Episode 219: The Real Role of Product Marketing in Strategy with Rebecca Shaddix

Rebecca Shaddix, a seasoned marketing executive and go-to-market strategist, joins Melissa Perri to explore the balance of acceptable mistakes in market strategy. Rebecca discusses the importance of defining acceptable mistakes to avoid unnecessary delays and to better align team efforts with strategic goals. This episode focuses on how acknowledging acceptable mistakes can accelerate development without compromising core objectives.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 218: Turning Belkin into a Design-Led Company with Oliver Seil

Oliver Seil, Vice President of Design at Belkin, joins Melissa Perri on the Product Thinking Podcast to explore how Belkin has transitioned into a design-focused company. Oliver discusses the role of design in creating products that resonate with users while fulfilling their functional needs. He shares how Belkin's design philosophy prioritizes consumer insights and prototyping to create products that are both innovative and intuitive.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 217: Behind the Scenes of Pendo’s Product Operations Evolution with Jessica Soroky

Join us for an insightful episode of the Product Thinking Podcast as we delve into the world of product operations with Jessica Soroky, the Senior Director of Product Operations at Pendo. In this episode, Jessica reveals the transformative strategies that have redefined Pendo's product operations, highlighting their innovative approach to integrating data and AI for enhanced product management.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 215: Transforming Enterprise Sales: The Gong Story with Eilon Reshef

In this episode, Eilon Reshef, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Gong, joins me to discuss the transformative power of AI-driven technology in sales and product management. As Gong revolutionizes the sales industry, Eilon shares insights into building tools that empower salespeople and help them succeed. He dives into the challenges of scaling Gong to $100 million in ARR and the crucial role of focusing on end-user value.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 211: The Power of Team Topologies with Matthew Skelton

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Melissa Perri welcomes Matthew Skelton, co-author of "Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow." They delve into the intricate intersections between team topology principles and product management, exploring how these frameworks can transform the way product teams work together to enhance collaboration and reduce cognitive load.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 206: Building and Scaling Zero to One Products with Uday Marepalli

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Uday Marepalli, Director of Product Management at Upwork, shares his expertise in leading AI-driven initiatives and building zero-to-one products within large organizations. Uday provides valuable insights into understanding customer needs, leveraging AI in product development, and navigating the challenges of innovating in alignment with both customer expectations and technological capabilities. Tune in to learn practical strategies for effectively launching and scaling products in complex environments, drawing from Uday's extensive experience in product management.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 205: Revolutionizing Workforce Agility Through AI with Karthik Suri

In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, Melissa Perri talks with Karthik Suri, Chief Product Officer at Cornerstone OnDemand, about how AI is transforming talent development. Karthik shares insights on bridging skill gaps, creating personalized career pathways, and why human skills are now more in demand than digital skills. Tune in to learn how AI-driven strategies can future-proof your organization and empower workforce readiness.

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.

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Melissa Perri
Episode 204: Building Women's Health Products: From Validation to Scale with Inessa Lurye

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.

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Stephanie Rogers
Episode 203: Christmas Special Greatest Hits 2024: Mastering Product Leadership Through Research, Goals, and Growth

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.

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Stephanie Rogers
Episode 202: Transforming Product Teams into Investment Partners with Fabrice des Mazery

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.

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Stephanie Rogers
Episode 201: Enhancing Product Operations in Enterprise Software with Mark Rosenberg and Vivian Phinney

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!

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Stephanie Rogers
Episode 200: Building a Minimal Lovable Product with Tomer London

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!

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Stephanie Rogers