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 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

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

In this episode, Melissa Perri is joined by Julia Austin, Author, Lecturer at Harvard Business School, and Founder of Good For Her, to discuss the essentials of building a strong startup foundation. They delve into the importance of understanding your customer and the problem you’re solving, the dynamics of co-founder relationships, and transitioning to outcome-based roadmaps. Julia shares insights on how AI can play a role in product development and gives advice for first-time product managers in startups.

Julia emphasizes the need for founders to focus on financial and legal aspects, often overlooked in the excitement of building a product. The conversation offers valuable advice for product managers and founders aiming to build sustainable and successful startups.

Want to gain insights into building a strong foundation for your startup and the role of product managers? Listen to the full episode for practical tips and strategies from Julia's extensive experience.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• 05:20 - Understanding Foundational Work in Startups

Julia Austin discusses why startups should spend 80% of their time on foundational work and discovery, emphasizing the importance of understanding the problem and target audience before developing solutions.

• 12:45 - Transitioning to Outcome-Based Roadmaps

Melissa Perri explains how product managers can shift from feature-based roadmaps to outcome-based ones, focusing on connecting outputs to outcomes and effectively communicating with stakeholders.

• 24:10 - Advice for First Product Managers in Startups

Julia provides tips for new product managers on building trust with founders by understanding the company's history and aligning with the founders’ vision to help structure the startup's roadmap and priorities.

Episode resources:

Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaaustin/

After the Idea book: https://www.aftertheideabook.com/

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:08 Dear Melissa

08:34 Understanding Founder Relationships

15:53 Operational Foundations for Startups

26:20 Applying AI Thoughtfully

35:26 Role of PMs in Startups

43:48 Closing Remarks

Join us this week on the Product Thinking Podcast as we explore the intersection of digital innovation and product management with Jose Quesada, VP of Product Management for Mobile and Web at American Express. With over 15 years of experience, Jose provides valuable insights into transforming digital experiences within the financial industry and the pivotal role of experimentation in fostering innovation.

Jose shares his approach to creating a culture of safe experimentation, the seamless integration of digital and physical financial products, and the importance of developing soft skills in product management. He offers a compelling perspective on how digital transformation is reshaping customer interactions and product strategies at American Express.

You'll hear us talk about:

- 11:25 - Embracing Experimentation

Jose discusses the importance of using experimentation as a tool to reduce uncertainty, encouraging his team to innovate and learn from mistakes without fear.

- 25:31 - Data-Driven Product Strategy

Jose emphasizes the significance of a dual-track approach in product development, balancing immediate business outcomes with future-focused discovery.

- 33:24 - Building Psychological Safety for Innovation

Jose shares strategies for fostering a team environment where making mistakes is part of the learning process, thereby driving innovation and growth.

Episode resources:

Jose on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josequesadamedina/

Careers at AMEX: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/careers/

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Coming Up

01:23 Intro

03:00 Dear Melissa

08:38 Entering product

14:53 Outcome-Driven Teams

25:41 Making Data Work

34:28 Embracing Change

41:44 Future Of Digital Products