38 avsnitt • Längd: 55 min • Månadsvis
A podcast for product leaders inspired by discussions in the Supra product community, hosted by Marc Baselga and Ben Erez.
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The podcast Supra Insider is created by Marc Baselga, Ben Erez. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Teresa Torres, author of Continuous Discovery Habits, to explore the role of AI in modern product discovery. Teresa shared why customer empathy remains irreplaceable, the common pitfalls teams face when misusing AI in research, and practical strategies for integrating AI effectively—without losing sight of the human touch.
She also offered her insights on how AI can empower product teams to build skills, enhance customer interviews, and streamline discovery workflows, all while staying firmly rooted in authentic customer understanding. If you're passionate about truly knowing your customers and using AI as a tool—not a crutch—this episode is brimming with valuable takeaways!
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Why AI can enhance but never replace human-driven customer research
* The pitfalls of relying on synthetic users and autogenerated personas
* How to use AI as a “team member” to synthesize interviews and uncover insights
* Importance to building curiosity and empathy into product teams
* Practical use cases for AI in discovery, including feedback analysis and research repositories
* Exciting experiments Teresa is running with AI to help PMs hone their interviewing skills
* The importance of owning your audience and the challenges of modern social media platforms
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Teresa Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresatorres/
* Teresa Torres X: https://x.com/ttorres
* Product Talk: https://www.producttalk.org/
* Product Talk Daily Substack: https://producttalkdaily.substack.com/
* Product Talk Videos: https://videos.producttalk.org/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Tal Raviv, an experienced product manager and AI enthusiast, to explore the intersection of AI and productivity in product management. Tal shares insights from his career, including his time as the first PM at Riverside and his work building generative AI features.
We dove deep into the myths surrounding AI's role in product management, the power of context when working with tools like Claude and ChatGPT, and practical use cases for both co-pilots and agents. Tal also shared tips on creating a personal productivity system and how product managers can use AI to become more effective and impactful in their roles. Whether you're new to AI or looking to level up your approach, this episode has something for you.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* The myths surrounding AI in product management and its potential to reshape workflows
* The distinction between AI co-pilots and agents and their applications in work
* Practical use cases for leveraging AI tools like Claude to enhance productivity
* Building a personal productivity system to manage tasks, time, and stress effectively
* How foundational productivity skills amplify the effectiveness of AI tools
* Exploring the balance between offloading routine tasks and improving strategic thinking
* Insights into career transitions, solopreneurship, and redefining personal success
* Predictions for the future of AI's role in product management
* Inspiration and practical advice for professionals at all levels
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Tal Raviv: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talsraviv/
* Tal’s Maven Course: https://maven.com/tal-raviv/product-manager-productivity-system
* Claude: https://www.claude.ai
* Reflect: https://reflect.app/
* Granola: https://www.granola.ai/
* Grain: https://grain.com/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Sunil (Sunny) Chaudhary, a former product leader turned recruitment director at Riviera Partners, one of the top recruiting firms in tech.
Sunny shares his journey from leading product teams to helping companies hire the right product leaders, offering a unique perspective from both sides of the hiring table.
In this episode, Sunny also dives deep into how the product leadership market is evolving, from the rising demand for AI expertise to the increasing focus on doers over managers. He shares actionable advice for candidates on standing out in competitive hiring processes, breaking into AI roles, and navigating compensation trends for super senior ICs and managers.
Whether you’re a product leader looking to land your next role or a founder hiring for a critical product position, Sunny’s insights into market trends, recruiter dynamics, and interview best practices are invaluable.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* How hiring priorities are changing and the rise of specialized product roles
* What companies are looking for in AI product leaders and how candidates without AI experience can position themselves
* Key strategies and traits of the top 1% of candidates in product leadership
* How senior IC roles are catching up with or surpassing managerial positions in pay and equity
* The current state of workplace flexibility and its impact on hiring
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Sunil (Sunny) Chaudhary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilchaudhary/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Gibson Biddle, former VP of Product at Netflix and Chief Product Officer at Chegg. Gib shares his journey from full-time product leadership to becoming an interim and fractional executive, driven by the desire to live life on his own terms. He discussed his strategies for balancing impact and flexibility, the importance of continuous learning, and his passion for teaching and storytelling.
Gib also talked about building engaging content, like his well-loved product strategy workshops, and organizing the Product Leader Summit. Whether you're a product leader looking for practical insights or someone seeking inspiration to live a more fulfilling life, this episode has something for you.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Gib’s transition from traditional product roles to fractional CPO work
* The motivation behind semi-retirement and redefining success personally and professionally
* Strategies for scaling impact as a product leader through content, including talks and courses
* The importance of structured feedback and how Gib uses NPS to improve his presentations
* How Gib engages audiences in both in-person and virtual settings
* Key lessons from organizing the Product Leader Summit and what makes it unique
* Insights from Gib’s first cohort on Maven and his plans for future workshops
* Reflections on balancing life and work through meaningful experiments and adventures
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Gib’s website: https://www.gibsonbiddle.com/
* Gib’s Substack: https://askgib.substack.com/
* Gib’s upcoming Maven Course: https://maven.com/gibson-biddle/product-strategy-short-workshop
* Gib’s Medium Articles: https://gibsonbiddle.medium.com/
* Gib’s 2023 Pacific Crest Trail backpack trip updates
* Gib’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gibsonbiddle/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Today’s episode is a re-release of one of our most popular episodes on the podcast: our conversation with Josh Doody, a renowned salary negotiation coach and author of Fearless Salary Negotiation.
With the job market shifting and more people navigating complex career moves, we thought it was the perfect time to bring back Josh's invaluable advice on negotiating job offers.
This episode covers why changing companies can be key to maximizing your compensation, the best practices for salary negotiation, and common mistakes to avoid. It’s packed with practical strategies and tips to help you approach salary discussions with confidence and make the most of your opportunities. This is a must-listen for anyone preparing for interviews or hoping to elevate their career trajectory.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Why changing companies every few years can significantly impact your compensation
* The key differences between negotiating within your current company vs. negotiating a new offer
* Common pitfalls to avoid during the negotiation process
* Why you should never reveal your salary expectations early in the conversation
* The most effective timeline for starting your negotiation preparation
* The role of market dynamics and how they influence salary discussions
* How to strategically use competing offers to your advantage
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Fearless Salary Negotiation: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/about/
* Josh Doody: https://www.joshdoody.com/
* Josh Doody’ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJoshDoody
* Josh Doody LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdoody/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben are joined by John Cutler and Joshua Herzig-Marx (friends of the show) to explore a growing trend in the product community: product leaders struggling to find their next roles.
We discussed the contributing factors to this trend, including the flattening of product organizations, the rise of super IC PMs, and the influence of AI. The conversation dives into practical advice for product leaders navigating these challenges and what the future might hold for product leadership.
For anyone who is navigating the evolving product management landscape, considering a career transition, or interested in how AI and organizational shifts are reshaping the role of product leaders, this episode is for you.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* The current trend of product leaders taking longer to find new roles
* Contributing factors such as the flattening of product organizations
* The role of AI in changing product leadership dynamics
* The emergence of the Super IC PM
* The impact of companies focusing on efficiency and reducing team sizes
* Advice for product managers in transition and those considering a role change
* Predictions for the future of product leadership in the next decade
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Joshua Herzig-Marx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaherzigmarx/
* Joshua Herzig-Marx’s Website: https://jhm.lol/
* Carla Naumburg (JHM’s wife): https://www.carlanaumburg.com/
* John Cutler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpcutler/
* John Cutler’s Substack: https://cutlefish.substack.com/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sit down with Ben Sprecher, CPO at an AI startup and a longtime product leader with 24 years of experience in AI. They explore Ben’s fascinating journey from founding a company that was acquired by Google to leading AI initiatives. In this episode, we dive into a futuristic bet Ben made 25 years ago on the future of AI, the concept of the "AI demo trap"—a pitfall many companies fall into—and actionable frameworks to avoid it.
If you’re a founder, product manager, or someone looking to enhance your AI strategy, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice to help you navigate the evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Ben’s 25-year bet on AI and how close it came to reality
* The "AI demo trap" and how companies get stuck in it
* Frameworks for assessing AI projects that avoid common pitfalls
* Shifting from a defensive AI strategy to an offensive, disruptive approach
* Tips for product managers on adjusting the product development process for AI
* Practical steps to turn AI buzz into products that deliver real customer value
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Ben Sprecher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensprecher/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Alex Hanthorn (Drift, TripleByte, Nielsen) to explore the evolving world of user research. From scrappy research methods in early-stage startups to the more formalized processes at large tech companies, we delve into the challenges and opportunities of understanding user motivations. Alex shares insights from his experiences, including his time working with companies from Taco Bell, and discusses the art of balancing intuition with data.
This episode is packed with actionable advice for founders, product managers, and anyone looking to improve their approach to user research.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Alex’s journey from user research into product management
* How startups can quickly validate ideas with scrappy research methods
* The importance of uncovering user motivations beyond surface-level feedback
* Examples of research techniques used at companies like Taco Bell and Canvas
* Balancing speed, precision, and risk in product decisions
* The role of AI in accelerating user research and potential pitfalls
* Best practices for involving product designers, engineers, and stakeholders in research
* Using AI tools and call transcription to streamline the process
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Alex Hanthorn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-hanthorn/
* Alex’s website: https://www.alexhanthorn.com/
* Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres: https://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Discovery-Habits-Discover-Products/dp/1736633309
* Outset: https://www.outset.ai/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben are joined by Varun Puri, CEO and co-founder of Yoodli, a platform helping people improve their public speaking skills. Varun shares his journey from working with Sergey Brin at Google to taking the leap into entrepreneurship. The conversation delves into Varun’s time at Google X, the early days of building Yoodli, the harsh realities of founding a company, and the joys of actually making a difference.
