AI is used to supplement and not replace human workers. With a focus on the product space, Boice is dedicated to helping companies incorporate AI in a mindful and responsible way.

Even if you're not starting a new job at the moment I think you'll get a lot of value out of this episode.

Based on industry trends, Product Managers stay in a role on average 2.5 years. So you're probably around 24 months away from needing to read this book.

What I love about the book is that it's not a dry outline of what it's like to start a new role but more of a workbook that John Franck has put together.

If you liked the episode and want to find out more about John then reach out to him on LinkedIn. He will respond to you.

John on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-franck-35a43826/

Book on Amazon.com :

https://link.theproduct.coach/90daysbook

It used to be CIO , CTO but now It's CPO.

We used to give an email to download a white paper but now Product Led Growth has enabled huge success for entire industries.

I recently spoke to Spenser Skates the Co-Founder and CEO of Amplitude, the world's largest Product Analytics company.

We discussed:

> Product Led Growth

> The rise of the CPO

> How Under Armor has used insights they learned to create an experience their customers love and we can do this in our own products.

Check out Spenser's answers in the latest episode of Product Leadership Wisdom

Spotify : https://link.theproduct.coach/product-future-spotify

Apple Podcasts: https://link.theproduct.coach/product-future

When we move from Product Mangers to Product Leaders we're building the machine that builds the machine. 

Mariano Capezzani, at HSBC is the one of the people who has described this to me best. 

🎙On our podcast discussion we were really able to dig deep into this. 🎙

We spoke about :

👉 How removing processes can really speed our work up

👉 Sometimes we should do less but better (and what we should focus on) 

👉 Why the use of intuition in Product is seriously underrated 

👉 Other great advice for working with teams

Check out Mariano's thoughts in the latest episode of Fast Track To CPO

As Product Managers so much of our time is spent building the machine that builds the machine that we end up with a lot of product management wisdom over time.

Thor Mitchell is one of the wisest Product Leaders that I know. I met him when we were both presenting at Mind the Product in 2020 before the Pandemic took over.

His approach is measured, thoughtful and wise.

In this podcast we covered loads of interesting topics and one of the interesting things we spoke about was about his time at Google. He shared a great example of what Larry Page told him in a meeting.

It was really refreshing and I hope you enjoy this.

If you have any thoughts or questions, as always feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn,