Product Talk

In this "Super Episode" of Product Talk, dive into the minds of the world's top product leaders as they reveal the secrets to building game-changing products. Join host Renee Niemi, Resident CPO of Products That Count, for a master class in product leadership.

The episode takes you on a journey through the evolving role of product leadership. Hear from industry luminaries as they share their unique perspectives honed from decades of experience.

Tune in for insights from:

- Siddharth Mantri, former Disney Plus CPO, on generating "power moments" for customers by blending Silicon Valley innovation with local product development expertise.

- Jim Denney, NBC Universal CPO, on balancing customer needs and business goals through a mix of art and science in product management.

- Olivier Houpert, Altria CPO, on fostering a culture of curiosity and leveraging the transformative potential of AI and Gen AI.

- Sabrina Ellis, Pinterest CPO, on the ethical considerations behind AI-powered accessible products and the importance of human oversight.

- Irana Wasti, Bill's CPO, on aligning product strategy with broader business priorities to navigate post-pandemic challenges for SMBs.

Get ready to elevate your product career and make your mark on the industry. This is a master class you won't want to miss.

Dive into a master class in product leadership with this special "super episode" of the Product Talk podcast. Hosted by one of the first Chief Product Officers in the world and Products That Count's Resident CPO Renée Niemi, this curated discussion features defining career moments from some of the top CPOs across diverse industries.

Get ready for a playbook on becoming a world-class Chief Product Officer, as Renée guides you through the unique journeys of leaders from Disney, NBC Universal, Altria, and Extreme Networks. Uncover the invaluable insights that have shaped their approaches to product management, innovation, and leadership.

Hear from:

- Siddharth Mantri, former CPO of Disney Plus for emerging markets, who reveals how he customized the streaming giant's product for international markets.

- James Denney from NBC Universal, who reflects on his path from TiVo to leading the Olympic streaming innovations.

- Olivier Houpert, who transitioned from Procter & Gamble to become the CPO at Altria, and shares how a clear company purpose has driven his work.

- David Feuer from Galileo Financial Technologies, who recounts his pivotal move from engineering to product management.

- Nabil Bukhari from Extreme Networks, who highlights a transformative moment that underscored the impact of human-centered product development.

This special "super episode" is a must-listen for anyone aspiring to become a top Chief Product Officer. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with a playbook for your own product leadership journey.

What's the secret to building products that stand out in a crowded market? In this episode hosted by Daniel Feldman, Raycaster Co-Founder Levi Lian shares insights on the evolving role of product management and the importance of integrating product marketing and design for rapid execution. Hear how Levi's background in ethnography and user research shaped his approach, and learn about the unique challenges and opportunities in the enterprise sales space.

How are leading organizations leveraging AI to enhance journalism and drive innovation? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series, Renée Niemi sits down with New York Times CPO Alex Hardiman to discuss the company's strategic approach to using generative AI. Alex shares insights on how the Times is using AI responsibly to make their journalism more accessible, drive monetization, and boost productivity - all while protecting the human expertise that is core to their mission. She also explores the evolving role of product managers in an AI-powered world, emphasizing the importance of creativity, judgment, and customer-centricity in the face of this transformative technology.

How is Palo Alto Networks innovating to address the evolving cybersecurity landscape? In this episode hosted by Justin Fowler, Palo Alto Networks Product Line Manager Priyanka Neelakrishnan discusses her book Autonomous Data Security and the company's platformization strategy to provide holistic cybersecurity solutions. Priyanka also shares insights on the growing challenges driven by AI and cloud adoption, and the importance of autonomous data security.

What makes a successful Chief Product Officer in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, SAP President and CPO Ritu Bhargava shares her insights on the importance of decisiveness, building trust with customers, and adapting to the transformative impact of AI. Ritu emphasizes the power of saying "no" to clear the path for innovation, the value of becoming a trusted advisor to customers, and the need for product leaders to stay agile and reimagine their offerings in the face of technological disruption.

How can product leaders navigate product growth and communication challenges? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Barbara Bermes, Atlassian Fmr Head of Product Jens Schumacher speaks on building a strong product culture, navigating communication challenges, and implementing effective decision-making frameworks to scale a successful SaaS business. Discover strategies for managing stakeholder expectations, leveraging data to drive product decisions, and fostering a collaborative, customer-centric approach to product development.

How can product leaders drive transformative impact at scale? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Target CPO Prat Vamana shares his insights on leveraging curiosity, transparency, and coaching to shape strategy, accelerate execution, and prepare for the future of AI. As a seasoned CPO with experience across large enterprises, Prat has witnessed the evolving role of product management in defining organizational direction and delivering tangible business results. He discusses how product teams are now empowered to actively shape strategy, not just execute on top-down initiatives. He also shares personal anecdotes on the key mentors and practices that have shaped his own leadership approach, emphasizing the importance of building trust, fostering discussion-based rituals, and developing the next generation of product talent.

How can product leaders leverage generative AI to enhance product efficiency and customer value? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Thomson Reuters CPO David Wong discusses how his team is harnessing the power of generative AI to transform their products and better serve their customers. David shares insights on Thomson Reuters' unique position to capitalize on the AI revolution, the significant efficiency gains they've achieved in areas like legal research and document analysis, and his strategic approach to balancing build, partner, and acquisition strategies for growth. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the evolving role of product management in the age of AI and how leading CPOs are adapting to this technological shift.

How are leading AI companies scaling their enterprise businesses? In this episode hosted by Sid Shaik, we dive deep into the strategies and insights from Vectara CEO Amr Awadallah and Vectara Head of Marketing Sean Anderson, as they share their experiences in scaling enterprise software businesses. As the AI market continues to evolve rapidly, Amr and Sean discuss the importance of adaptability, identifying worthy problems to solve, and building high-performing teams to navigate the challenges. They explore the nuances of product-led growth, the role of instrumentation and data-driven decision making, and their predictions for the future of the AI platform ecosystem. This conversation offers a unique perspective from seasoned entrepreneurs and executives at the forefront of the AI revolution, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to scale their enterprise software business.

How are today's Chief Product Officers adapting to the rapid changes in their role, from the pandemic's digital transformation to the AI revolution? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Euromonitor International CPO Michael Jozwik uncovers the strategies and challenges of leading product innovation in a data-driven, AI-powered world. He shares his unique journey to the CPO role, the growing strategic importance of the position, and Euromonitor's transformation from a consulting services model to a more product-led approach. Through personal stories of success and failure, Michael reveals the critical skills of product leadership, offering invaluable insights for aspiring and seasoned CPOs navigating the AI-powered future of their industry.

How can product leaders build mission-driven products and scale niche apps? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Hallow Co-Founder Erich Kerekes shares his insights on transitioning from a corporate career to founding a successful Catholic prayer and meditation app, navigating the challenges of product development and user engagement, and leveraging data to create a personalized experience for a growing community. Tune in for actionable advice on turning passion projects into thriving businesses.

How can granular data be transformed into impactful decarbonization actions? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host and Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Terralytiq CTO Alysha Hudson to discuss measuring Scope 3 (embodied CO2) emissions at the material level and facilitating deployment of impactful actions, maximizing value creation with granular product delivery based on target users' incremental needs, as well as the importance of diverse perspectives, data standardization and optimal financing for growing a start-up and tackling climate change.

How is the role of product leaders evolving? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Disney Fmr. CPO Sidd Mantri shares his experiences building a highly customized and localized Disney Plus product for markets like India, Indonesia, and the Middle East. He discusses the evolving role of the Chief Product Officer, highlighting key aspects such as customer focus, aligning business and customer outcomes, amplifying team productivity, and cultivating a high-performance culture. Additionally, Sidd provides his perspective on the impact of AI and generative AI tools on the product management function. He explains how AI is enhancing the efficiency and productivity of product managers, while emphasizing that creativity remains a core and irreplaceable aspect of the role.

How can product leaders build trust and align stakeholders? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Nacho Andrade, Product Culture Founder Bruce McCarthy and Executive PM Coach Melissa Appel speak on the critical importance of stakeholder management in product development. They discuss their new book "Aligned," which they describe as the "missing manual" for getting product done, focusing on the often-overlooked skills of aligning teams and building trust with key stakeholders. They share personal experiences, practical techniques, and the underlying principles of effective stakeholder management, emphasizing the need for authenticity, curiosity, and a human-centric approach. The discussion provides valuable insights for product managers at all stages of their careers, as well as anyone working in cross-functional teams, on the art of navigating organizational dynamics and ensuring successful product outcomes.

How can product leaders balance short-term and long-term focus? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count CPO Renee Niemi, Galileo Financial Technologies CPO David Feuer discusses his approach to balancing short-term and long-term focus in product management. David shares his philosophy of servant leadership, emphasizing the importance of empowering his team, and highlights Galileo's significant impact on improving financial inclusion and responsible lending. The conversation also explores his use of storytelling to deepen customer understanding and his perspective on adapting to the evolving role of AI in product management.

What does it mean to transform healthcare quality measurement through digital innovation? In this episode of the Care Catalyst series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, NCQA CPO Krishna Kandula speaks on the organization's transformative initiatives in the healthcare industry. Krishna shares his journey from a technologist to a healthcare quality and risk management expert, and how his experience has informed his work at NCQA. The discussion delves into the importance of HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) and NCQA's shift towards digital quality measurement and data aggregation and validation. Krishna explains how these initiatives are aligned with CMS's strategy to transition all quality measures to a digital format, enhancing data accuracy, interoperability, and ultimately, patient outcomes.

How can product leaders turn product strategy and roadmap into value? In this episode of Product Talk, VNS Health Product Director Mark Bailes interviews Alegeus Fmr. CPO and Head of Banking Bill Reboul. They discuss the importance of focusing on the financial aspects of product strategy and roadmaps to drive value creation. Key topics covered include defining value in product management and the time value of money framework, aligning product strategy and roadmaps with financial goals and metrics, and challenges in prioritizing finances in product management. They also speak on developing product roadmaps that tell a financial story, the importance of internal alignment and external communication of product roadmaps, and the impact of reporting structure on a Chief Product Officer's ability to influence finances.

How can product leaders excel in delivering outcomes through AI capabilities? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Extreme Networks CPO Nabil Bukhari speaks on the evolving role of the Chief Product Officer, emphasizing the importance of leading not just products and technology, but also the business impact and human outcomes. Nabil discusses Extreme Networks' mission to help customers become "infinite enterprises" by providing connectivity, scalability, and exceptional customer experiences. He also delves into the implications of AI for product management, advising against treating AI as a standalone product and instead focusing on using AI capabilities to deliver tangible value and outcomes for customers.

How can product leaders find product market fit with customer insights? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Carbon Collective Investing President Breene Murphy to discuss achieving product market fit and scalability through understanding customer needs, optimizing adoption with user friendly process flow and technology, as well as leveraging market signals and relevant stakeholders to amplify product impact.

How can AI be used when scaling enterprise software? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Amazon Fmr. Product Manager Polly Allen speaks on how to scale enterprise software businesses using AI. Polly discusses the role of AI in both the pre-product market fit phase and post-product market fit phase, highlighting the importance of prototyping quickly and creating personalized content. She also addresses the challenges of revenue generation in AI-driven businesses and the need for companies to start with internal use cases to improve efficiencies. Polly provides examples of how AI can be integrated into regulated industries like Schneider Electric and the critical considerations around managing the blast radius of AI's unpredictable outputs.

How can product leaders deliver exceptional customer experiences? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, NBCUniversal CPO Jim Denney shares insights on driving innovation and delivering exceptional customer experiences, drawing from his experience leading products like Peacock, Fandango, and the Olympics streaming coverage. He discusses his career journey and defining product experiences at TiVo and NBCUniversal, the innovations in the Olympics streaming experience and the importance of user control, the balance of art and science in product management including the role of AI, best practices for building a high-performing product team and driving accountability, and the future of product management and why it won't be replaced by bots anytime soon.

How can product leaders transition to an executive role? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by VNS Health Product Director Mark Bailes, VNS Health SVP of Strategy and Innovation David O'Malley discusses the key considerations and strategies for transitioning to an executive role. David shares his extensive experience moving from a product manager to a senior product leader, highlighting the evolving responsibilities, communication needs, and leadership skills required at each stage. He also speaks on the nuanced differences between coaching and management, the importance of building trust and demonstrating readiness, and the growing trend of Chief Product Officers reporting directly to the CEO.

How can AI empower product managers? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Microsoft Fmr Product Director and Chisel Founder Praful Chavda shares insights on the intersection of AI and product management, discussing how AI can automate repetitive tasks and free up product managers to focus on strategic, customer-centric work. He delves into the principles of good product management, the differences between working at large companies and startups, and the evolution of his startup, Chisel, and their roadmap to empowering product managers with AI. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on leveraging technology to enhance the product management discipline and build products that truly resonate with customers.

How can generative AI be used to transform product management? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Uniphore CPO Tushar Shah shares insights on how Uniphore is leveraging generative AI to transform product management and enable enterprises to harness the technology across various business functions. Tushar discusses Uniphore's evolution from a SaaS company to a platform provider, allowing customers to deploy large and small language models tailored to their specific industry and use cases. He highlights the importance of understanding customer journeys and using AI to identify opportunities for improving self-service experiences and reducing customer service costs.

What is practical product management in startups? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by VNS Health Product Director Mark Bailes, Qventus Product Director Katie Saindon shares insights on practical product management in the startup world. She discusses the key differences between product management in large corporations and fast-paced startups, emphasizing the need for speed, adaptability, and wearing multiple hats. Katie delves into the frameworks she uses to guide decision-making, balancing data-driven insights with intuition honed through deep user understanding. She also explores the role of the product leader as a "player-coach," staying hands-on while coaching a cross-functional team.

What do product leaders need to consider to build successful AI-powered products? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Amazon Fmr. Head of Product Sheetal Rajpal shares insights on building successful AI-powered products. Sheetal discusses the importance of treating AI as a "garden" that requires human oversight, the challenges of balancing speed and thoughtfulness in AI development, and best practices for making critical model choices. She also provides examples of how she leveraged AI for personalization, content moderation, and recommendations in Amazon's Kids Plus subscription product. Sheetal's advice for aspiring product managers emphasizes honing product intuition, understanding AI's unique capabilities, and thinking critically about user journeys and success metrics when incorporating AI into products.

How can product leaders drive customer-centric transformations? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Altria CPO Olivier Houpert speaks on his mission to transform the company and create a new product portfolio that goes beyond nicotine. Olivier shares his background, including his 30+ years at Procter & Gamble, and explains how he is leveraging Altria's core competencies to develop innovative solutions that "elevate the everyday" for consumers. He discusses the importance of a strong company purpose, the process of prioritizing new product ideas, and the role of experimentation and consumer research. Olivier also provides insights into his approach to personal growth and the team, as well as his perspective on the impact of AI and Gen AI on product development. This conversation offers a glimpse into the strategic leadership and consumer-centric mindset driving Altria's transformation.

How can a comprehensive operating system help with scaling brands? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Nacho Andrade, Settle Head of Product Warren Brown discusses how the company is building a comprehensive operating system to help scaling brands manage the complexities of their operations. Warren explains the four key dimensions of complexity that growing brands face - SKU, channel, vendor, and investor complexity - and how Settle's platform aims to provide a unified solution to address these challenges. He emphasizes the importance of balancing revenue growth and cost reduction, as well as the value of deep customer understanding and empowered product teams.

How can electricity grid hardware stability be enabled with data software? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong, Ecosuite CEO and Co-Founder Joel Santisteban discusses how building distributed energy data software stabilizes electricity grid hardware, embracing user persona diversity enables open infrastructure and maximizes product value, and looking into existing problems can lead to product innovation and new solutions to tackle climate change.

How can product leaders leverage mentorship and adaptability? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Workiva CPO Nitin Bhat shares insights on his career journey, the influential mentors who shaped his leadership style, and the importance of adaptability and a growth mindset in product management. He discusses his approach to hiring and developing product talent, as well as his perspectives on how AI will impact the future of the product management role.

What does it mean to identify and capitalize on pivotal inflection points? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti, Floodgate Founding Partner Michael Maples shares insights on building great products through radical innovation. Maples shares stories of successful investments in companies like Twitter and Twitch, highlighting the importance of identifying and capitalizing on pivotal "inflection points" that enable entrepreneurs to deliver pattern-breaking products. He discusses the key elements for breakthrough innovation - the founder's unique insight, the ability to harness emerging technologies, and the skill to start a movement around a radically different vision of the future. Maples also shares his perspectives on the artistry of entrepreneurship and how product leaders can cultivate a culture that empowers and supports visionary product thinkers.

What do product leaders need to consider when driving innovation at large organizations? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by EY Platform Operations Lead Justin Leibow, EY Ecosystem Leader Terry Luciani speaks on his extensive experience in fostering innovation, including the launch of EY's Growth Labs program and his previous work at MetLife. The discussion covers strategies for overcoming the challenges of driving innovation in established firms, such as securing leadership buy-in, empowering employees, and measuring success. Terry also discusses approaches to building a balanced portfolio of innovation bets, from near-term optimizations to long-term, transformative initiatives, as well as the importance of partnering with startups and external innovators to access unique capabilities while protecting an organization's core competencies. Finally, Terry provides valuable advice for product managers on being thoughtful, open-minded, and willing to take calculated risks in order to drive impactful innovation.

How can product leaders simplify product development through clear vision and customer focus? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Faire CPO Ami Vora speaks on her experiences as a product leader, including her work at WhatsApp. She discusses her superpower of simplifying complex problems, her philosophy on prioritizing customer needs, and her approach to time management and decision-making as a CPO. Ami also shares her perspective on the impact of AI and generative AI on the role of product management. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of clarity, execution, and building strong customer relationships as key to effective product leadership.

What are effective remote communication strategies for product teams? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, New Relic Fmr VP of Engineering Jade Rubick speaks on effective strategies for managing communication in remote and asynchronous work environments. He covers the challenges of async communication, such as over-specification vs. under-specification, and strategies to address them. Jade also shares best practices for using tools like Slack to enhance productivity and collaboration, including using threaded replies, managing notifications, and replying with documentation. Tune in for insights on fostering a healthy remote communication culture.

As a product leader, what does it mean to operate at the top of your license? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by VNS Health Product Director Mark Bailes, Better RX Head of Product Todd Blaquiere discusses the concept of "operating at the top of your license" in product management, and how product managers and leaders can work towards this goal. The conversation covers the challenges of transitioning from a well-trodden path of product management to a more "righteous path" focused on customer discovery, outcomes, and continuous improvement. Todd shares his insights on how individual contributors can take on additional responsibilities to demonstrate leadership, as well as how product leaders can create an environment that enables their teams to operate at the top of their license.

How can product leaders navigate product leadership in uncertain times? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, NEOGOV CPO Denise Hemke speaks on navigating the role of product leadership during a period of significant change and uncertainty. Denise shares insights on balancing compliance and innovation in a regulated government software space, the evolving expectations of the Chief Product Officer, and strategies for continuous learning and transparency within product teams. She also discusses the impact of AI on product management, including opportunities for automation, improved decision-making, and personalized customer experiences.

What does it take to decarbonize and detoxify the plastic supply chain? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Matereal CEO and Co-Founder Jacqueline Ros Amable to discuss decarbonizing and detoxifying the plastic supply chain, the importance of Go-To-Market strategy and organizational structure in growing a start-up, as well as how proactive management of a diverse group of team members and stakeholders contributes to the success of product development.

How can AI be leveraged for customer insights? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Appfire CPO Andy Boyd speaks on scaling product teams and leveraging AI to gain deeper customer insights. He discusses the role of the CPO in defining a winning product strategy across a portfolio, building high-performing teams, and putting systems in place to drive organizational effectiveness. Andy also highlights how AI can complement product management by helping teams better understand the voice of the customer through data analysis and synthesis. He provides practical advice for product managers looking to break into the field, emphasizing the importance of cultivating curiosity, connecting with product leaders, and taking advantage of training resources.

What key frameworks and strategies can be implemented to drive product success? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, WISEcode CPO Dylan Casey speaks on his unique background as a former professional cyclist who transitioned into product management at companies like Google and Goldman Sachs. He shares insights on developing a strong product development framework, establishing rituals and processes to free up time for creative work, and how AI is poised to impact and empower product managers.

How can product design and marketing be optimized with psychology and AI? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, Solsten CEO & Co-Founder Joe Schaeppi speaks on his background in UX design, clinical psychology, and adventure therapy, and how that blend of skills informs his approach to product development. He highlights the limitations of demographic and behavioral data in predicting customer behavior, and explains how Solsten uses AI and psychology to provide companies with more accurate insights to optimize their product design, marketing, and advertising. Joe also offers his thoughts on the role of AI in creativity and the future of human-computer interaction.

How can product leaders scale enterprise tech businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Globalization Partners SVP and Head of Product Gangadhar "GK" Konduri shares his extensive experience building and scaling products across various industries, including customer data platforms, digital customer experience, and HR tech. Listeners will gain valuable insights into establishing product-market fit, navigating compliance requirements for SaaS product, and the role of AI in product development.

How can product leaders drive product innovation through organizational agility and AI adoption? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Cox Automotive EVP and CPO Marianne Johnson discusses her approach to leading product development at scale. She shares insights on leveraging organizational agility, data-driven decision-making, and the transformative potential of AI to deliver exceptional customer experiences. From aligning product strategy with corporate vision to building high-performing teams, this conversation offers a masterclass in product leadership that can inspire leaders across industries.

How can product leaders accelerate innovation through AI and ecosystem partnerships? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Capgemini Engineering Chief Digital Officer and Intelligent Products & Services Leader Nicolas Rousseau speaks on the rapid pace of innovation and the role of Chief Product Officers in navigating the changing technology landscape. Nicolas shares insights on the acceleration of time to market, innovation, and customer expectations, with AI at the forefront. He highlights the importance of optimizing product development processes for short-term gains and long-term potential, as well as leveraging AI expertise across different industries. Nicolas also addresses the challenges of scaling AI products and managing thousands of intelligent devices, emphasizing the need for speed and foresight in product development amidst rapid technological change.

How can product leaders navigate large organizations? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, JPMorgan Chase & Co VP of Product Rashmi Ketha discusses her journey from data science to product management. Rashmi shares insights on navigating large organizations, building successful products, and the skills needed to break into product management. She emphasizes the importance of relationship building, communication, and taking small steps to explore new opportunities. The discussion also covers virtual work etiquette and advice for aspiring product managers.

What is the future of work and product leadership going to look like? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Zoom CPO Smita Hashim speaks on her journey in product management, the importance of mentors and personal growth, the role of empathy and collaboration in leadership, and how Zoom is leveraging AI to enhance the product experience for customers. Smita shares insights on prioritizing product features, planning for the long-term, and the evolving role of product managers in the age of AI.

How can product leaders navigate remote communication challenges? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Upwork Director of Engineering Sebastiano Armeli speaks on managing remote teams and effective async communication. He discusses strategies for using Slack productively, setting clear expectations for response times, and fostering a healthy remote work culture. Sebastiano emphasizes the importance of empathy, clarity, and leading by example in digital communications. He also touches on detecting high performers in remote settings, the future of remote work, and what makes a great product manager. The conversation provides practical tips for leaders navigating the challenges of distributed teams and remote collaboration.

How does democratizing EV charging access facilitate the decarbonization of the mobility sector? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Voltpost CEO and Founder Jeff Prosserman to discuss decarbonizing mobility by enabling EV charging through lamp posts, leveraging everyone's unique skillset to contribute to sustainable product development, as well as keeping impact and diversity top of mind during the process.

What do product leaders need to consider when leading product strategy at SMBs? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, BILL CPO Irana Wasti shares her expertise on leading product strategy for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). She discusses the importance of customer-centric innovation, adapting to rapidly changing business environments, and integrating AI into product experiences. Irana emphasizes the need for experimentation in product development and explains how her immigrant background has shaped her adaptable leadership style. She also explores the challenges of serving diverse SMB needs at scale and offers valuable insights on leveraging AI to enhance both internal operations and customer-facing solutions.

How can product leaders master remote communication and team collaboration? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Spotify Senior Product Lead Srividhya Chandrasekaran shares valuable strategies for effective remote communication and team collaboration. She discusses Spotify's innovative approach to asynchronous work, including the use of Slack, team manuals, and collaborative tools. Srividhya offers practical tips for managing communication overload, fostering team cohesion, and maintaining productivity in a distributed work environment. She also explores the future of remote work and shares her favorite resources for continued learning in product management.

How can healthcare leaders make a difference with innovative models for food security and health equity? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, U.S. Hunger President & CEO Rick Whitted shares his journey from corporate banking to healthcare leadership. He discusses U.S. Hunger's innovative approaches to addressing food insecurity and social determinants of health, including their community activation events and full cart program. Rick emphasizes the importance of understanding lived experiences, leveraging technology and data, and creating connected ecosystems in healthcare. He offers valuable perspectives on the future of healthcare, the role of community-based organizations, and advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs.

How is AI reshaping product management for one of the most iconic brands in the world? Join us for the latest episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, where CONA Services CPO Petra Romano shares her experiences leading product development for Coca-Cola bottlers. She discusses the evolution of the CPO role, emphasizing the importance of innovation, AI integration, and customer-centricity. Petra highlights her team's approach to prioritization, stakeholder management, and delivering impactful products. She also offers valuable insights on time management, learning from challenges, and the future of AI in product management.

What do product leaders need to consider when hiring in a changing tech landscape? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, Launchpad Recruiting Labs Founder John LaMarche shares his expertise on building high-impact product teams in today's evolving tech industry. He discusses current hiring trends, the impact of AI on product roles, and strategies for job seekers to stand out in a competitive market. John offers valuable insights on networking, personal branding, and the shift towards fractional work, providing actionable advice for both recruiters and job candidates in the product management field.

How can product leaders leverage AI to scale product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, PEAK6 Head of AI Yuying Chen-Wynn speaks on her experience scaling product businesses globally and leveraging AI. Yuying shares lessons from building products internationally at Microsoft, in China, and for the education sector. She emphasizes the importance of timing when bringing products to market and adapting quickly when market conditions change. Yuying also discusses how she used AI to rapidly automate content creation and scale an education business in China. Tune in for insights on international product development, leadership mindsets, and Yuying's vision for how generative AI will transform business models.

How can data be used to build trust with customers? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Varo Bank CPO Wook Chung discusses how the company is using data and behavioral insights to build trust with customers and provide innovative lending solutions. As a digital-first bank aiming to serve the underbanked, Varo is developing new ways to underwrite customers based on their behaviors and transactions over time. Chung shares how they are visualizing the trust relationship and using data to offer near-instant access to credit when customers need it. This interview explores Varo's mission to create a financial operating system that combines traditional banking services in a seamless digital experience, while ensuring regulatory compliance.

How can product professionals leverage AI and machine learning to empower creators? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Twitch VP of Product Jeremy Forrester discusses how the company is leveraging AI and machine learning technologies to empower creators on the platform. He shares Twitch's focus on being creator-first and how they are exploring ways AI can help streamline content creation workflows and management. Jeremy also talks about how the streaming community is already innovating with AI, such as virtual avatars and AI-generated voices. He believes AI will open up more opportunities for diverse, passion-driven games by reducing barriers to entry. This discussion provides valuable insights for product managers on experimenting with emerging technologies and unleashing creativity.

How can product leaders begin optimizing product-level data to facilitate carbon emission reductions? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this episode of Product Talk, Silicon Valley Bank (a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing GreenSwapp Founder and CEO Ajay Varadharajan to discuss leveraging machine learning to aggregate, analyze and present emission data in a consistent format, building a data infrastructure API tool to scale product-level carbon accounting, as well as the importance of understanding target customers and anticipating their future needs to enable product development that serve diverse use cases.

How can product leaders build inclusive products and empower the next generation of users? In this episode of the CPO Rising series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Pinterest CPO Sabrina Ellis discusses her philosophy around building inclusive products that empower all users. She shares how Pinterest is using technology like computer vision to showcase more diverse representations of hair, skin tones, and body types. Sabrina also talks about engaging Gen Z users on the platform and understanding their needs and motivations. The discussion provides insights for product leaders on their social responsibility to consider inclusivity, as well as tips on prioritizing projects and balancing short and long-term goals.

What is the importance of communication skills for remote teams? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Workleap Director of Product Barbara Bermes, TIM Fmr Engineering Lead Andrew Parker speaks on the importance of strong communication skills for remote teams. Drawing on his experience managing remote teams across multiple locations, he emphasizes that while technical skills are important, the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively across disciplines is what truly defines a high performer working remotely. He highlights best practices for asynchronous communication and provides insights into how output can be measured in remote environments through a focus on outcomes rather than activities. Andrew also shares his perspective on the future of remote work and the incremental changes we may see in how virtual teams communicate and collaborate over the next five years.

What do product managers need to consider when scaling impactful climate solutions? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Silicon Valley Bank (a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech SVP Maggie Wong, Vycarb CEO Garrett Boudinot speaks on his journey developing carbon removal technology and building his startup. He highlights the importance of scaling solutions to address the urgent climate crisis and emphasizes leveraging partnerships across the ecosystem. Garrett also stresses the need for diversity of perspectives and skill sets in teams to develop globally relevant solutions. Listeners learn about Vycarb's water-based technology and path to commercialization.

What role does simplifying solutions and learning from failures play in long-term success? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Turo CPO Tom Wang discusses his journey at Turo and lessons learned along the way. He shares how simplifying solutions and finding bold ways forward have contributed to his success. Tom also opens up about failures, including an early initiative to leverage social media that didn't work out and a mistake that removed too many hosts from the platform. Through these stories, Tom demonstrates the importance of being willing to admit mistakes, learn from them, and move forward. The conversation provides valuable insights for other product leaders on maintaining motivation over many years and navigating challenges with authenticity and care for customers.

Why is it important to foster collaboration between product & engineering teams? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Splunk Senior Software Engineer Rehan Mulla speaks on his experience building products and leading engineering teams. Rehan discusses the importance of collaboration between product managers and engineers to deliver successful products. He shares insights on how building empathy and understanding each other's perspectives through workshops and planning sessions can help engineering and product teams overcome communication challenges and work towards aligned goals. Rehan also offers advice on how engineering leaders can effectively scope projects, communicate risks to stakeholders, and continuously learn to stay on top of the latest technologies.

How can product leaders drive innovation in healthcare? In this episode hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, SmartRise Health CEO Vanessa Guzman discusses her journey in healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship. She shares how personal experiences motivated her to pursue solutions focused on social determinants of health, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Vanessa also touches on launching Ella Es Health to close gaps in women's healthcare through coaching and navigation services. She emphasizes the importance of adapting to market trends and leveraging accreditation to improve outcomes.

What is unique about leading product in fintech? Join us for the latest episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, where Tipalti CPO Roby Baruch discusses his experience leading product management in the fintech industry. Roby shares the unique challenges of product management in fintech, including the need for deep domain expertise. He also discusses the importance of mentorship throughout his career and a defining product moment that expanded Tipalti's offerings. Additionally, he describes Tipalti's data-driven approach to prioritizing product decisions and validating ideas with customers to ensure the highest priority needs are addressed.

How can product leaders foster customer-centered growth? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Nacho Andrade, New Work SE Fmr. Product Director Thomas Gläser discusses approaches to product strategy, innovation, and growth. Thomas emphasizes the importance of deeply understanding customer needs and jobs to be done over simply analyzing competitors. He advocates developing evidence-based strategies through empathetic customer research rather than making assumptions. Thomas also cautions against common pitfalls like moving too quickly without validation or focusing on internal metrics over market fit. Listeners will learn frameworks for strategic product leadership focusing on customer-centered problem solving to drive meaningful growth.

What lessons can product leaders learn from scaling multiple product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Temporal Technologies Fmr. COO Charles Zedlewski speaks on his career in product management and lessons learned from scaling multiple product businesses. Charles shares insights on becoming a successful PM without a technical background, emphasizing the importance of building technical depth over time. He discusses philosophies for collaborating closely with engineering teams and getting the "soul of the product" to live in their hearts. Charles also talks about his experience scaling Cloudera's Hadoop distribution and lessons from launching new features. Overall, the discussion provides perspectives on product growth strategies, frameworks for conceptualizing customer journeys, and approaches to partnerships between organizations.

How can product leaders navigate product leadership in a regulated healthcare industry? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Carelon CPO Gautam Shah discusses his approach to product leadership in a highly regulated healthcare industry. He explains how understanding regulations and prioritizing user needs affects product development. Gautam also shares stories about high-impact products he's worked on, including an unlimited telecommunications product and a product supporting vulnerable mental health patients. The discussion provides insights into navigating complex priorities, using customer journeys and personas, and leveraging AI to improve product management effectiveness.

How can product leaders build curious and collaborative teams? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Productiv Founder Jody Shapiro discusses his career in product management and insights on building successful teams. He speaks on his diverse educational background and how it led to roles at companies like TiVo and Google. Jody also shares strategies for constructing teams at startups, emphasizing passion and collaboration. Tune in for insights on how data-driven decision making and customer feedback can validate product ideas.

How can product leaders build personalized edtech products? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Dailies Co-Founder & CEO Jessica Shelley shares her inspiration for starting Dailies based on her experience as a teacher, wanting to better engage families in students' learning. She discusses building the initial product team and navigating the transition from teaching to leading a tech startup. The conversation covers challenges like difficult decisions to cut features and lessons learned from experiments. Jessica emphasizes the importance of aligning on long-term vision over short-term gains and hiring candidates committed to the company mission in a startup environment. Listeners gain insights on iterative product development and community involvement for ongoing learning and career growth.

How can product teams manage remote communication? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Deel Director of Product Barbara Bermes, Deel Product Lead Eugene Shulitskyi speaks on managing communication in a remote work environment. They discuss best practices for communicating over Slack in a remote setting, such as using templates, naming conventions, and video recordings. Eugene shares examples of templates used for go-to-market announcements. The conversation also covers avoiding misunderstandings, common pitfalls of remote communication, and tools for streamlining productivity.

What are the challenges faced when financing sustainable infrastructure projects? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight to fight climate change has never been more clear. In this episode hosted by Silicon Valley Bank (a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong, Banyan Infrastructure Head of Product Katie Gardner speaks on her unique background in mining engineering and how it informed her approach to problem-solving as a product manager. She describes Banyan's mission to solve challenges around financing sustainable infrastructure projects through streamlining complex processes. The conversation explores opportunities and challenges in tackling climate change through technology and mobilizing capital for climate solutions.

How can companies build high-performing asynchronous teams? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Deel Director of Product Barbara Bermes, DuckDuckGo SVP of Product Beah Burger-Lenehan discusses remote work culture and communication strategies at DuckDuckGo. She speaks on how the company operates remotely and the tools they use like Asana, Mattermost, and Zoom. The interview also provides insights into how DuckDuckGo structures work, evaluates employees, and continuously improves processes to support a remote workforce.

How can product leaders build impactful user experiences? In this episode of Product Talk with Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, UXReactor CEO Satyam Kantamneni speaks on founding a UX design firm. The discussion highlights the history of UX in addressing user needs, especially in complex systems. Satyam speaks on the roles of user research, interaction design, and collaboration between product management, design and engineering teams. He emphasizes understanding user problems before building solutions. Tune in for insights on building an effective UX practice and the impact of AI on the future of the field.

What does the acceleration of the CPO role signify? In this episode hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti speaks on how the CPO role has accelerated in recent years due to digital transformations and AI opportunities. Renee and SC predict that M&A activity will increase in 2023 as AI becomes a strategic priority. They also note the increasing presence of women in product leadership roles and its implications for more female CEOs in the future. Overall, this episode analyzes the evolution of the CPO role and how AI is shaping product development, operations, and corporate strategies.

How can product leaders launch accessible and inclusive products? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Jonathan Ozeran, Disney Fmr VP of Product Dave Lankford shares insights from his career launching major products at Disney, MLB, and other companies. He discusses the importance of designing for diverse audiences, including those with disabilities. Lankford also emphasizes the value of collaboration and inclusivity when building great products. The discussion looks to the future of product management with new technologies like spatial computing. Tune in for valuable lessons on innovation, accessibility, and leadership.

What do product leaders need to consider when transitioning from corporate to startup? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Caribou CPO Christine Dupuis shares her experience transitioning to PM roles at Google and Montreal startups, emphasizing the value of internal experience. Christine also provides insights into fundraising for startups and what makes a great product and product manager. The discussion highlights the importance of critical thinking, moving fast, and diversity in building products that serve all users.

How can digital products fight the climate crisis? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Silicon Valley Bank ( a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech SVP Maggie Wong, Climate Product Leaders Co-Founder François Burra speaks on fighting climate change through digital product development and decarbonization education. François shares his experience teaching courses on reducing the digital industry's emissions and emphasizes product managers' important role in sustainability. He discusses their climate product management playbook, which provides 33 best practices to help PMs address climate change in their work. The conversation covers opportunities for more sustainable product development, the benefits of climate-conscious practices, and becoming better equipped to tackle the climate crisis through education and action.

How can product leaders balance customer identity and security in technical products? In this episode hosted by Products That Count CEO Hoda Mehr, Okta CPO Cassio Sampaio speaks on the challenges of balancing customer identity, security, and privacy in technical products. The discussion covers topics such as building complex B2B SaaS products, technical considerations for cloud computing, and the future of product management. Tune in for valuable perspectives on navigating an evolving technical landscape.

How can product leaders in the banking industry scale their products? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik,  U.S. Bank SVP & Product Leader Sean Scott discusses his career journey in product management and how it differs working in the banking industry compared to tech companies. He shares insights into how product managers at banks approach scaling products by focusing on customer needs and feedback through various phases of maturity. Sean highlights key factors that have impacted the banking industry including digital transformation, agile methodologies, and growing customer demand for digital banking experiences. He also provides lessons learned around the importance of testing ideas with customers and the challenges of introducing changes to established banking processes. Tune in to discover product management best practices for scaling in regulated industries such as banking.

How can product leaders build a product culture within their organization?In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Life Cycle Engineering Product Leader Tara Holwegner speaks on building a product culture. Tara discusses investing in people and developing future leaders. She expresses interest in learning about new industries and how products apply human-centered design and AI. Tara also highlights examples of using digital technologies for remote coaching and predictive maintenance in industrial operations. Tune in to the 400th episode of Product Talk to learn what makes great products, product managers, and a strong product culture within an organization!

How can PMs build scalable product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Hazelcast Fmr. CPO Manish Devgan shares lessons on scaling product businesses, including the importance of establishing a clear product vision and worldview. He discusses growth engines like technology advantages and insights into customer workloads. Manish also describes tactics such as establishing a product strategy board to gather customer feedback. Tune in for valuable perspectives on building scalable product businesses.

What does it take to lead product in the startup ecosystem? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Stay 22 Head of Product Laura Di Costanzo shares insights from her experiences in Montreal's startup ecosystem. She speaks on her journey in product management, from marketing to leading a team of 10 across product and design. She discusses her work optimizing operations with workflow management platforms and enhancing collaboration. Laura is also passionate about giving back to the Montreal product community through organizing events and launching a training program for aspiring product managers. The interview explores topics including product management skills, AI trends, and how to best support senior citizens through technology.

What do product leaders need to consider when building products for the SMB space? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Altice USA Product & Tech SVP Rachel Owens shares insights from her diverse career journey in product management, from engineering school to roles at startups and Fortune 500 companies. She discusses how she applies lessons from different industries and experiences to build great products. Rachel emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and having an interdisciplinary skillset, and shares advice on how to create a culture of open feedback and iteration on teams.

How can product leaders balance focus and innovation to sustain high-growth trajectories as their businesses scale to new heights? In this episode of Product Talk hosted by Sid Shaik, Vonage Product VP Amitha Pulijala speaks on her experience scaling B2B product businesses. She shares how Vonage's suite of products help businesses personalize customer conversations across touchpoints. Amitha discusses inheriting a business with 5,200 customers and prioritizing success metrics and experimentation. She led growth efforts post-acquisition that increased revenue 10x through disciplined focus. Amitha emphasizes the importance of product-led growth driving sales leads. She also stresses sustaining growth through alignment with vision and adapting strategies to growth stages.