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring founders and product leaders who want to hear an honest account of the highs and lows of startup life.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Varun’s experience reporting directly to Sergey Brin at Google and Google X
* His transition from a Google PM to founding Yoodli
* Challenges of building a public speaking platform
* The realities of entrepreneurship, from personal sacrifices to celebrating wins
* Lessons learned from building a consumer-focused product and pivoting to enterprise sales
* Advice for product leaders thinking about starting their own business
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Varun Puri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varun-puri001/
* Yoodli: https://yoodli.ai/
* Esha Joshi (Yoodli’s other co-founder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshajoshi/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Melissa Chi, COO and former head of product at Pathpoint. We explore Melissa's transition from a product leader to COO, the importance of maintaining user empathy in a remote, operations-heavy environment, and how she continues to support and coach her team. Melissa also shares insights on managing time effectively, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and prioritization in a growth-stage startup.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow their career in leadership while maintaining a user-centered approach.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Melissa’s transition from head of product to COO at Pathpoint
* How Melissa stays connected to her users in a remote environment
* The importance of coaching and building empathy with teams
* Managing time effectively as a leader with multiple functions
* Leveraging cross-functional collaboration and direct communication
* Long-term career planning and goal-setting
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Melissa Chi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-chi-0073989/
* The LNO Framework by Shreyas Doshi: https://www.dualoop.com/blog/shreyas-doshi-the-lno-effectiveness-framework
* Energy Audit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HmaRdtk8R5GQtMj72Y6XhHTru5SQAiiqDfDP3qy73k4/edit
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with longtime friends and co-founders, Joshua Herzig-Marx and Ben Sprecher, to explore their journey from childhood friendship to building a company that was acquired by Google. In this candid conversation, Joshua and Ben share their co-founder origin story, the challenges they faced scaling a startup, and how they managed their relationship through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. They also dive into the crucial lessons learned from hiring a CEO, pivoting their business model, and making tough decisions to ensure a successful exit.
This episode is packed with invaluable insights for anyone thinking about finding a co-founder or navigating the early stages of a startup.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Josh and Ben’s co-founder origin story, from childhood friends to business partners
* The importance of trust and intellectual respect between co-founders
* Why finding a co-founder with complementary skill sets can save a startup from failure
* The decision to hire a CEO and how it shaped their company’s trajectory
* Navigating the emotional challenges of running a startup and maintaining a strong co-founder relationship
* The pivotal moments that led to their startup being acquired by Google
* Lessons learned from balancing long-term vision with short-term opportunities
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Joshua Herzig-Marx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaherzigmarx/
* Josh’s site: https://joshua.herzig-marx.com/
* Ben Sprecher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensprecher/
* Josh’s wife Carla Naumberg’s new book, How to Stop Freaking Out: https://www.carlanaumburg.com/books/how-to-stop-freaking-out/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of the Supra Insider. This time, Ben and Marc are joined by Katie Kent, who shares her unique experience transitioning from a product leadership role back to an individual contributor (IC) as a staff PM at Semgrep. Katie talks about how her background in leadership has sharpened her skills as an IC, the lessons she’s learned from the security industry, and why she believes in staying hands-on with product work. The conversation explores the value of remote and hybrid work, the evolving role of tools like FigJam in fostering collaboration, and what it means to bring joy and delight into B2B products.
Whether you’re a PM considering a career shift or looking to deepen your strategic thinking, this episode offers a wealth of insights.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Katie's decision to move from a leadership role back to being an IC and how it's impacted her approach to product management
* Her journey into the security industry and what makes security a compelling space for product managers
* The benefits of hybrid versus remote work and how the return to office is reshaping PM roles
* How collaboration tools like FigJam are changing the dynamics between product managers, designers, and engineers
* The future of leadership in tech and the potential career paths for PMs
* Insights on staying connected to the craft of product management and maintaining creativity and impact over the long term
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Katie Kent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekent/
* Katie’s X: https://twitter.com/k80kent
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Josh Brewer, former CEO and Co-founder of Abstract, to discuss the nuances of creative leadership in today's fast-evolving tech landscape. Josh shares his unique perspective on building high-performing teams, delegating effectively, and fostering an environment of openness and authenticity. The conversation delves into the concept of "founder mode," the future of design amidst AI advancements, and the critical role design plays in shaping product vision and business strategy.
Tune in for actionable insights and lessons from Josh's extensive experience in product management, design, and entrepreneurship.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Strategies for building and nurturing high-performing teams
* Josh's thoughts on the concept of "founder mode" and balancing leadership with effective delegation
* Insights on delivering and receiving feedback in a growth-oriented environment
* The evolving role of design in the age of AI and its impact on future products
* How to attract top talent and cultivate a culture of creativity and accountability
* Reflections on the importance of staying connected to the core mission of the product and the organization
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Josh Brewer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrewer/
* Josh’s Website: https://jbrewer.me/
* Josh’s Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jbrewer
* Josh’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbrewer
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
And here are some less recent favorites:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben explore the timely topic of taking time off. Recently returning from their own breaks, they share experiences, insights, and reflections on the value of truly unplugging. The conversation delves into their activities during time off, common challenges of stepping away from work, and effective strategies for fully disconnecting. They also discuss the personal benefits experienced and the lessons learned, which they are excited to apply moving forward.
