In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, I had an illuminating conversation with Inessa Lurye about building healthcare products that truly make a difference. Inessa brings a unique perspective from her journey starting in public service to leading product innovation at Hinge Health, where she spearheaded the development of their groundbreaking women's pelvic health program.

Our discussion delved into the careful balance required when innovating in healthcare - maintaining clinical excellence while moving quickly enough to meet market needs. Inessa shared invaluable insights about building business cases, running experiments responsibly, and leveraging organizational strengths to scale healthcare innovations.

If you're interested in healthcare innovation, product development in regulated industries, or scaling products within large organizations, this episode offers practical wisdom from someone who's successfully navigated these challenges while making a meaningful impact in women's health.

As we wrap up 2024, I wanted to bring together some of the most impactful conversations from the Product Thinking podcast this year. From Steve Portigal's insights on modern user research, to Quincy Hunte's practical approach to decision-making at AWS, each guest brought unique perspectives that resonated deeply with our audience.

This special episode features highlights from conversations with product leaders who have shaped our understanding of effective product management. Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden's discussion on OKRs, Kate Leto's wisdom on leadership coaching, and Leah Tharin's approach to product-led growth – each conversation offers valuable lessons for product professionals at all levels.

Join me for this year-end reflection on the insights that have helped shape product thinking in 2024, and get inspired for the opportunities that lie ahead in 2025.

I had an enlightening conversation with Fabrice des Mazery, Chief Product Officer at productROI. We delved into how product managers can shift their mindset from being builders to becoming strategic investors in their product decisions. Fabrice's extensive experience, from founding companies to leading product at major organizations like TripAdvisor's TheFork, brings a unique perspective on balancing business acumen with product development.

What I found particularly fascinating was Fabrice's practical approach to stakeholder management and his framework for building a balanced product portfolio. He shared valuable insights on how to speak the language of business rather than getting caught up in product management jargon, and how to create investment forums that transform stakeholders into co-investors in product decisions.

If you're looking to elevate your product management approach from focusing on processes to driving business outcomes, this episode offers concrete strategies and actionable insights you won't want to miss.

I recently enjoyed a conversation with Mark Rosenberg and Vivian Phinney, two leading figures at Workday who are driving transformative product operations.

We covered the crucial role of standardized, data-driven processes that empower teams to make dynamic, cross-functional decisions in real time. Mark shared with me how lightweight standardization enables faster, high-quality product delivery by aligning divisional objectives, while maintaining essential flexibility. Vivian then expanded on her mission to reduce the cognitive load on product teams through selective standardization and streamlined data solutions—ensuring PMs can prioritize effectively and communicate clearly with leadership.

The two of them also discuss the unique challenges and benefits of hybrid product operations, where a central PMO provides universal tools and governance while allowing divisions to adapt processes suited to their unique maturity levels.

Read on to explore some of the best bits from my conversation with the dynamic pair!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tomer London, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Gusto, on the latest episode of the Product Thinking podcast. Tomer has an inspiring journey, having led Gusto from its inception as a payroll provider to a comprehensive platform that supports small businesses with benefits, HR, and more.

During our conversation, Tomer shared his insights on how Gusto maintains its core mission of creating lovable products, even as they expand their offerings across diverse markets. I was particularly struck by his emphasis on user experience as the foundation of their success. He explained how their team ensures that every product decision aligns with this goal, fostering a culture that prioritizes intuitive design and emotional connections with users.

We delved into the frameworks Gusto employs to enhance user experiences, focusing on the three essential pillars of functionality, intuitiveness, and delight. Tomer also shared a delightful anecdote about how they celebrate payday with their users, transforming a routine moment into an engaging experience.

Read on to discover how we unpacked the strategies behind Gusto’s impressive growth and learn valuable lessons on maintaining user-centricity while navigating the complexities of product expansion!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Hall, the Chief Product Officer at Just Eat Takeaway, on a recent episode of the Product Thinking podcast. Jessica has an impressive background, having navigated her company through the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, which have brought both challenges and opportunities for innovation in product management.

During our conversation, Jessica shared insights into how her team is working to create a unified platform across multiple markets. This journey has involved consolidating various customer-facing applications to deliver a consistent experience worldwide. I found it fascinating to hear about the meticulous research and collaboration involved in understanding the unique needs of different regions, all while ensuring that product development remains efficient and responsive to customer demands.

We explored a range of topics, including the importance of building a capable, diverse team to address the challenges AI presents, such as data governance and bias. Jessica shared her practical experiences, highlighting how she has implemented robust frameworks to ensure transparency and ethical use of AI, while also fostering a culture of continuous learning and curiosity within her teams.

Read on, to learn how we unpacked the reality of AI in product development and discover how to harness its potential effectively!

I recently spent some time with PJ Linarducci, the Chief Product Officer at Thumbtack. We spoke on a recent episode of the ProductPJ's impressive career, covering various roles in product management, including significant time at Meta, where he developed a keen understanding of what it takes to drive impactful product strategies. His insights are particularly relevant for those looking to innovate within established industries.