How can product leaders drive business reinvention? In this episode of Capgemini's Leaders in Innovation series with Capgemini Americas Portfolio Lead Lisa Mitnick, Altria CPO & CIO Olivier Houpert shares insights from his 31 years of experience at Procter & Gamble and his decision to take on a new challenge at Altria. He speaks on Altria's transformation journey to launch reduced-risk smoke-free products through a focus on consumer needs, partnerships, and a test-and-learn approach to innovation. Olivier emphasizes the importance of remaining consumer-centric and optimistic about driving change in the tobacco industry to transition consumers to safer alternatives.

How can product leaders build trust and psychological safety within their teams to foster innovation and excellence? In this episode of the Product Divergence series with Ubiety Technologies Fmr. CPO Nacho Andrade, LinkSquares SVP of Product & Engineering Andrew Leverone discusses strategies for team building and leadership through vulnerability, empathy, and collaboration. Andrew shares insights on balancing product and engineering perspectives, understanding customer needs, and scaling teams through transparency and a bottoms-up approach. He also emphasizes the importance of embracing an agile mindset, frequent communication, and empowering team members to drive the business forward together through open dialogue.

How can product leaders pioneer innovation in the automotive industry? In this episode of Capgemini's Leaders in Innovation series hosted by Capgemini Americas Portfolio Lead Lisa Mitnick, Ford Director of Digital Experience Platforms Zafar Razzacki discusses his career journey from biotech and medical devices to Google and now Ford. He provides an overview of Ford's focus on digital experiences, electric vehicles, connectivity, and new business models. He also speaks on how Ford is working with partners in the ecosystem to create seamless experiences and considers the challenges of organizational change as the automotive industry transforms.

What are the key considerations for AI platform development? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Bank of America VP of AI/ML and Automation Platform Hira Dangol shares strategies for AI product development, highlighting the importance of diversity and leveraging AI, ML, and data insights to solve business challenges. The conversation also explores frameworks for building solutions that deliver total experience value and the pathways for community involvement, continuous learning, and responsible growth in AI.

What do product leaders need to consider when building a differentiated decarbonization platform? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host and Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Gravity Climate Founder & CEO Saleh ElHattab to discuss combining software and physical solution in decarbonization, positioning their product to provide sustainable value and how diversity impacts understanding customer needs and product go-to-market.

How can product leaders tackle the challenge of producing sustainable and impactful products? In this episode of the Capgemini Leaders in Innovation series with Synapse - Capgemini Invent VP Dylan Garrett, Shellworks CEO and Founder Insiya Jafferjee speaks on the role Shellworks plays in reimagining sustainable alternatives to plastic use cases. They delve into unique and environmentally beneficial product concepts and designs used by Shellworks to address the issue of plastic waste holistically and contextually. The beauty industry is likely one of the leading offenders of plastic pollution. Tune in to learn how Shellworks aims to provide sustainable packaging solutions that are petroleum-free, truly compostable, and "perform like plastic."

How can product managers navigate technology and marketplace changes? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Google Cloud Product Marketing Lead Varun Krovvidi shares his perspective on navigating changes in technology and the marketplace. As a professional with experience spanning engineering, data, product, and marketing roles, Varun provides unique insights into adapting to new disruptors and unlocking new growth opportunities for products. He discusses the importance of understanding user needs and context, as well as the role of storytelling and community, for both product marketing and management in an era of rapid technological change.

How can product leaders successfully grow product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk with Sid Shaik, CrowdStrike CPO Raj Rajamani shares lessons from his experience growing startups and large companies, emphasizing the importance of having the right people in place and aligning goals through a clear strategy and OKR framework. He also stresses the need for continuous innovation, experimentation, and disrupting oneself before others can. Overall, the discussion provides insights into scaling a tech company through a focus on people, strategy, execution, and relentless innovation.

What does it take to build a startup? In this episode of Capgemini's 2024 Leaders in Innovation miniseries hosted by Capgemini VP, Intelligent Industry & Connected Consumer Offer Lead Eric Cohen, Adrich Founder & CEO Adhithi Aji speaks on her experience bringing a startup to life from seeing an opportunity, creating an MVP as told in her Tic Tac box story, and finding early adopters. Tune in to gain insights on the marketing, fundraising, and scaling aspect bringing startups to life as a Co-founder and CEO.

What does it take to successfully lead and scale product teams? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series hosted by Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Wavo.me Fmr. Product VP Jean-Sébastien Chouinard speaks on how understanding customer needs, developing sustainable revenue streams, and collaborating across teams are key to building successful products. He shares lessons from leading digital transformations and emphasizes the importance of real-world impact, viable pricing, and cross-functional alignment. The discussion also covers what qualities the Product Awards AAB looks for in nominations, along with promising tech trends in IoT and AI.

How can product managers stay on the cutting edge of innovation while ensuring user needs remain the top priority? In this episode with Jonathan Ozeran, Meta Director of Product Mike Arcuri shares lessons from over 15 years of experience launching groundbreaking platforms, building the metaverse, and leading technical product teams. From optimizing the mobile app development process to shaping the future of social VR, Mike discusses best practices for bridging engineering and product while keeping customers at the heart of every decision. Tune in for insights on navigating new technologies like AI and emerging form factors, as well as advice on cultivating passion and fun throughout the challenges of building great products.

How can companies leverage 5G technology to drive innovation in industrial settings? In this episode of Capgemini's 2024 Leaders in Innovation miniseries with Capgemini EVP, Group Offer Leader for Connectivity/5G & Edge Fotis Karonis, Schneider Electric Innovation Project Manager Olivier Coutelou discusses how Schneider Electric is exploring 5G connectivity opportunities for industrial automation through their innovation methodology. He speaks on developing a continuous innovation approach using design thinking to identify promising 5G use cases like improving connectivity for integrated autonomous crane systems. The discussion highlights the benefits of 5G technology for industrial applications and the importance of collaboration between companies in enabling digital transformation.

How can product leaders balance company value with user value? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, ALPHA Camp Director of Tech & Data Karen Hsieh shares insights on driving growth and optimizing user journeys through data analysis. Tune in to learn about Karen's success with a recipe platform and her views on the skills needed to excel at product management, such as curiosity, learning, and collaboration.

What does it take to successfully lead product teams through times of change and disruption? In this episode of Product Talk with Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Informatica CPO Jitesh Ghai shares insights from his career journey leading product at companies including Cisco, startups, and now Informatica. From his early days as a hardware engineer to pivoting into product management, Jitesh discusses the importance of cross-functional alignment, understanding markets and customers, and driving organizational change. He also offers perspectives on what separates good from great product managers and how to evolve your skills from technical to more outward-facing leadership. Tune in for valuable lessons on product strategy, innovation, and people leadership from an industry veteran.

How can products become essential in a crowded and evolving marketplace?  In this episode of Capgemini's 2024 Leaders in Innovation miniseries, Capgemini Americas Portfolio Lead Lisa Mitnick meets with NY Times VP of Product Management Ken Houseman to discuss how the 174-year-old New York Times is reinventing itself to become an essential subscription in today's crowded media landscape. He shares the NY Times' journey of transitioning to digital and building a subscription business model. Ken also talks about his non-traditional career path to product leadership and his role in modernizing the NY Times' commercial systems. Tune in for insights on how the NY Times innovates through experimentation while maintaining its core mission of truthful journalism.

How can product leaders leverage technology for customer centric problem solving? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Smarter Travel AI ML Product Lead Priyanka Pande speaks on combining technical and business skills to solve customer problems through innovative AI/ML solutions. She discusses her experiences in product management, AI, and growth strategies. The conversation also explores trends in industries such as AI, supply chain, transportation, and what traits make a great product manager.

How can product leaders adapt strategies from startup to scaleup? In this episode of the Product Divergence series with Ubiety Technologies Fmr. CPO Nacho Andrade, Groundswell CPO Tammy Hahn shares insights from her journey leading a large product team at Cornerstone OnDemand to taking on the challenge of a zero-to-one startup. She discusses the importance of adapting strategies to different stages of growth and embracing risk, failure, and flexibility in an environment of constant change and learning. Tammy also offers insights on building mission-aligned teams through culture and hiring. Listeners will gain perspectives on career growth, embracing diverse opportunities, and how experiences can strengthen leadership skills through both successes and failures.

How do industrial operations impact product development? In the first episode of Capgemini's 2024 Leaders in Innovation miniseries, Capgemini Engineering VP and CTO for Manufacturing and Industrial Operations Ramon Antelo speaks with Alantra Operating Partner Juan de Navascués Benlloch about Juan's career in product industrialization, including his biggest failure due to missing quality and time targets. The conversation emphasizes the importance of in-house expertise, a resilient and convinced team, and separating innovation cells from daily operations. Learn best practices for ensuring the right team is assembled and motivated throughout new product development, and considerations for introducing industrial innovations.

How can product leaders cultivate impactful products? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, MEDFAR Clinical Solutions Product VP Patrick Charbonneau shares insights from 20 years of experience across industries including healthcare, security, and retail. The conversation covers key tech trends such as AI and how it can be applied in healthcare to improve patient and physician experiences. They also explore what makes a great product manager through listening skills and understanding customer needs, as well as what qualities define a great product, such as creative problem-solving and customer adoption.

How can product leaders transform chronic disease management with digital products? In this episode of the Product Divergence Series with Ubiety Technologies Fmr. CPO Nacho Andrade, Carna Health Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer Salvatore Viscomi speaks on building a digital health platform for remote patient monitoring. Salvatore discusses how Carna Health uses connected devices and biomarkers to detect and manage chronic kidney disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. He explains how their platform improves patient outcomes by catching the disease early through national screening programs. Salvatore also shares insights on developing patient-centric digital health products, including balancing data collection with usability and providing feedback to engage users.

How can product leaders guide teams to success? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch Series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Unity Product Leader Marc-Andre Ferguson speaks on his diverse career path from filmmaking to product management roles at companies such as Autodesk and Unity. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication, teamwork, and understanding different perspectives to build trust within cross-functional teams. He discusses the potential of generative AI and the importance of user experience, security, and lifelong learning for product managers.