For anyone considering a break or just returning from one, this discussion is meant to inspire and offer practical advice on making the most of downtime.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* The importance of taking time off and its benefits for both personal well-being and professional growth
* Common concerns and challenges people face when disconnecting from work
* Strategies for fully unplugging and making the most of time away
* Insights on how time off can lead to renewed energy, clarity, and focus
* Reflections on maintaining balance between work and personal life
* Practical tips for planning and preparing for time off effectively
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we feature Brenton Sellati, a seasoned product leader who went from managing four teams to leading 50 at Wayfair. Brenton introduces his framework for exponential growth, focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and influencing skills. He shares how applying these principles to his career led to rapid advancement and offers practical advice for PMs at all levels. This episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to elevate their product management game. We highly recommend you watch this episode on YouTube since Brenton used slides throughout the episode.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Brenton's journey from Group PM (4 teams) to Senior Director (50 teams) at Wayfair
* The four domains of intelligence and their relevance to product management
* How to develop first principles and mental models for effective problem-solving
* The importance of framing ideas to influence and align teams
* The concept of portfolio strategy and its role in prioritizing efforts
* Tips for PMs to continuously improve their critical thinking and decision-making abilities
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Brenton Sellati: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentonsellati/
* Presentation Decks: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PZvjGT8HQ-WM21jbW8K_SBo3Zp3pnkGJOK7OM-1R6eg/edit#slide=id.g1efbe561ac4_0_72
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Rich Mironov, an experienced product leader and 6x interim CPO, about the challenges of managing product strategy in sales-driven environments. We discussed building better relationships between product and go-to-market teams, why burnout is so common among product leaders, and how to thrive in these high-pressure roles. This conversation is a must for anyone navigating the complex dynamics of product leadership, especially in a B2B environment.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* The challenges product leaders face in balancing the needs of go-to-market teams with long-term product strategy
* The importance of understanding incentives and timelines in sales-driven organizations
* Why empathy and relationship-building with cross-functional teams are crucial for successful product management
* Common misconceptions about the roles and motivations of sales and marketing teams
* Strategies for product leaders to influence executive decisions and prioritize effectively
* The increasing trend of burnout among product leaders and practical advice for managing stress and expectations
* Rich's thoughts on how to assess company culture and leadership dynamics during a job search to ensure a good fit
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Rich Mironov’s Product Bytes: https://www.mironov.com/
* Rich’s article on CPO burnout: https://www.mironov.com/cpo-burnout/
* Rich’s article on why prioritization is about politics: https://www.mironov.com/pri-politics/
* Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richmironov/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
First time here? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
And if you’re new, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms, too, from the podcast page on Substack):
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down with Allison Braley, partner and head of marketing at Bain Capital Ventures. This episode delves into common marketing and communications mistakes made by founders, the importance of an authentic online presence, and how to build effective partnerships between product leaders and marketers. We also touched on Allison’s transition from an operational marketing leader role to supporting founders as a VC and why this new role plays to her strengths. This episode is essential for founders looking to enhance their marketing strategies and get more leverage out of their marketing leaders.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* What founders get wrong when it comes to marketing
* The benefits of continuously workshopping your company’s narrative
* The value of establishing an authentic online voice as a founder
* Allison’s learnings from creating consistent and engaging content
* Pitfalls of ghostwriting and why it can be detrimental
* Setting up effective partnerships between product and marketing
* Allison’s transition to supporting founders as a marketing partner at BCV
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Allison’s Succession finale post on LI (the last of many bangers)
* Allison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonbraley/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms, too, from the podcast page on Substack):
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. In this episode, Marc and Ben sit down with Chris Hulls, the founder and CEO of Life360, the world’s leading location-sharing app for families. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in scaling a tech startup and Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. In this episode, Marc and Ben sit down with Chris Hulls, the founder and CEO of Life360, the world’s leading location-sharing app for families. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in scaling a tech startup and understanding the intricacies of product management in a rapidly growing company. the intricacies of product management in a rapidly growing company.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Chris's journey from founding Life360 to taking the company public
* The qualities Chris looks for in product leaders at different growth stages
* His views on metric-driven product culture and the lean startup ideology
* Why Chris brought on Gibson Biddle as an interim product leader and his reflections on the experience of hiring fractional executives
* How Life360 maintains agility as it scales
* Chris's approach to building conviction and product taste as a founder
* The challenges and benefits of being a publicly traded company
* Chris’s future aspirations and continued motivation after 17 years in the business
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Life360 careers page: https://www.life360.com/careers/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms, too, from the podcast page on Substack):
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc & Ben sat down to talk about Ben’s recent experience launching a course on Maven. This episode will be extremely relevant to anyone considering launching a course.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we covered the following topics:
* Ben’s motivation for the course
* What it took to get the course off the ground and drive initial demand
* Figuring out the positioning and course materials
* The time commitment for the course
* How to nail pricing and the cohort size
* Learnings from the first cohort
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Ben’s Maven course: https://maven.com/ben-erez/pm-interview/
* Ben’s Lightning Lesson on Maven that drove signups for the course:
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Brenton’s learning talk on “Foundations for Exponential Growth”
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better, but you can see all of these on other platforms, too, from the podcast page on Substack):
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Ben joined Estee Goldschmidt on her podcast, The Estee Show, to dive into Ben’s learnings from the past six months of fractional product work.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, Ben and Estee talked about:
* What fractional product work means and why it’s appealing to people
* How to build a pipeline of fractional opportunities by warming up your network and promoting yourself authentically
* The surprising context switching costs incurred with multiple part-time PM roles
* How startups can leverage advisors to improve and accelerate execution
* The importance of finding work at the intersection of strengths, joy, and value
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Estee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esteegoldschmidt/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* The Estee Show Website: https://theesteeshow.com/
* The Estee Show on Substack | Spotify | Apple | Instagram | LinkedIn
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the recent episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms, too, from the podcast page on Substack):
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our second conversation with Josh Herzig-Marx (a follow up on episode 16).