During our conversation, PJ shared his unconventional journey into product management, highlighting his initial reluctance and how he eventually embraced the role as a powerful avenue for influence and change. He discussed the unique challenges he faced transitioning from a large organization to leading product at Thumbtack, where he could leverage his experience to reshape the company's approach to home services—a sector he describes as being stuck in the 1990s.

PJ elaborated on the shift in Thumbtack’s value proposition, moving from merely connecting consumers with service professionals to empowering homeowners with the knowledge and tools to manage their home projects effectively. This ambitious strategy required not just innovative product development, but also a cultural shift within the organization, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and user-centric thinking.

Whether you’re a product leader, aspiring manager, or simply interested in how technology can transform traditional industries, you won't want to miss this enlightening conversation!

In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with BJ Boyle, the Chief Product Officer at PointClickCare. BJ brings over two decades of experience in health tech, having honed his expertise at leading companies like Cerner and now PointClickCare. His deep understanding of the healthcare landscape and commitment to user-centric product management make his insights invaluable for anyone in the industry.

During our conversation, BJ shared his journey into product management, emphasizing the importance of truly understanding the needs of end users—whether that’s nurses, doctors, or administrators. He highlighted the unique challenges of product management in the healthcare sector, where regulatory requirements and user experience must be balanced with innovation and growth. BJ's approach focuses on fostering strong relationships within the executive team to ensure that product strategies align with organizational goals and market needs.

If you’re intrigued by the intersections of healthcare, product management, and technology, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Read on as we explore BJ’s hard-won expertise on transforming health tech products, the significance of cross-functional collaboration, and how to leverage customer feedback to drive innovation.

Whether you’re a product leader or simply interested in the future of health tech, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Vishal Kapoor, the Senior Vice President of Product Management at Affirm. Vishal has a wealth of experience in leading fintech product strategies and scaling high-growth teams, having previously held leadership roles at innovative companies like Dropbox and Microsoft. His insights into navigating the complex intersection of technology, finance, and compliance are invaluable for anyone looking to succeed in the fintech world.

During our conversation, Vishal shared his perspective on the unique challenges of product management in fintech, where balancing customer-centric innovation with regulatory requirements is key. He emphasized the importance of building products that are not only scalable but also designed to meet the evolving demands of consumers while maintaining the highest compliance standards. For Vishal, successful product leadership comes from creating a collaborative environment that fosters both creativity and accountability, allowing teams to push boundaries while staying grounded in the realities of the financial industry.

If you're passionate about the intersection of fintech and product management, or if you're curious about how to balance innovation with compliance, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Join us as Vishal Kapoor takes us behind the scenes of product leadership at Affirm and shares his vision for driving fintech forward.

In this episode of the Product Thinking podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Robin Daniels, the Chief Business and Product Officer at Zensai. Robin has an impressive career, having held leadership positions at some of the most notable tech companies, including Salesforce, LinkedIn, and Box. His journey into product management and marketing is both inspiring and insightful, showcasing how a deep-rooted passion for technology can lead to impactful leadership in the industry.

Robin shared his thoughts on the increasingly interconnected nature of product, sales, and marketing in today's organizations. He highlighted the critical importance of having leaders who can bridge these domains to create a cohesive go-to-market strategy. His belief is that understanding technology and its implications is essential for product leaders, especially in an era where customer expectations are rapidly evolving.

Robin is a really supportive leader and has a lot of thoughts about building a community atmosphere in the workplace with regular check-ins across the team. He also discussed the outdated nature of annual performance reviews and how the modern workforce desires more frequent feedback and support. Robin advocates for a shift toward a more continuous performance management model, where managers provide regular insights and guidance to help employees navigate their growth trajectories. This approach not only enhances accountability but also creates a culture of learning and development.

If you're interested in how to build a culture that prioritizes connection and personal growth in a remote environment or want to learn about innovative practices that can bring joy to your team, this episode is a treasure trove of actionable insights. Join us as we dive into the future of work with Robin Daniels, and discover how to empower your team to thrive.

I recently had a fantastic conversation with Sean Kim, an inspiring product leader with experience at Amazon and TikTok. We dove into the exciting world of building user-centric products in today’s fast-paced tech landscape, and I came away with so many valuable insights for my own work.

Sean shared his journey and how he leverages user insights to drive innovation, reminding us all that understanding our users is at the heart of great product development. We chatted about the challenges of designing features that truly resonate with a diverse audience and how a data-driven mindset can make all the difference. Plus, Sean offered some eye-opening lessons from his time at TikTok, especially around fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous learning within product teams.

If you're curious about how to navigate the complexities of product management and create experiences that genuinely delight users, you won’t want to miss this episode. Sean’s passion and expertise shine through, and I believe you’ll find plenty of inspiration to elevate your own approach to building impactful products. Join us and let’s explore the world of product thinking together!