How can AI help to automate PM tasks? In this episode of the Product Divergence series with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade, PM Exercises and Product Monkey AI Founder and CEO Bijan Shahrokhi speaks on how AI can help automate manual tasks for product managers and improve the clarity of product requirements. He explains how his company uses a combination of logic and AI to extract design files and automatically generate engineering tickets and requirements documents. By automating PM tasks, AI will enhance rather than replace product management work by helping PMs produce higher quality documents and focus on strategic decision making.

What does it take to lead high-performing product teams? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch Series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Flare Senior PM Charlie Whicher speaks on her background transitioning from academia to product management. They discuss what makes Charlie a great product leader to watch, including her data-driven approach and ability to lead high-performing teams. Charlie also shares her views on what makes a great product and a great product manager.

How can product leaders drive digital transformations? In this episode of Product Talk with Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Travelers Product Director of Enterprise Payments Nicole Adair speaks on her experience being a part of the team leading payments transformation at Travelers. Nicole shares her non-traditional path to product management, from forecasting and pricing in hotels to consulting and a career pivot into tech. She discusses the challenges of managing stakeholders across a large legacy company. Nicole also offers insights on succeeding as a product leader across industries and her passion for promoting diversity in tech through her work with Women in Technology organizations in Dallas. This conversation provides valuable perspectives on driving digital transformations at a long-standing business and tips for navigating varied product roles over time.

How can product leaders create value through strategic shifts? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch Series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, A10 Networks Fmr. VP of Product Yasir Liaqatullah shares his perspective on what makes a great product, highlighting the importance of understanding customer needs and delivering value. He also discusses his experience transitioning on-premise solutions to the cloud at Anthropic, which significantly grew revenue and margins. Additionally, Yasser speaks on the potential of generative AI technologies, balancing priorities as a product manager, and evaluating products for the Product Awards.

How can global product leaders approach diversity, equality, and inclusion? In this episode of Product Talk with Bose Senior Product Director Melissa Pickering, Trackunit Senior Product Lead Zeina Moawad speaks on DEI in global product management. Zeina discusses her global career experience and how it has shaped her views on DEI. The conversation explores examples of initiatives that companies have taken toward DEI that have been effective as well as areas for improvement. Zeina provides recommendations on how product managers can approach their work with more awareness of inclusivity.

How can product leaders cultivate user centric product strategies? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch Series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Twitch Product VP Stephanie J. Neill speaks on her career journey and insights into building great products. Stephanie discusses the importance of identifying meaningful problems to solve and her impactful work reducing immigration wait times. She shares tips for product managers, emphasizing the need for grit, humility, and the ability to navigate ambiguity and conflict. The conversation provides valuable perspectives on user-centric product strategies and what makes an exceptional product leader.

How can PMs build personalized products? In this episode of the Product Divergence Series with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade, bswift VP of Portfolio Strategy, End UX Paul Micheli speaks on building personalized product experiences. Paul shares his non-linear journey from biomedical engineering to UX to product management. He discusses the challenges of appealing to diverse personas and balancing competing priorities. Paul also offers advice on getting into product and handling pushback from stakeholders. Listeners will learn strategies for navigating complex product landscapes and advocating for their vision.

How can product leaders design human-centered products? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch Series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, NASA Fmr Chief of Human Systems Engineering and Integration Division Dr. Jennifer Rochlis discusses her unique path from NASA to private sector roles, emphasizing her focus on human-centered design. She stresses the importance of considering the human as part of the system across the entire product lifecycle. This episode provides insights into Dr. Rochlis' experience in designing systems for stressful human environments and her perspective on integrating stakeholders from different disciplines.

How has product management evolved? In this episode of Product Talk with Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, The Trade Desk Product SVP Gruia Pitigoi-Aron speaks on how product management has evolved throughout his career. He shares his career journey from studying computer science to breaking into product management at Microsoft. He discusses lessons learned from early mistakes in job interviews and the importance of treating the job search process seriously. Gruia also provides insights into building a strong product culture of honesty and integrity. He emphasizes the value of giving timely feedback and constantly improving.

How can a PM transition from innovation to investing? In this episode of the Product to Venture series with Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti, Morgan Creek Digital General Partner and Co-Founder Xavier Segura speaks on his career journey from product manager to venture capitalist. He shares stories from his early career in startups working on mobile technology and big data. He also discusses his views on the continued "cloud revolution" and trends around vertical integration of AI models and data. The discussion provides insights into successfully transitioning careers and investing with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

What are the top tech trends & industries today? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Amazon Head of Product Rekha Venkatakrishnan speaks on her background in product management and engineering, emphasizing the importance of customer centricity and simplicity. She shares her views on exciting industries and tech trends, including fintech, healthcare, sustainability and more. Rekha provides a framework for evaluating great products based on functionality, psychological impact and economic factors.

How can products help optimize time? In this episode of the Product Divergence Series with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade, Clockwise Product VP Vicky Thomas speaks on building products that optimize time. She shares how Clockwise uses AI to optimize calendars and schedules, freeing up more focus time for individuals and teams. They discuss the challenges of calendar management that inspired Clockwise's creation, and how the product measures its impact on areas like reduced meetings and increased focus time. Vicky also shares her non-traditional career path into product management and what she has learned about building great products over the years.

What can an unconventional career path in tech leadership look like? In the Product to Venture series with Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti, the path from product leadership to venture capitalism is discussed. In this episode, IVP Partner Tamar Yehoshua speaks on her journey in tech leadership and her current career in venture capitalism. Tamar holds a wealth of product knowledge from her experience in product management to leadership roles at companies like Google, Amazon, and Slack. She talks about her transition to venture capital investing, her views on trends in AI, and where opportunities lie for entrepreneurs.

How can product leaders deliver customer value? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, S&P Global Executive Product Director Jamie Matlin shares insights from his experiences building desktop and mobile products. He speaks on the importance of taking a design-led and customer-centric approach to product development. Jamie also shares his thoughts on trends in generative AI, fintech, and data visualization. He discusses what makes a great product - solving problems and delivering customer value through minimalistic design and intuitive user experiences.

How can product leaders apply a practical perspective to product? In this episode of Product Talk with Kaboo Founder Neha Shah, Meta Product Lead Neha Bansal speaks on her career journey from management consulting to product management at Google and Meta. She shares how she gained experience in different disciplines like engineering, marketing, and design to become a strong product manager. The discussion also covers important product topics like establishing product-market fit and how the same principles can apply at both startups and large companies.

Why is it important to build user-centric products? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, First National Bank of Omaha Fmr Head of Product Ishan Amin speaks on his experience and views as a product leader. He shares insights from over 18 years of experience in product management across different industries. Ishan discusses what makes him a successful product leader and what he looks for in great products, along with the importance of building user-centric products. The discussion provides insights into his approach to product and what criteria he will use as a member of the AB panel to evaluate products for the Product Awards.

When should PMs prioritize execution over strategy? In this episode of Product Talk with Jonathan Ozeran, Thumbtack CPO P.J. Linarducci speaks on his career in product management and lessons learned. PJ shares insights from his experiences at Meta and other companies, emphasizing the importance of execution over perfect strategy. He outlines rituals and ceremonies that Thumbtack uses to keep teams aligned, such as business reviews, product reviews, and execution reviews. PJ also discusses the value of role models, mentors, and sponsors in one's career.

What does it take to build award-winning products and teams? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Expedia Group Platform SVP of Product Archana Arunkumar shares her insights on evaluating award-winning products for the 2024 Product Awards and leveraging generative AI. As a seasoned product leader, she discusses the skills that make great product managers, such as empathy, listening, and removing roadblocks. Archana also offers her perspective on navigating growth phases strategically and transforming business models successfully.

What do product leaders need to consider when leading product in the education space? In this episode of Product Talk with Melissa Pickering, LEGO Education Product VP Andrew Sliwinski speaks on his journey to becoming a product leader in education. Andrew shares formative experiences from his childhood that sparked a passion for creative learning. He discusses his approach to managing change within large organizations and avoiding "tech for tech's sake" by starting with the user experience. Andrew also offers practical tips for teams on staying focused through the design process and continuously refining product strategy based on learnings.

How can embodying an entrepreneurial mindset as a PM shape your career? In this episode of the Product to Venture Series with Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti, TenOneTen Managing Partner Minnie Ingersoll speaks on career journey from her early days as a PM at Google to founding her own startup and ultimately becoming a venture capitalist. Ingersoll shares insights into finding the right product role and leadership opportunities that allowed her to thrive. She also offers perspectives on her approach to investing, including looking for founders deeply passionate about solving big industry problems. Listeners will gain valuable advice applicable to both product management and venture capitalism.

What does it take to be a great product leader? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, Segmed Product Lead Dan Feusse shares insights on leading product teams. Daniel speaks about his early career in analytics and data visualization to leading products at Google and startups. He discusses his work helping PG&E develop software to prevent wildfires and his current role leading product at a health tech startup. Daniel offers insights into what makes a great product and product manager, emphasizing the importance of delivering user value while capturing business value.

How can PMs solve the climate crisis through product? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host and Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Director of Product Maggie Wong, will be interviewing DigitMint Product Lead Karel Verhaeghe to discuss how DigitMint's products are empowering companies and their employees to leverage artificial intelligence to locate the relevant data, conduct comprehensive sustainability reporting efficiently, and adhere to the changing operating and regulatory environment. They will also discuss the climate tech and product management landscape in Europe and how one may leverage their best practices and contribute to solving climate change. 

What are the superpowers that lead to product success? In the first episode of the new Product to Venture series with Mighty Capital Managing Partner SC Moatti, Menlo Ventures Venture Partner Joff Redfern shares lessons on building great products at LinkedIn and Atlassian, the skills that make a top product leader, and his transition to Menlo Ventures. He discusses why operators are moving to VC and his focus areas investing in the future of software teams, productivity with AI, and network businesses. For ambitious PMs, Josh offers advice on communication, impatience, and "asking forgiveness, not permission."

