Product Thinking

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Dr. Maryam Ashoori joins Melissa Perri to explore the transformative impact of AI on product management. Maryam shares her insights into how AI is reshaping roles within the industry, particularly the evolving relationship between product managers and engineers. With AI increasingly influencing design processes, she discusses the shift from traditional UI building to prompt definition. The conversation also delves into the distinct capabilities of AI agents compared to generative AI, highlighting their potential for reasoning and task automation.

Maryam provides valuable guidance for enterprises on adopting AI strategically, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific problems rather than being swayed by emerging technologies. The episode also touches on the challenges large organizations face in integrating AI tools amidst rapid technological changes.

Curious about how AI can redefine your product management approach? Tune in to this episode for a deep dive into AI's role in transforming industry practices and discover actionable insights for leveraging AI within your organization.

You’ll hear us talk about:

05:45 - The Evolution of Product Management Roles with AI

Maryam discusses the increasing integration of AI in product management, emphasizing the shift towards focusing on building the right products, not just any products. She highlights how AI is changing the dynamics between product managers and engineers.

14:10 - Designers' New Role in the AI Era

The conversation shifts to how AI is impacting design roles, with designers moving away from traditional UI construction to defining prompts for AI. Maryam explains how this evolution is changing the design landscape.

22:30 - Strategic AI Adoption in Enterprises

Maryam shares her insights on how enterprises can successfully adopt AI by starting small with proof of concepts and scaling strategically. She emphasizes focusing on problem-solving rather than being distracted by the latest tech trends.

Episode resources:

Maryam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashoori/

Watsonx.governance: https://www.ibm.com/products/watsonx-governance

Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev

Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:43 Maryam's career journey

05:07 AI agents and their role in business

07:45 Capabilities and limitations of AI agents

16:07 Guardrails and practical use of AI in teams

24:21 Creativity, UI standardization, and product strategy

28:10 Enterprise AI adoption and building future-ready strategy

34:38 Emerging trends and opportunities for product leaders

What advice can a new VP of product, with extensive industry experience but limited product management experience, receive to succeed in their role?

Advice for a new VP of product with industry experience but limited product management knowledge includes understanding product management as a craft, learning key concepts and methodologies, and leveraging industry expertise to empathize with customers. It's essential to establish a collaborative environment with product managers, focus on defining problems rather than solutions, and continuously engage with users to inform product strategy. Building strong relationships with engineering and design teams, while being open to feedback and learning, will help in successfully transitioning into the role.

Episode resources:

Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev

Get a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissa

Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking

Jody Bailey, the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Stack Overflow, joins Melissa Perri to discuss the integration of AI and product strategy in one of the world’s largest online communities for technologists. Jody shares insights on how Stack Overflow is navigating the rapid technological advancements and adapting to maintain long-term trust within its community.

They delve into the challenges and opportunities AI presents and how it influences product management at Stack Overflow. Curious about how AI is reshaping the product landscape and how Stack Overflow is positioning itself in this new era? Tune in to discover how Jody Bailey is leading the charge at the intersection of technology and community.

You'll hear us talk about:

• 06:52 - Building Trusted AI Knowledge for Enterprises

Jody Bailey describes Stack Overflow's enterprise solution that maintains a positive feedback environment and identifies subject matter experts. He emphasizes the need for a trusted knowledge layer to manage and distribute proprietary information within organizations.

• 13:43 - Leveraging Core Strengths in the AI Era

Jody discusses how Stack Overflow is focusing on its core strengths, such as human connection and technical information, to position itself as a vital source for technologists in a world increasingly turning to AI tools for quick answers.

• 19:52 - Trust, Adoption, and the Limits of AI in Development Work

The conversation covers the importance of trust in Stack Overflow's community and how the platform ensures transparency and reliability, especially when integrating AI into its offerings. Jody highlights the need for a balanced approach to using AI without compromising on human interaction and knowledge.

Episode resources:

Jody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodybailey/

Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/

Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev

Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Coming Up

02:18 From retirement to Stack Overflow

06:52 Building trusted AI knowledge for enterprise

12:19 Redefining Stack Overflow’s strategy for the AI era

19:52 Trust, adoption, and the limits of AI in dev work

26:08 Keeping junior roles relevant in an AI future

32:22 Internal transparency and advice for ambitious leaders

What product management principles can be applied in an enterprise setting where teams implement a purchased SaaS tool rather than building their own?