Josh was one of the early facilitators in Supra, has been a successful founder who sold his company to Google, held multiple early stage product leadership roles, and in recent years has found meaning in his role as an early stage product coach.
All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube (video).
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this sequel to our previous episode with Josh (episode 16), we talked about:
* Josh’s scaffolding framework (soothing, insights, practice)
* When founders should delegate the hard thing vs do it themselves
* How to think about playing to your strengths as a founder
* When to hire full-time vs fractional
* Why anything other than product and sales/GTM is a distraction before you have product-market fit
* And more!
This conversation will be particularly useful for founders, early stage heads of product, product advisors, and founding PMs. Hope you enjoy it!
If you’d like to watch the video of our interview, you can catch that on YouTube:
If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend or colleague 👇
Links:
* Josh’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaherzigmarx/
* Josh’s website: https://joshua.herzig-marx.com
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our conversation with Heather Phillips, Senior Director of Product Design at Slack.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Before Slack, Heather held multiple design leadership roles at companies including Abstract (where she worked closely with Ben), Designer Fund, RelateIQ, and Yammer.
In this episode, we talked about
* What it means to make a product “sing”
* The benefits of investing in user delight
* How to instill a delight-forward mindset in your team
* Pitfalls to avoid when attempting to level up your product’s design
* How Slack structures its teams to make their products “Slacky”
* And more!
Heather is an incredibly thoughtful design executive who is passionate about building world-class user experiences and has unique views on ways to do so by bringing brand design and product design closer together. We loved chatting with her and learned a ton. We hope you enjoy the episode!
If you’d like to watch the video, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Heather’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-phillips/
* Heather’s personal site: https://www.heatherphillips.com/
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
If you’re new to the pod, check out some of our recent episodes below:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our conversation with Josh Herzig-Marx.
Josh was one of the early facilitators in Supra, has been a successful founder who sold his company to Google, held multiple early stage product leadership roles, and in recent years has found meaning in his role as an early stage product coach.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In our conversation, we talked about
* Josh’s decision two years ago to take a break from full-time salaried work to become the primary parent for his two daughters, supporting his wife Carla’s booming career as a bestselling author and clinician
* The founding PM + founder relationship and why it’s critical for founders to own the product vision and strategy for longer than comfortable
* The role of product coaches in early stage startups and Josh’s journey into the coaching world
* And more!
This conversation will be particularly useful for founders, early stage heads of product, and founding PMs. Hope you enjoy listening!
If you’d like to watch the video of our interview, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Josh’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaherzigmarx/
* Josh’s website: https://joshua.herzig-marx.com
* Josh’s wife Carla Naumburg’s newly released book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Stop-Freaking-Out-Ultimate/dp/1523518243
* All of Carla’s books: https://www.carlanaumburg.com/books/
* Article: Why You Want to be the *Second* 1st PM by Jason Evanish
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. After Ben shared a fun story on LinkedIn about how he got his first tech job, we thought it would be fun to do an episode about how we landed our first jobs in tech.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we talked about
* The story of how Ben joined Life360 as employee #35 through a roadtrip
* The story of how Marc joined Asana as their first PM intern
* Actionable takeaways from these stories for driven people to find opportunities
* And much more!
We hope you enjoy listening!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
If you’re a new subscriber, welcome! Feel free to check out some of the previous episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms too from the podcast page on Substack):
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our conversation with Kelly O'Shaughnessy, Head of Product - Self Serve at Airtable.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Getting new products off the ground at established companies is notoriously challenging. But when it works, it can meaningfully expand the company’s TAM and introduce new revenue streams.
Kelly O’Shaughnessy is one of the earliest members of the Supra community and before her current role at Airtable, she spent four years at Uber focusing on marketplace & pricing dynamics, core consumer experience, and B2B offerings.
