Episode 222: Designing for Real User Understanding with Dheerja Kaur
Dheerja Kaur, Vice President of Product Management at Robinhood, joins Melissa Perri on the Product Thinking Podcast to discuss her journey from engineering to product leadership. Her experience integrating design and user experience into product development at Robinhood has fostered a culture of ambitious thinking and learning by doing.Dheerja shares insights into balancing experimentation with strategic objectives and emphasizes the importance of empowering product teams to think big while aligning with organizational vision. Would you like to empower your product teams to think ambitiously while staying aligned with business goals? Don't miss out on Dheerja's insights.You’ll hear us talk about:07:34 - Defining the Product Manager RoleDheerja reflects on her transition from software engineering to product management at ESPN and how she navigated the shift from a technical role to a strategic one.13:01 - Coaching without MicromanagingDheerja shares strategies on finding the balance between providing guidance to new PMs and allowing them the autonomy to grow, fostering a supportive learning environment.28:09 - Balancing Experimentation with Ambitious GoalsDheerja discusses how to encourage teams to think big and have a portfolio of bets to achieve ambitious objectives while maintaining a culture of learning and experimentation.Episode resources:Dheerja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheerja/Robinhood website: https://robinhood.com/Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overviewTimestamps:00:00 Coming Up00:56 Intro06:29 Dheerja’s journey into product13:01 Coaching PMs without micromanaging17:53 Learning Design22:16 UX In Finance28:09 Balancing experimentation with ambitious goals33:32 Proving the business value of great design38:43 Embracing risk
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Episode 221: Balancing Strategy and Execution at Scale with Kristin Dorsett
In this episode of the Product Thinking Podcast, we are joined by Kristin Dorsett, COO at Viator.We dive into how Kristin and her team are building a culture of experimentation, and what it takes to move fast without losing alignment.Viator, under the TripAdvisor umbrella, has embraced a learning mindset that blends data, customer feedback, and rapid iteration. Kristin shares how cross-functional collaboration empowers decision-making and why they’ve built systems that encourage teams to learn from both successes and failures.If you're aiming to understand how to balance experimentation with measurable success in your organization, this episode is a must-listen!You’ll hear us talk about:15:14 Embracing Failure to SucceedKristin discusses the importance of cultivating a mindset that celebrates learning from failures and iterating quickly to achieve collective success.28:29 The Role of AI in Product StrategiesHow Viator uses AI to improve customer experiences by focusing on solving practical problems, avoiding the trap of using technology for technology’s sake.22:50 Leveraging Customer FeedbackKristin explains how Viator's voice-of-the-customer program helps product managers identify key areas of improvement, leading to significant enhancements in their checkout conversion.Episode resources:Kristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/Viator website: https://www.viator.com/Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:12 Dear Melissa06:18 Transition to COO12:34 Culture of experimentation17:48 Practical AI strategy22:34 Voice of the customer31:28 Cross-functional leadership
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Episode 220: Designing Products That Click with Jake Knapp
Join Melissa Perri on the latest episode of the Product Thinking Podcast as she chats with Jake Knapp, creator of Design Sprint at Google, and general partner at Character Capital. Known for for his seminal book “Sprint”, Jake discusses nuances from his latest book, "Click," and emphasizes the critical role differentiation plays in product success.This episode dives into the importance of starting product ideation with a clear differentiation strategy, ensuring that by the time you're ready to launch, you're not just another face in the crowd. Learn how to apply Jake's insights to make your products stand out from the rest, using the Foundation Sprint.Want to understand how to make your product unique in today's competitive market? Tune in for some practical takeaways from Jake's extensive experience helping startups and established companies refine their product strategies.You'll hear us talk about:5:53 - The Power of DifferentiationJake explains why thinking about differentiation should be the starting point of any product project, and how it connects to finding product-market fit.16:48 - Foundation Sprint to Design SprintJake walks through how a two-day foundation sprint can set the perfect stage for design sprints, helping teams define their hypotheses and move quickly from ideas to testable prototypes.35:53 - Lean Startup vs. Design SprintExplore the similarities and differences between Lean Startup and Design Sprint methodologies, and why rapid iteration and experimentation are key to product success.Episode resources:Click book: https://www.theclickbook.com/Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-knapp/Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:57 Dear Melissa06:57 Finding the gap before building14:39 Foundation sprint and why differentiation matters25:21 Customer research timing and magic lenses30:29 How to use lenses for decision-making35:53 Lean Startup vs design sprint and planning time43:19 Reclaim case study
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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.Rebecca also addresses the overemphasis on latest trends like AI, stressing the importance of intentional use rather than succumbing to hype. She provides insights into managing internal pressures and steering conversations back to meaningful customer outcomes.If you want to learn how to effectively balance strategic goals with market pressures while maintaining a focus on customer value, tune in to gain practical insights from Rebecca’s experiences.You’ll hear us talk about:09:04 - The Concept of Acceptable MistakesRebecca explains what an acceptable mistake entails, offering examples such as opting for fewer customer interviews to accelerate go-to-market strategies without significant risk.29:19 - Navigating AI HypeDiscusses the cycle of trendy technologies and how AI has become a prevalent, though often superficial, part of product strategy, emphasizing the importance of intentionality.15:32 - Product and Product Marketing PartnershipHighlights the need for a bidirectional relationship between product management and product marketing, focusing on how they should collaboratively drive strategy and insights.Listen to the full episode for more in-depth discussions and insights.Episode resources:Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccashaddix/Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:57 Dear Melissa06:17 Defining acceptable mistakes in go-to-market12:22 How product and go-to-market should collaborate17:48 What data product and marketing teams should track22:53 Turning competitive noise into strategy29:21 Responding to AI pressure from the market34:29 Crafting real differentiators, not buzzwords39:29 Advice for future product marketers
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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.Through this episode, Oliver outlines the importance of integrating empathy and creativity in the design process and how these elements can foster a dynamic and inclusive company culture. He provides valuable insights into how product managers and designers can collaborate effectively, ensuring that the products not only meet market demands but also enhance user experiences.Interested in learning more about how design can drive product innovation and company culture? Tune in to gain practical insights from Oliver’s experiences at Belkin.You’ll hear us talk about:14:20 - The Importance of Executive Buy-In for Cultural ChangeOliver explains how having the support from top leadership, such as the CEO and a chief design officer, was crucial to fostering a design-focused culture at Belkin, promoting an environment where design is celebrated and integrated into the company's DNA.21:47 - Embracing Experimentation in DesignOliver shares strategies for balancing the need for rapid prototyping with the constraints of manufacturing timelines. He emphasizes the importance of testing and validating products through consumer feedback before full-scale production.25:29 - Collaboration Between Product Managers and DesignersHighlighting the significance of prototyping and communication, Oliver discusses how designers can effectively share their ideas and collaborate with product managers to bring innovative products to life.Episode resources:Oliver on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-seil/Belkin website: https://www.belkin.com/Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/Timestamps:00:00 Coming Up01:23 Intro06:00 Discovering design and joining Belkin10:30 Transforming culture through design19:20 User insights and product joy24:47 Pitching and selling design ideas30:35 Foster creativity and passion40:48 Building diverse teams
Successful product management isn’t just about training the product managers who work side by side with developers everyday to build better products. It’s about taking a step back, approaching the systems within organizations as a whole, and leveling up product leadership to improve these systems. This is the Product Thinking Podcast, where Melissa Perri will connect with industry leading experts in the product management space, AND answer your most pressing questions about everything product. Join us each week to level up your skillset and invest in yourself as a product leader.
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