The podcast discusses the role of product management in organizations that implement purchased software rather than building it. Melissa Perri emphasizes that product managers still need to evaluate whether the tools solve the right problems, customize them for their needs, and ensure they align with business goals. She encourages teams to practice good product management principles, regardless of whether they own the tools, and to communicate the importance of these practices to leadership.

Episode resources:

Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev

Get a Angel Squad Guest pass: https://go.angelsquad.co/melissa

Check all the podcast episodes here: https://www.produxlabs.com/product-thinking

Keith Lucas, author and former product leader at Roblox, joins Melissa Perri to discuss his new book "Impact," which focuses on building high-performing, innovative teams. Keith shares insights from his experience leading teams at Roblox and explores how visionary leadership and mission-driven strategies can inspire and align teams for success. The conversation delves into creative constraints, the balance between vision and mission, and the continuous improvement necessary for effective leadership.

Ready to learn how to lead innovative teams and align them with your organization's mission? Tune in to gain valuable insights from Keith's experience and discover practical strategies for building impactful teams.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 05:45 - Visionary Leadership and Team Alignment

Keith explains the importance of visionary leadership and involving teams in strategy formation to inspire and align them with the organization's goals. He discusses how this approach helps in building trust and fostering a shared sense of purpose among team members.

• 15:30 - Creative Constraints and Innovation

In this section, Keith emphasizes the need for creative constraints and maintaining flow states to foster innovation. He shares strategies on how leaders can set boundaries that encourage creativity without stifling the team's potential.

• 27:20 - Decency Over Niceness in Leadership

Keith talks about the distinction between being decent and being nice as a leader. He argues that transparency and honesty are more valuable than mere niceness, especially when it comes to making tough decisions and fostering a culture of trust.

Episode resources:

Impact book: https://keithvlucas.com/writing/impact/

Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvlucas/

Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev

Check our course: https://productinstitute.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Coming Up

02:40 Why Keith wrote Impact

09:33 Creating focus and the year of growth

15:30 OKRs, cadence, and Kanban approach

22:58 Mastery and ownership in high-performing teams

33:11 Course correction and tough calls

35:40 Decency over niceness and creating space for creativity

44:56 Intuition, mastery, and first steps for leaders

Join Melissa Perri as she dives into some of the best advice about career growth in product management from an incredible group of industry leaders. Monica Lewis from LinkedIn, Kristin Dorsett from Viator, Dheerja Kaur from Robinhood, Lucie Buisson from Contentsquare, Ben Hafele from the Lean Startup Co., Marco De Freitas and Amber Brestowski from Vanguard, Oliver Seil from Belkin International, David Myszewski from Wealthfront, and Eilon Reshef from Gong share their insights on developing strategic judgment, embracing learning, and leveraging AI for productivity.

Discover how focusing on impact over scope, obsessing over problems, and starting small can accelerate your growth in product management. Our guests also discuss the importance of market fit strategy, learning from missteps, and being open to unexpected opportunities.

Want to accelerate your product management career with practical advice from industry leaders? Tune in to this episode for actionable insights and strategies to help you grow and succeed.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 07:45 - Embracing Learning on the Job

Kristin Dorsett talks about not sweating the small stuff and embracing learning on the job, emphasizing that nobody has it all figured out and the value of continuous growth in product management.

• 15:22 - Leveraging AI for Productivity

Lucie Buisson explains how using AI can enhance productivity, allowing product managers to focus on strategic thinking and customer engagement by freeing up valuable time.

• 23:10 - Starting Small to Prove Concepts

Ben Hafele introduces the "Convinced Do Loop," highlighting the importance of starting small to prove concepts instead of trying to convince everyone at once, thereby enabling more effective product management strategies.