What makes a great healthcare product? In this episode of the Product Leaders to Watch Series with Cognizant Product Director Chenny Solaiyappan, WellB Founder Zachary Fleming shares his perspective. As a member of the Products That Count 2024 Product Awards Advisory Board, Zachary talks about building digital health products and the criteria the board will use to select award winners. He emphasizes outcome-focused design, emerging technologies, and human-centered solutions that create value beyond just introducing new tools.

How can product leaders scale B2B businesses? In this episode of Product Talk with Sid Shaik, Skyflow CPO Amruta Moktali shares approaches for scaling B2B product businesses. She speaks on her experiences at Microsoft and Salesforce and discusses key topics including diversifying teams, partnering, automating processes, and anticipating customer needs as a company rapidly grows. Tune in for valuable insights on scaling to enterprise levels.

What do product leaders need to consider when building protective communications platforms? In this episode of the PM Awards Series with Ticketmaster Fmr. Product VP Andrew Zavattero, Genasys Product SVP Charlie Crocker discusses his journey from founding an evacuation management startup to leading product at Genasys, which is building an integrated platform for protective communications. He speaks on how Genasys is combining Zone Haven's zone-based evacuation planning with high-clarity outdoor warning systems to disrupt traditional mass notification. As winner of the 2023 PM Awards for Emergency Management Visionary, Crocker shares valuable insights for product leaders on building platforms that can scale to serve critical public safety needs.

How can diverse perspectives drive innovation on a product team? In this episode of the Product Divergence series with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade, Ampla Product VP Tui Allen shares insights on her journey to product management. She speaks about the importance of gaining diverse perspectives to drive innovation through experiences such as living abroad or spending time with customers from different backgrounds. The conversation also covers what makes a strong product leader, the skills needed for product management roles, and advice for those looking to get into the field. Learn about the best practices for building great products through empathy, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

How can product leaders build community-focused products? In this episode of the PM Awards Series with Ticketmaster Fmr VP of Product Andrew Zavattero, ALPHA Camp Director of Tech & Data Karen Hsieh, winner of the Data Literacy and Community Builder PM Award, speaks on how community building can drive product success. Karen shares how she started her company's data team from scratch and aligned metrics across functions. She discusses the value communities provide for long-term learning, accountability, and collaboration. Karen also offers insights into her journey learning product management on the job and from experts. Discover practical tips for using data to impact business priorities quickly, as well as Karen's perspective on the role of curiosity, sharing knowledge, and community in becoming a great product leader.

How can product leaders fight climate change with innovation? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host and Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) Product Director Maggie Wong, will be interviewing SolaBlock CEO Eric Planey to discuss how his roots in Ohio led him to Climate Tech, how SolaBlock is building integrated and durable products to revolutionize construction tech, and how product management expertise is crucial to innovation and delivery of new climate technologies.

How can AI be used to transform data insights? In this episode of the PM Awards series hosted by Ticketmaster Fmr VP of Product Andrew Zavattero, data.ai Sr. Product Director Prakash Aditham speaks on applying data analytics and AI in product. As a winner of the 2023 PM Awards, Prakash shares his perspective on what makes a great product and product manager. He also discusses data.ai's use of AI and ML to power insights for mobile apps. Tune in for an engaging conversation on using data and AI responsibly and how the future of insights may evolve.

What do PMs need to consider when building B2B products? In this episode of the Product Divergence series with Nacho Andrade, Peridot Financing CPO Gary Hall speaks about his background transitioning from mechanical engineering to product leadership roles. Gary discusses the importance of listening to others, embracing humility, and hiring smart people. Examples of Gary's past experiences and current work at Peridot provide insights into building effective B2B products. The conversation also touches on surprising technologies like GPT-3 and what makes for truly exceptional products that solve user problems in innovative and valuable ways.

How can PMs strike a balance between prioritizing customers and KPIs to ensure long-term success and growth? In this episode of the PM Awards series with Ticketmaster Fmr VP of Product Andrew Zavattero, Clearspeed PM Justin Fowler speaks on prioritizing customers over KPIs and shares his journey from business owner to product manager. Discover the importance of building essential solutions, how ClearSpeed uses AI for vetting, and their groundbreaking Voice Analytics technology. Justin emphasizes the value of responsible AI deployment, human oversight, and the role of AI as an early warning system. Learn about his accidental path to product management and valuable insights for success, including effective communication and collaboration.

How can product leaders personalize the user experience? In this episode, Neha Shah meets with Topps Digital Director of Product Rudy Saldivar to discuss his career journey from investment banking and private equity into gaming product management. Rudy speaks on his early role helping bring analytics to Blizzard and how his personal gaming experiences shaped his perspective. He also covers how he considers accessibility and diversity in product design today, and sees potential for AI to help people with disabilities through personalized experiences.

What is the role of data-driven innovation and differentiation in building great products? In this podcast episode, Nacho Andrade meets with Pendo CEO and Co-Founder Todd Olson to discuss lessons learned from building a product analytics platform over 10 years. Todd shares how Pendo has challenged conventions through its vision of comprehensive data collection and personalized insights. Listeners will learn how focusing on auto-instrumentation, broad capabilities, and approachable analytics has served customers across industries. Todd also discusses how constantly negotiating timelines and prioritizing differentiation over customer requests has fueled Pendo's growth. The discussion provides actionable advice for product thinkers on leveraging emerging technologies, influencing teams, and using speed and opinions to deliver unique value to users.

What do product leaders need to consider when building an ESG data management platform? In this episode of the Product Awards Series with Nacho Andrade, Novisto Product VP Lauren Katz discusses her journey building an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data management platform. She shares insights into entering an emerging field with immature roles and processes, capturing granular yet diverse ESG data, maintaining enthusiasm through challenges, and leveraging life experiences and customer service skills in product management.

What should product leaders prioritize when scaling product businesses? In this episode of Product Talk, Sid Shaik meets with Global IIT Artificial Intelligence Forum Co-Founder Tushar Kant to discuss strategies for taking a product business to a larger scale. Key topics include understanding customer problems, developing strong leadership skills, and executing growth plans through defining vision, momentum, and market expansions. They share insights on sustaining growth through ongoing innovations and expanding into new markets as segmentation evolves.

How can leaders drive innovation in product-led companies? In episode #16 of our CPO Rising Series with Renee Niemi, Grainger CPO Brian Walker speaks on driving innovation in product-led companies. He discusses using data to deeply understand customers and create personalized experiences. Brian also covers strategies for digital transformation, emerging technologies, talent acquisition and evaluating investments. Learn how Grainger leveraged insights to power growth, the importance of cross-functional partnerships, and tips for navigating make-vs-buy decisions and accountability models.

What does it take to build successful products and teams? In this episode, Jonathan Ozeran meets with FanDuel SVP Billy Turchin to discuss the art of building a successful sports betting platform, the importance of customer-centric product development, and the contrasting approaches to product development in different regions, including the US and China. From the impact of AI technology to career transitions and the thriving technology hub of Atlanta, Billy provides valuable takeaways and fresh perspectives. Dive into the world of sports betting and product leadership, and uncover the strategies that drive innovation and success in this exciting industry.

How can companies drive success with a product-led culture? In episode #15 of the CPO Rising Series with our host and CPO Renee Niemi, Doximity SVP & GM of Commercial Products Ben Greenberg shares invaluable insights on product management and its evolution. He emphasizes the critical role of product culture, company culture, and the alignment of values with a clear mission in driving success. Discover how Doximity's unique culture of product obsession has led to innovative products, and how a product-led approach prioritizes user feedback, delivering value, and achieving commercial success. Explore the evolving field of product management, the balance between short-term growth and long-term development, and the potential impact of AI on product management and society.

How can product leaders fight climate change with climate tech products and communities? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In her debut episode of Product Talk, our host, Silicon Valley Bank Director of Product Maggie Wong, will be interviewing Thalo Labs Director of Product and Climate Tech Cities Co-Founder Alec Turnbull to discuss his transition to Climate Tech. Alec speaks on his growth journey as a start-up founder and product leader, as well as the climate tech communities he has built across the US and beyond.

How can product leaders implement empathy and customer centricity to influence decisions within an organization? In episode 14 of the CPO Rising Series with Renee Niemi, Moody's CPO Nick Reed shares insights on how his unique role and empathetic approach drive innovation in one of the top financial analytics companies. Learn about their precision-based culture, data-driven strategies, and the secrets behind 63 consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. Explore the importance of customer-centricity, product interoperability, and the evolution of product management in large organizations. Gain valuable insights into the intersection of technology and finance, all in this engaging conversation with a leader at the forefront of the industry.

How can data-driven decision-making lead to success in product? In episode 333 of the Product Divergence series with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade, Railsware CEO & Co-Founder Yaroslav Lazor shares his journey in building successful products, the transformative power of data-driven decision-making, and the importance of hiring the right talent. From uncovering revenue discrepancies to scaling data usage for marketers, Lazar's experiences and strategies offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Discover how he helped nurture billion-dollar companies, navigate product development challenges, and find the path to data-driven success through persistence, innovation, and a deep understanding of problems.

How can product teams lead strategic integration? In episode #13 of our CPO rising series, Products That Count CPO Renee Niemi meets with Life360 CPO James Selby for an insightful conversation on the intricacies of product development and integration following a company acquisition. With a focus on three diverse brands—Jiobit, Tile, and Life 360—offering GPS devices, Bluetooth trackers, and freemium experiences, James shares his experiences and strategies for aligning cultures, driving growth, and maintaining product quality. Discover how to prioritize high-impact initiatives, foster collaboration, and create a psychologically safe environment for your product teams.

How can scaleable databases simplify technology? In this episode of Product Divergence, Product Talk Host and Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade meets with HarperDB Field CTO Jaxon Repp for an insightful conversation on how HarperDB is revolutionizing database solutions by making them both performant and user-friendly. Discover Jaxon's fascinating journey from a self-taught developer to a seasoned professional in the tech startup scene, and hear his insights regarding why intelligent engineers sometimes create products that are too complex for everyday users. From simplifying distributed systems to reducing latency in critical workloads, HarperDB's approach to database management is transforming the industry. Learn how HarperDB reaches its target audience, engages with channel partners and developers, and builds trust within the tech community.

