Burning out isn't a matter of 'if' as much as a matter of 'when'. According to Mind the Product, over 80 percent of product managers report experiencing burnout during their careers — and I reckon that number is pretty conservative. As high achievers, we're prone to pushing our limits beyond the breaking point when it comes to our careers. But even though just about everyone goes through it, burnout can still feel horribly isolating. It can trick us into thinking we're not trying hard enough, or just not good enough at all. 

My guest today is Evie Brockwell, a product expert, consultant, and coach. After learning just how bad burnout was affecting her clients and colleagues, Evie dug in with loads of independent research to understand the problem and how PMs can avoid it, or at the very least, recover from it. Toward the end, we also cover proactive strategies for leaders to protect their teams from feeling the burn.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Connect with Evie on LinkedIn
• Check out Evie’s website

As we wrap up an extraordinary year, join us in reflecting on the highlights of The Product Manager Podcast in 2024. This milestone year included engaging conversations, insightful guests, and a growing audience that recently hit 100,000 downloads.

In this special year-end edition, host Hannah Clark and producer Becca Banyard share behind-the-scenes stories of the podcast's success. With gratitude, they revisit episodes that shaped the show's journey and impacted its listeners.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter

If we were to rank the top paradigm shifts in product in the last 10 years, I'd reckon AI and product-led growth would sit at the top of that list. Both concepts really come down to amplifying efficiency, doing more with less. But the real cheat code is bringing them together and using the time saving power of LLMs to enhance your PLG strategy.

In a recent panel event, How to Use AI to Supercharge Product-Led Growth, we brought together three awesome PLG experts — Ramli John, the founder of Delight Path, Dani Grant, the CEO of Jam.dev, and Anuj Adhiya, the author of Growth Hacking for Dummies. We got the three of them talking about the ways product teams can leverage AI technology right now to boost every phase of the user journey.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Ramli, Dani, and Anuj on LinkedIn
• Check out Delight Path, Jam.dev, and Techstars

My guest today is Tal Raviv, the genius behind the popular course entitled "Build Your Personal PM Productivity System & AI Copilot", which is a pretty fancy name. And it's also a pretty big deal for someone who previously described himself as an AI skeptic. But for Tal, the game changer was figuring out why so many PMs struggle to extract the full value out of their LLM tools and uncovering the tactics that actually have the power to transform your productivity.

And yes, we will be breaking those tactics down in this episode. We'll dive into how onboarding AI is much like onboarding a new team member, why iterative prompt engineering is key and practical advice for how to start tinkering with AI tools and build confidence in your skills. 

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Tal on LinkedIn and Twitter/X

As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. I think that old chestnut really sums up the product onboarding to adoption pipeline; just because a user has found your product doesn't mean they'll end up paying for it. I get it; it's frustrating when new users seem to arrive at your product, take a sniff, and gallop off into the sunset. But we're not here to commiserate about runaway users, we're here to zoom out on this kooky little analogy and understand how to get that horse to drink. Because when you look at the context around successful product adoption, you'll notice that many parts of that journey actually begin long before and continue long after user activation.

My guest today is Ramli John, author of Product-Led Onboarding and the founder of Delight Path, a product onboarding consulting firm. Ramli is like, THE guy for product-led onboarding wisdom. So we were really lucky to have him come on and share some practical frameworks, tactics, and tools for figuring out how to evaluate and refine your user onboarding journey.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Ramli on LinkedIn
• Check out Delight Path
• Product-Led Onboarding: How to Turn Users Into Lifelong Customers
• Ramli John’s New Book — EUREKA: The Customer Onboarding Playbook for High-Growth B2B Companies

Pricing is a perennial hot topic. How much value should you provide for free, and at what point should users need to convert into paying customers? How much should you charge, and how often?

In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Cem Kansu—Head of Product at Duolingo—to explore how Duolingo has navigated challenges in monetization, expansion into new markets, and the integration of cutting-edge technology.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Cem on LinkedIn and Twitter/X
• Check out Duolingo

Product management is a field that often emphasizes the importance of frameworks. These tools provide a structured approach to the many tasks PMs face daily. However, reliance on frameworks can sometimes inadvertently stifle innovation and critical thinking.

In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Avrum Laurie—CPO at Felix Health—to explore the double-edged nature of frameworks in product management.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode’s sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Avrum on LinkedIn
• Check out Felix Health

In an era marked by rapid technological change and economic uncertainty, the tech industry once seen as a paragon of stability is now grappling with significant upheaval.

In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Victoria Ku—ex-Airbnb and former Head of Product & Design at Highnote—to explore the shifting paradigms in the tech industry post-pandemic, the prevailing economic difficulties, and the widespread influence of AI on our professional landscape.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode's sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Victoria on LinkedIn

In an era where AI is transforming industries at a rapid pace, product roles infused with AI capabilities are among the most sought-after in tech. If you're looking to break into this sphere or enhance your existing skills, understanding the journey and strategies of those leading the charge can be incredibly beneficial.

In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Lorilyn McCue—AI Product Manager at Superhuman—to share her insights on navigating the evolving landscape of AI product management.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode's sponsor: Wix Studio
• Connect with Lorilyn on LinkedIn
• Check out Superhuman

In the ever-evolving world of technology and product management, leaders are continually seeking the tools and skillsets that will set them apart. One of the most underrated yet essential competencies is emotional intelligence (EI), a trait that can significantly influence team dynamics, decision-making, and leadership effectiveness.

In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Robert Ta—Chief Product Architect for Dayforce—to delve into the power of emotional intelligence in leadership and its profound impact on personal and professional growth.

Resources from this episode:

• Subscribe to The Product Manager newsletter
• Check out this episode’s sponsor Sprig
• Connect with Robert on LinkedIn
• Check out Dayforce