Episode resources:

• Monica Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamlewis/
• Kristin Dorsett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/
• Dheerja Kaur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheerja/
• Lucie Buisson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucie-buisson/
• David Myszewski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmyszewski/
• Amber Brestowski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-brestowski-019b56ab/
• Marco De Freitas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-de-freitas-80416714/
• Oliver Seil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-seil/
• Eilon Reshef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eilonreshef/
• Ben Hafele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hafele/
• Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overview

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:03 Monica Lewis: Grow where you are

04:28 Kristin Dorsett: Don’t sweat the small stuff

07:36 Lucie Buisson: Use AI to reclaim time for strategy

11:12 David Myszewski: Lean into what’s working

13:30 Amber & Marco: Obsess over problems, be ruthless with priorities

18:50 Oliver Seil: Learn with intention

21:20 Ben Hafele: Start small and let doing drive buy-in

In this episode, Quincy Hunte, Mark Rosenberg, Vivian Finney, Jessica Soroky and Hugo Froes join Melissa Perri to delve into the evolving world of Product Operations (ProdOps) and its impact on scaling product management within organizations.

They explore how structuring product operations can enhance efficiency, align business and technology goals, and transform how product teams function. The conversation also touches on the integration of AI in prod ops, aiming to elevate strategic involvement while minimizing administrative tasks.

Join us to discover how these leaders are pioneering scalable planning, OKR systems, and treating internal teams as customers to improve decision-making and reduce friction.

Want to learn how to optimize product operations for better strategic insights and decision-making? Tune in to this episode to gain practical insights and strategies for enhancing your product management functions.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 08:45 - Structuring Product Operations for Efficiency

Quincy Hunt discusses the significance of structuring product operations to boost efficiency and align technology with business goals. He emphasizes the need for agile teams and clear decision-making roles, which are crucial for product managers to understand.

• 18:20 - AI's Role in Shifting from Admin to Strategy

The conversation shifts to how AI can transform product operations by reducing the focus on administrative tasks, allowing product managers to engage more in strategic roles and decision-making processes.

• 31:50 - Treating Internal Teams as Customers

Mark Rosenberg and Vivian Finney share insights on how treating internal product teams as customers can streamline processes, reduce friction, and improve overall decision-making, which is essential for product managers looking to enhance team dynamics and outcomes.

Episode resources:

Quincy Hunte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quincyhunte/

Mark Rosenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-rosenberg-724653/

Vivian Phinney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-phinney/

Jessica Soroky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicasoroky/

Hugo Froes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugofroes/

Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overview

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:42 Prod Ops fundamentals

07:45 Bridging tech and business through prod ops

09:42 Driving visibility and standardization at scale

16:11 Balancing autonomy and structure

17:39 Integrating AI and evolving product ops tools

21:35 Creating scalable planning and OKR systems

24:39 Enabling faster decisions through insight curation

In this episode, we delve into the transformative role of AI in product management through conversations with some of the best Product leaders. You’ll hear from Anthony Maggio (VP Product Management at Airtable), Jessica Hall (CPO at Just Eat Takeaway), Karthik Suri (CPO at Cornerston OnDemand), Mario Rodriguez (CPO at Github), Steve Wilson (CPO at Exabeam), Darren Wilson (CPO at Soul Machines), and Tamar Yehoshua (Former Glean President of Product and Technology).

We explore how AI tools are reshaping strategy and efficiency, while personalizing customer experiences. Join us as we discuss the impact of AI, and the future of product strategy. Are you curious about how AI can revolutionize your product management approach? Tune in to discover insights and practical applications that could redefine your strategies and customer interactions.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 10:05 - AI's Role in Product Strategy

Explore how product leaders are integrating AI into their strategic planning, focusing on addressing significant business and customer problems. The discussion highlights the experimental applications of AI in enhancing customer journeys and optimizing backend processes.

• 18:45 - Enhancing Customer Interaction with Digital Avatars

We dive into the world of digital avatars and their role in creating empathetic and personalized customer interactions. This section covers how avatars can be used for language learning and practicing difficult conversations in a non-judgmental setting.

• 27:30 - Cybersecurity in the Age of AI

Understand the evolving landscape of cybersecurity with AI's influence. Learn about the dual nature of AI in enhancing defenses and creating new threat vectors, emphasizing the importance of rapid AI adoption to stay competitive in the cybersecurity arena.