In this episode, we talked about
* Kelly’s experience being recruited into a ”volunteer army” at Uber, ultimately leading to the development of new products worth $1B+
* Advice for passionate product leaders to get people excited to join their “volunteer army” for new initiatives through storytelling and data
* Why forming tiger teams with cross-functional partners is critical for the success of new initiatives (especially with GTM)
* The importance of setting aside ego to inspire people to follow you
* And more!
This conversation will be particularly useful for listeners at larger companies looking to get new initiatives off the ground. We loved chatting with Kelly and learned a ton. Hope you enjoy listening!
If you’d like to watch the video of our interview, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Kelly’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyoshaughnessy/
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
A couple of months ago, Ben wrote a thought-provoking LinkedIn post about the potential damage Marty Cagan's advice on Lenny's podcast could cause to feature factory PMs. This sparked a conversation between Ben and Estee Goldschmidt on The Estee Show, which caught the attention of Lenny Rachitsky. Recognizing the importance of the topic, Lenny invited Ben to write a guest post for his newsletter, "In defense of feature team product managers," which went live today.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, Ben and Estee talked about:
* The controversy around current product management practices, emphasizing the difficulties PMs encounter when trying to implement change within their organizations.
* Ben’s perspective and experiences, outlining the challenges of transitioning a company from being output-oriented to outcome-oriented, highlighting the risks and personal consequences PMs face in such endeavors.
* Strategies for PMs in 'feature factory' settings and the importance of aligning job performance evaluations with the realities of the work environment.
* The contrasts between the aspirational aspects of product leadership and the on-the-ground realities for PMs, offering insights and advice for navigating these challenging terrains.
* And more!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Estee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esteegoldschmidt/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
* The Estee Show Website: https://theesteeshow.com/
* The Estee Show on Substack | Spotify | Apple | Instagram | LinkedIn
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the previous episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms, too, from the podcast page on Substack):
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and Ben sat down to reflect on the first 11 episodes of the pod.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, we talked about
* Key decisions we made at the offset and how those have played out
* Our runbook for publishing episodes
* How we gather and incorporate feedback to make every episode better
* Where we’re hoping to go with the pod from here
* Why podcast analytics are terrible
* And much more!
We’re excited to make this type of reflection a habit every few months and hope you enjoy listening!
If you’d like to watch the video of our conversation, you can catch that on YouTube:
Also, if you’re a new subscriber, we encourage you to check out some of the previous episodes you might have missed (Spotify links embed better but you can see all of these on other platforms too from the podcast page on Substack):
Links:
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our conversation with Jeff Whitlock, CEO at Grain.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Jeff’s most important job is as a father of three. His second most important job is as the CEO of Grain, a role he took on after holding a few other roles at the company, including President, Head of Product and Head of Operations.
Before Grain, Jeff started his career at McKinsey, then joined Vivint Smart Home. He’s held multiple product leadership roles in early stage startups, and co-founded multiple startups of his own (one of which went through YC in 2021).
In this episode, we talked about
* How the best product teams are using call recording software to bring their team along
* Why a product background makes Jeff a more effective CEO
* How Grain prioritizes building intuitive software in a crowded space including Jeff’s philosophy on killing features
* How Jeff creates space to be a good dad while running a company
* The exploding tech scene in Utah
* How Jeff builds conviction
* And more!
We loved chatting with Jeff and learned a ton. Hope you enjoy listening!
If you’d like to watch the video, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links:
* Jeff’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-whitlock/
* Grain: www.grain.com
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. We changed things up for this episode and instead of Ben and Marc interviewing a guest, Ben interviewed Marc.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
In this episode, Marc and Ben dive deep into various aspects of the Supra community, including:
* Supra’s founding story
* The importance of curating a high-quality, committed member community and matching people into the right groups.
* The role of executive coaches in facilitating meaningful discussions and maintaining group engagement.
* Challenges faced in scaling the community as a bootstrapped business
* The value of in-person events and the desire to organize more of them in the future.
* Common career paths & aspirations of product leaders + how Supra aims to help
* Potential future opportunities for Supra.
If you're a product leader interested in learning more about Supra, reach out to Marc on LinkedIn. In the meantime, enjoy the episode!
And if you’d like to watch the video, you can catch that on YouTube:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our conversation with Nan Yu, Head of Product at Linear.
New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox 👇
Nan had a super interesting path to his current role: he started his career as a software engineer at Goldman Sachs, then served as the CTO of Everlane for nearly six years before joining Abstract as an engineering manager (where he paired with Ben as his primary PM counterpart). After a couple years at Abstract, Nan joined Mode Analytics initially as interim CTO and then as their full-time VP of Product.
In this episode, we went deep on how Linear:
* Designs its org and structures its teams
* Builds products (and how it uses Linear)
* Runs work trials to screen for fit
* and much more!
We had a blast talking to Nan and learned a ton from our conversation. Enjoy it!
If you’d like to watch the video, you can catch that on YouTube:
Links
* Nan’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenanyu/
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, we’re excited to bring you our conversation with Aakash Gupta.