I had an enlightening conversation with Brian Fugere, a seasoned product and engineering leader, about the intricacies of integrating acquisitions and standardizing product operations in a growing organization. Brian, with his extensive experience in managing marketing, engineering, and product teams, offered a wealth of insights on the Product Thinking podcast.

During our discussion, Brian shared his approach to merging diverse teams and cultures, emphasizing the importance of creating a cohesive and agile environment. We explored the challenges of aligning different product management practices across acquisitions and how establishing a unified framework can drive efficiency and innovation. Brian also provided a fascinating look into the technology evaluation process during acquisitions, including the challenges of migrating legacy systems and the strategic considerations for creating value that drives customer adoption.

Dive into our conversation to understand Brian’s strategies for managing growth, integrating teams, and leveraging technology effectively. Discover how his experiences and insights can help you navigate similar challenges and enhance your own product management practices.

I had a fantastic time chatting with Blake Morgan, a renowned customer experience expert and author, about the future of customer-centric strategies and the role of technology in shaping them. Blake brought her wealth of knowledge to our discussion on the Product Thinking podcast, offering an in-depth look at how companies can truly revolutionize their customer experiences.

In our engaging conversation, Blake delved into the success story of T-Mobile’s 'Un-Carrier' strategy and how a commitment to exceptional customer and employee treatment can lead to remarkable business outcomes. She also shared invaluable insights on the transformative impact of AI on customer service, the potential pitfalls of poorly implemented chatbots, and the delicate balance between leveraging technology and maintaining a human touch.

Read on to explore Blake’s vision for a more customer-focused world and discover how you can apply her insights to drive meaningful improvements in your own product strategies.

I enjoyed sitting down with Shruti Patel, Executive Vice President and CPO of Business Banking at U.S. Bank, to explore the evolving landscape of product management in the financial sector.

Shruti, with her extensive experience in transforming product experiences at large financial institutions, shared her profound insights on staying focused amidst the complexities of product development and countering disruptive technologies. In our thought-provoking conversation on the Product Thinking podcast, Shruti discussed the importance of balancing investments in existing products with the need for innovation, as well as the practical application of the Horizon 1-2-3 model for strategic planning. 

Her perspective on modernizing infrastructure, aligning engineering with product goals, and leveraging agility to enhance customer experiences offered a fresh take on navigating the challenges of product management in a rapidly changing environment. 

Join me as I dive into Shruti's strategic approaches and gain actionable advice on optimizing product development and driving impactful customer solutions.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Vijay Pitchumani, Director of Product at Okta, for an engaging discussion on the Product Thinking podcast. Vijay, with his extensive expertise in product strategy, shared invaluable insights into the world of platform product management and the unique challenges faced by platform teams.

In our conversation, Vijay and I delved into the essential role of product managers in platform environments, exploring how they can define success metrics, experiment with API-first approaches, and balance short-term experiments with long-term strategic goals. Vijay's perspective on the importance of innovation within platform teams, and his strategies for managing PM rotations to foster diverse experiences, provided a comprehensive look at navigating the complexities of scaling and evolving platform products.

We also touched on how product managers can effectively secure buy-in for experiments and new ideas, making a strong case for experimentation within platform teams. Vijay’s insights were not only enlightening, but also highly relevant for anyone involved in managing and scaling platform products in today’s technology-driven landscape.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tamar Yehoshua, President of Product and Technology at Glean, about the dynamic intersection of AI, product management, and enterprise technology. Tamar, with her deep experience leading product teams at Google and Slack, provided a fascinating look into the rapidly evolving world of AI and its impact on how we work.

In our conversation on the Product Thinking podcast, Tamar delved into the intricate process of developing AI-driven products, the unique challenges of managing product teams in a startup environment, and the strategic considerations of scaling in the ever-changing tech landscape. We explored the critical role of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology, the importance of maintaining a strong engineering focus, and the future of productivity in the workplace. Tamar's insights were not only insightful but also incredibly relevant for anyone navigating the complexities of product management in today's fast-paced, AI-powered world.

I recently had the privilege of chatting with Vrushali Paunikar, Chief Product Officer at Carta, about the exciting and evolving world of product management. Vrushali, with her extensive experience in scaling product lines and driving innovation, brought an inspiring perspective to our conversation on the Product Thinking podcast.

During our discussion, Vrushali shared her approach to leveraging curiosity and domain expertise to identify transformative opportunities within product development. We explored how to navigate the complexities of scaling product suites, managing digital transformation, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Her insights into the strategic alignment of product teams and the practicalities of managing diverse product portfolios were both enlightening and actionable.

Join me as I delve into Vrushali's expert strategies for harnessing innovation, scaling effectively, and leading product teams with vision and agility. Whether you're looking to refine your product approach or seeking inspiration for navigating complex product landscapes, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.