Episode Resources:

• Anthony Maggio (VP Product Management at Airtable): https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymaggio/
• Jessica Hall (CPO at Just Eat Takeaway): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalrhall/
• Karthik Suri (CPO at Cornerston OnDemand): http://linkedin.com/in/surikarthik/
• Mario Rodriguez (CPO at Github): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorodriguez3/
• Steve Wilson (CPO at Exabeam): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilsonsd/
• Darren Wilson (CPO at Soul Machines): https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpjwilson/
• Tamar Yehoshua (Former President of Product): https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-yehoshua-886217/
• Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overview

Timestamps:

00:00 Coming Up

01:37 Intro

02:57 AI raising the bar for PMs

06:57 Using AI to improve personalization

10:52 Reimagining products with emerging AI

14:55 AI behind GitHub Copilot

20:21 AI’s risks and impact on cybersecurity

24:22 AI avatars and emotional interaction

30:42 How PMs can stay relevant in the AI age

Join Melissa Perri as she sits down with Nan Yu, Head of Product at Linear, to explore how Linear is reshaping project management tools for software development. This episode delves into creating seamless user experiences, the evolving role of AI in product management, and the importance of aligning product strategy with company goals.

In this engaging conversation, Nan shares insights on how Linear is designed to enhance software development, the strategies for balancing feature requests with strategic development, and the role of AI in reducing administrative burdens for product managers. If you're looking to understand how to align product strategy with real-world customer needs while leveraging cutting-edge technology, this episode is a must-listen.

Don't miss out on this insightful discussion! Tune in to learn how to elevate your product management skills and strategies.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 08:00 - Restoring the Joy in Software Development

Nan Yu explains how Linear aims to bring back the fun in software development by minimizing friction and enhancing user experience, allowing developers to focus on creating.

• 21:00 - Rethinking Estimation and Capacity

Discussing the challenges of scope and estimation in Agile environments, Nan provides insights on how Linear encourages milestone-based development rather than fixed scopes.

• 40:00 - AI's Role in Streamlining Workflows

Nan talks about the impact of AI on product management, highlighting how AI can take over routine tasks, allowing PMs to focus on strategic and customer-focused activities.

Episode resources:

Nan on X: https://x.com/thenanyu

Linear: https://linear.app/

Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overview

Timestamps:

00:00 Coming Up

02:38 Dear Melissa

06:57 Getting into Linear

14:54 Making Linear engaging for developers and PMs

22:58 Capacity, estimation, and internal collaboration

29:58 AI’s role in streamlining PM workflows

36:07 Linking strategy to execution and future trends

40:45 Advice to younger self

Join Melissa Perri as she sits down with Jameson Troutman, Head of Product for Small Business at JP Morgan Chase, to explore the dynamic world of product management. In this episode, Jameson shares his insights on balancing the art and science of product management, emphasizing the need for product managers to trust their judgment alongside leveraging data and research.

Jameson delves into the importance of maintaining a customer-centric approach, ensuring that every product decision aligns with customer feedback and business goals. He also touches on the integration of AI in product management, which automates routine tasks, allowing product managers more time for strategic thinking.

If you're interested in how to harness the power of curiosity within your product team, align strategies in large organizations, and utilize data insights to enhance customer experience, this episode is a must-listen.

Want to gain a deeper understanding of successful product management strategies? Tune in to hear Jameson's expert advice on how to navigate the challenges of product management in a corporate setting.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 15:40 - Empowering Product Managers with AI

Jameson discusses how AI can be used to automate mundane tasks in product management, freeing up time for more strategic activities. He highlights the importance of leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency and decision-making processes within product teams.

• 28:15 - The Role of Curiosity in Product Teams

In this section, Jameson emphasizes the need for product managers to cultivate curiosity within their teams. He explains how asking the right questions and understanding the "why" behind products can lead to more impactful solutions and innovations.

• 42:05 - Strategic Alignment and Flexibility in Large Organizations

Jameson addresses the challenges of aligning product strategy with budget constraints in large companies. He highlights the importance of maintaining flexibility and open communication to successfully navigate these challenges and achieve organizational goals.

Episode Resources:

Jameson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameson-troutman/

Chase for Business: https://www.chase.com/business

Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overview

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:44 Dear Melissa

07:05 Evolving into product leadership

12:27 Building judgment in product teams

15:50 Discovering customer insights and adapting strategy

21:32 Building with data and platform readiness

28:18 Aligning strategy and budget

35:13 Collaborative prioritization and ownership

38:26 AI’s real value in product management

43:07 Future trends and advice for PMs