New to Supra Insider? Subscribe to get each episode straight to your inbox 👇
Aakash is a former product leader who was most recently VP of Product at Apollo, Head of Product Growth at Affirm, and other great companies. He’s lately become known for his Substack newsletter, Product Growth, where he has a very large subscriber base, as well as his LinkedIn where he has 200k+ followers.
In this episode, we went deep on the latest Product Growth Substack post, titled The Product Leadership Job Search, covering the following topics:
* Aakash’s motivation for writing this article
* Definitions for what it means to be a product leader in this environment
* Biggest findings (and surprises) from researching the article, including that the best leadership jobs often aren’t posted
* Why it’s important to build and nurture relationships with product recruiters and venture capital teams
* How to set yourself up for successful relationships with hiring managers
Aakash brought a lot of energy and excitement to this conversation and we hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening!
Episode Links
* Aakash LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aagupta/
* Aakash’s co-author Colin’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinlernell/
* Aakash’s Substack:
* Article we discussed:
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. This time, Marc and I are excited to bring you our conversation with John Cutler.
John writes The Beautiful Mess, a popular Substack newsletter in the product community and frequently posts on LI to his 100k followers. We both learned about John’s work during his time at Amplitude, where he spent 4.5 years as a product evangelist and coach for hundreds of product teams around the globe, giving him a unique vantage point about reality on the ground in many different environments and cultures. John legitimately lives in the “matrix of product management”.
Prior to Amplitude, John held product management roles at Zendesk and Pendo, and drove UX research at AppFolio. John recently left his role at Toast, where he focused on product enablement and is enjoying beautiful Santa Barbara while exploring what’s next.
In this episode, we covered topics including:
* John’s path from product management into product evangelism and the tradeoffs of making that transition
* How the role of product management has evolved and where it might go
* Why it’s important not to follow frameworks blindly and understand the context
* The benefits writing has on John’s thinking and how consistent publishing has allowed him to build a personal brand, creating optionality in his career
* John’s take on the great feature factory vs empowered product team debate and Marty Cagan’s episode on Lenny’s Podcast
* And much more!
John is an extremely nuanced thinker and truth seeker who wants to help bring the product world closer together. We think you’ll love this conversation.
Links
* John’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpcutler/
* John’s blog (The Beautiful Mess):
* Elena Verna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaverna/
John’s post about Marty Cagan’s episode on Lenny (Product Theater):
In this episode, Marc and Ben are joined by Brenton Sellati. Brenton is the incoming VP of product at Pie Insurance (Series D insurtech company) where he will be leading the product and design team and leveraging his past experience driving innovation strategy and product management at Liberty Mutual Insurance where he started his product career.
Between Liberty Mutual and Pie Insurance, Brenton had a stellar run for over 5 years at Wayfair, where he worked his way up from managing 4 teams as a group PM all the way to leading 50 teams as a senior director of product management. This episode goes into the secret sauce that enabled Brenton to scale as a leader supporting 300+ people.
Our conversation covered a lot of ground:
* Why most middle managers are not competent
* How to build high trust, high candor relationships with people
* Ways to create true leverage as your scope of management grows
* Why it’s impossible to have clear thinking without clear writing
* The importance of designing organizations to minimize cross-org dependencies
* And a lot more!
Brenton is one of the most structured thinkers we’ve met in product leadership. He’s a member of the Supra community and a consistent contributor to top of mind discussions within the group. We feel very lucky to get to learn from him on a weekly basis and the density of insights in the conversation might warrant listening twice - we know you’ll enjoy this conversation.
Thanks for listening!
Episode Links
* Brenton’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentonsellati/
* Brenton’s Substack: brentonsellati.substack.com
* Article: The day you became a better writer (Dilbert)
* Doc: Sanitized reflections doc from 2019 at Wayfair
* Nikhyl Singhal’s post about superpowers and shadows
* 1v1 Norm & Expectation Setting template (Building Trust & Setting Expectations for Managers - the full written voiceover for the template)
* Monthly Portfolio Review for Senior Leaders template (How Brenton managed his time at the Sr Director/VP level)
* Strategic Task Backlog Example (How Brenton managed his time when he was a senior IC and early manager of 3-4 teams)
Hosts
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider!
In this episode, Marc and Ben are joined by Diana Kimball Berlin, a Partner at Matrix who invests in early-stage B2B SaaS & AI companies, from concept to Series A. Diana also sits on the boards of Accord and Meshcapade. Prior to becoming an investor, Diana spent 5 years at Quip, working up from an IC product manager to VP of Product. Before Quip, Diana was a senior PM at SoundCloud and has held roles at Kickstarter and Microsoft.
In our chat with Diana, we cover a lot of ground:
* Diana’s path from a liberal arts major to product management and investing
* Why Diana likes liberal arts as a background for PMs and investors
* How publishing writing has benefitted Diana in her life and career and why people should consider being more open with sharing their thinking (and what leaders can do to support their team in being more public online)
* When founders should consider hiring their first product manager
* What makes for the best relationships between CEOs and product executives
* How product leaders can gauge compatibility with a company
* And more!
Diana is an extremely thoughtful investor and product leader. We hope you enjoy this conversation and look forward to hearing your feedback. Thanks for listening!
Links
* Diana’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianakimball/
* Diana’s website: https://dianaberlin.com/
* Diana’s post about whether business school is worth it for PMs: https://dianaberlin.com/posts/the-mba-decision-guide-for-product-managers
* Lina Colucci: https://www.youtube.com/@Lina_Colucci
Hosts
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
Welcome to another episode of Supra Insider. Following up on last episode’s discussion of the current PM market (episode 3), we wanted to add a new perspective to the conversation by inviting a product management recruiter to the show.
In this episode, Marc and I are joined by James Jordan, the founder of Producto, a recruiting agency focused on PM hiring from ICs all the way to executives. James is coming up on two decades in recruiting and has a wealth of knowledge about the historical product management hiring landscape and the latest trends.
If you’re thinking about hiring a PM or are a PM looking for a new role, you’ll love this conversation.
In our chat with James, we cover a lot of ground:
* James’s read on the current PM hiring market and what’s changed in the last year
* Why do companies struggle to define what they want in their first PM hire?
* We also discussed how people managers are struggling to break into senior IC roles, how he evaluates ICs vs. execs, and his unique approach to doing references
* We conclude our chat discussing how most candidates are not using LI right, sleeping on networking, and where is the role of the Product going in the next couple of years.
I hope you enjoy this conversation and look forward to hearing your feedback. Thanks for listening!
Links
* James Jordan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesjordanrecruitment
* Producto: https://productotalent.com
* Product toolkit by Ravi Mehta - https://www.ravi-mehta.com/product-manager-roles/
Hosts
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
This is a wild market for product managers. The hiring landscape has shifted more in the last year than it did in the previous decade.
With hundreds of thousands of people actively looking for their next role, we thought it would be helpful to invite a couple of folks from the Supra community to have a chat about how to navigate this job market. For those unfamiliar with Supra, it’s an invite-only community for elite product leaders that Marc founded.
In this episode, Ben and Marc were joined by Gaurav Hardikar (VP Product @ HomeLight who mentors a ton of PMs who are changing roles) and Andrew Chapello (FinTech product leader who was recently in the market for the first time after 8 years and successfully ran a super intentional search).
Our conversation covered a ton of ground, including:
* How the PM market has changed in the last 6-12 months
* How to set yourself up for success as a candidate in this market
* Tips on getting interviews
* Why cold applications and cover letters are a waste of time
* Advice for running due diligence on companies before accepting offers
* And more!
If you’re on the market for your next product role or thinking about it, we think you’ll find this conversation relevant and actionable - thanks for listening!
Links
* AI Resume generator Teal/otta
* Loom – recording yourself for your narrative.
Guests
* Gaurav Hardikar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghardikar/)
* Andrew Chapello (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapello/)
Hosts
* Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
* Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
Josh Doody has coached 200+ high earners in tech through salary negotiations, leading to an average of 16% increase in liquid first year compensation. He’s a published author of Fearless Salary Negotiation and shares tips regularly on YouTube.
In this episode, we talk about:
* Why people should negotiate
* What’s a typical negotiation timeline
* How to negotiate without a counteroffer
* Go over common negotiation pitfalls/mistakes
* How to negotiate in the current job market (Q1 2024)
* Why changing companies every 2-3 years optimizes earning potential
If you enjoyed the episode, feel free to learn more about Josh through these links:
* Josh’s site: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/
* How to answer “What’s your expected salary?”: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/salary-expectations-interview-question/
* Do you need multiple competing job offers to negotiate?: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/multiple-competing-job-offers-negotiate/
* Josh’s newsletter: https://fearlesssalarynegotiation.com/newsletter/
* Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/JoshDoody
* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdoody/
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJoshDoody
* Book: https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Salary-Negotiation-step-step/dp/0692568689
Thanks for listening!
Marc & Ben
Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
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We’re excited to start sharing some of the interesting topics from the Supra product leadership community. Let us know if you have any feedback on the episode!
You can also watch our conversation video on YouTube.
Thanks for listening,
Marc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbaselga/
Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benerez/
“How should I think about joining an early stage startup as their first product hire?”
Many experienced product leaders are considering this path, so we sat down to chew on it together.
In this episode, we talk about our respective journeys in early stage startups, the evaluation criteria we would apply today to the decision (including how to assess PMF, gauging fit with the founder and the team, the importance of the problem space, how compensation factors into the decision, and how your product craft could accelerate from a tour of duty in the very early stage).
We wrap by describing the product leaders who might benefit the most from early stage startups and share a few tips from Supra community members.
If you find this episode valuable, please rate the podcast on Spotify and share it with your friends. Thanks for listening!
* Thanks to Supra community members Gaurav Hardikar and Joshua Herzig-Marx for contributing to this episode’s discussion.
Learn more about the Supra product community.
How to exercise your expiring stock options without financial risk or paying any $ out of pocket: Services like ESO Fund will provide you with cash to exercise your stock options. Learn more here: https://www.esofund.com/
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.