How can product leaders adapt to change in an ever-evolving landscape? In episode #12 of our CPO Rising Series with Products That Count CPO Renee Niemi, Wind River CPO Avijit Sinha discusses the dynamic world of product leadership and transformation. Discover how Wind River transitioned from private equity to a public subsidiary, specializing in embedded and cloud software for critical systems like the Mars Rover and telescopes. Gain valuable insights into the impact of software-defined products across various industries and learn how Wind River's growth strategy and product development adapt to rapidly changing landscapes. Explore their unique approach to customer obsession, diversity, and culture, and uncover the secrets of successful product leadership in a fast-paced world.

What are the key principles of product leadership? In this episode of Product Talk, our host Melissa Pickering meets with IPSY Senior Director of Product Heidi Cajucom for an inspiring conversation on the principles of product leadership. Heidi shares her journey, from founding an anonymous peer support network for college students to managing product teams at TaskRabbit and BFA. Discover the secrets of effective product leadership, the importance of mentorship and empathy in decision-making, and gain valuable insights for balancing work and family responsibilities. Tune in for a wealth of knowledge and actionable advice from a true product management expert.

How can software-defined telecom products empower individuals? In episode 14 of the Product Awards Series with Nacho Andrade, SignalWire Founder/CEO Anthony Minessale shares insights into the transformative power of software-defined telecom and open source technology. Discover how SignalWire simplifies telecom, drives innovation, and fosters collaboration between idea people and programmers. Gain valuable perspectives on AI, product development, and the importance of identifying key consumers. Listen in and explore the future of telecom and product management philosophy.

How is Veba Baby revolutionizing parent tech? In this episode, Kaboo Founder Neha Shah meets with Veba Baby Founder Veon Brewster to discuss her advancements in parent tech and the intricacies of working and building products within this sector. Explore the role of UX research, startup entrepreneurship, and data-driven product development, and learn about Veba Baby's impact on data brokerage and the democratization of parenting insights. Join us for an insightful journey into the future of parenting technology.

How can product managers utilize strategic intent to ensure long-term growth? In Episode 11 of the CPO Rising Series, our host Renee Niemi meets with SoSafe CPO Gonçalo Gaiolas to speak on his experience at OutSystems and the importance of developing a product strategy. Discover how he adapted to the changing economic landscape, fostered a customer-centric culture, and redefined product leadership. Learn from his experiences in hiring talent, managing product strategies, and building strategic partnerships, all while keeping an eye on the emerging trends in AI.

How can product managers responsibly maximize the lifecycle of their products? In this episode, Willow Innovations Product VP Melissa Pickering meets with Helpsy CMO Jessica Rennard for an insightful conversation on maximizing the product lifecycle. They discuss the necessity of bridging the gap between sustainability and product lifecycle extension, noting the monumental challenge of changing consumer behavior towards sustainability. They also mention the importance of networking and working with executive coaches while in the product space. Join us in this episode for a thought-provoking and informative journey at the intersection of sustainability, product management, and personal development.

It's lucky number episode 13 of the Product Awards Series, with host Nacho Andrade. In this episode, Segmed Product Lead Dan Feusse talks about product insights in healthtech and AI. As a driving force behind Segmed's product innovation, Dan sheds light on the company's mission to revolutionize the health data landscape. With a core emphasis on simplicity akin to the Amazon model, Segmed aims to empower companies to craft superior products through accessible data. Dan's career evolution, from analytics to AI, fuels his passion for data's transformative power. He discusses Segmed's strategic expansion from startup origins to enterprise ventures, while also delving into their focus on radiology and plans to showcase patients' longitudinal journeys. This episode navigates the intricacies of product management in a specialized market, offering insights into pain point resolution, dynamic strategies, and portfolio equilibrium. Join the conversation to explore the intersection of cutting-edge AI, healthcare innovation, and the dynamic future of healthtech.

How can product leaders build high-performance teams? In this podcast, join our host, Willow Innovations Product VP Melissa Pickering, for an inspiring conversation with our guest, Amazon's Twitch Product VP Stephanie J. Neill. They delve into Stephanie's diverse experiences, including her role as a GM overseeing technologists in the White House and her current leadership of the monetization product portfolio at Twitch. With a focus on transparent communication, personal development, and the power of empathy, Stephanie shares her expertise in cultivating high-performing teams.

Episode 10 of the CPO Rising Series features a deep discussion on transforming healthcare. Led by host Renee Niemi, discover the dynamic landscape of healthcare transformation through the perspective of Cognizant Trizetto Healthcare Products Group CPO Diana Benli. Diana delves into the intricate workings of Cognizant's product division, highlighting their diverse portfolio and innovative strategies that drive industry change. With a focus on resiliency, adaptability, and fostering a positive company culture, Diana unveils the challenges and opportunities inherent in talent acquisition, leadership, and product development. Listen in and gain unique insights into navigating the complexities of healthcare, leveraging technology, and propelling sustainable growth in an ever-evolving market.

How can product leaders build inclusive products from a cognitive and tangible perspective? In this podcast, Willow Innovations Product VP Melissa Pickering meets with Atomic Product Lead Sunaina Kavi to discuss the art of designing products for inclusivity. They discuss Sunaina's journey from academic studies to entrepreneurial ventures, revealing insights on data-driven decisions, storytelling, and revenue considerations. Explore how curiosity, diversity, and innovation can influence inclusivity in product.

This is episode 12 of the 2023 Product Awards Series, hosted by Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade. In this episode featuring Dasera CEO Ani Chaudhuri, the focus is on data security and its growing significance in a data-driven world. Dasera specializes in automating security and governance controls for databases, data lakes, and data warehouses, both on-premises and in the cloud. Ani discusses their unique approach, including data usage analysis, and draws an analogy between data security and lending a car. The conversation explores the expanding data security market, the impact of AI on business, the role of diversity in leadership, the value of customer insights from sales teams, and the crucial partnership with venture capitalists. Ani also delves into the importance of creating a culture that embraces learning from mistakes and emphasizes the character and connectivity of a successful company. Listen up!

What are the commonly faced challenges of product management? In this podcast, join Bill.com VP of Growth Heidi Gibson as she engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Zeda.io Founder Prashant Mahajan on the intricacies of product management and the common challenges faced by product leaders across industries. With experience as a product manager and leader in dynamic startups around the world, Prashant shares insights from speaking with hundreds of product leaders, offering a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of product management. Dive into the transition from feature-focused approaches to customer-centric problem solving, strategies for effective communication and alignment within organizations, and the delicate balance between autonomy and accountability. Discover how a problem-solving mindset, clear problem definition, stakeholder inclusion, and strategic decision-making can shape successful product management.

In episode 9 of the CPO Rising Series, Experian CPO Gregory Wright shares his expertise in fostering innovation and growth. In conversation with host Renée Niemi, Greg highlights the paramount importance of alignment among cross-functional teams for streamlined innovation and market success. Experian's approach revolves around "jobs to be done" for clients in various credit lifecycle stages, utilizing data, analytics, and services to empower consumers throughout their credit journey. The Experian culture is driven by a mission of financial inclusion, collaboration, and innovation. Greg emphasizes the power of a product-led approach, with a focus on solving vital problems for clients and consumers. The podcast delves into the essence of product-led growth, shedding light on strategies like clear growth drivers, technological investment, and collaboration with sales teams. The episode emphasizes the value of testing and learning before major investments, and showcases Experian's commitment to consumer empowerment through innovative products like Experian Boost. Key takeaways include the significance of ruthless prioritization, alignment with sales and finance, and the essential traits of a successful product leader.

How does UX design influence security and trust in tech? In this podcast, join Kaboo Founder Neha Shah as she meets with Rownd Co-Founder and Lead Designer Rachel Radulovich to take us through her journey from graphic design to the tech world. With a background in blockchain and digital identity products at IBM, Rachel discusses Rownd's mission to streamline user authentication without passwords. Discover how UX design plays a pivotal role in making privacy and security accessible, building trust, and enhancing user confidence in signing in and signing up for products. Gain insights into Rownd's agile product planning, the challenge of balancing design in a fast-paced startup environment, and the rising trend of no-code/low-code solutions.

In this episode of the Product Divergence Series, host Nacho Andrade steps into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship with Prive Founder & CEO Alex Craciun. Drawing from his transformative journey transitioning from a product role at Uber to founding his own venture, Craciun delves into a myriad of invaluable insights. He deftly navigates the delicate balance between "substance" and "optics" in business, emphasizing the art of effective framing and the power of a compelling vision. Craciun sheds light on the significance of building a robust team and fostering a supportive network – one of many crucial startup insights shared here. His advice resonates with aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly product managers seeking to venture into the startup landscape. From the nuanced dynamics of marketing to the design intricacies of crafting a product, Craciun underscores the importance of collaboration across various functions. Moreover, he unveils the secret behind captivating pitches and the relentless pursuit of speed and execution.

What does it take to create impactful product-led transformations? In this podcast, Willow Innovations SVP of Product Melissa Pickering meets with IntoUniversity Partnerships CPO Namrata Sarmah to discuss her product management journey and the importance of putting the customer first, understanding their pain points, and building products that solve real problems for them. Discover how cross-industry experience and a diverse team can bring unique perspectives to product development and foster inclusivity on a global scale. Learn how impatience can be harnessed as a superpower, accelerating problem-solving efficiency.

The 8th episode of the CPO Rising Series features Harvey Performance Company CPO Greg Livelli. Our host, as usual, is the incomparable Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. Above all, Greg speaks to Renée about navigating growth in challenging times. Along the way, Greg discusses his role as the Vice President of Product Management for Nidec's commercial and industrial motors business in the Americas. He also served as the Chief Product Officer for the Appliance, Commercial, and Industrial Motors (ACM) business. Greg emphasizes the importance of product managers as mini-CEOs, responsible for finding market opportunities and contributing to the company's profitability. Looking to the future, Greg discusses the evolving role of product management, data-driven decision-making, and the importance of focusing on profitable products for sustainable growth.

How can curiosity and adaptability drive success in product careers? In this podcast, Jonathan Ozeran meets with BCG X Product Lead Anne Jiao to discuss her inspiring journey in the product space. From her background in the entertainment industry to founding her own startup, Anne discusses how she leverages diverse skills in marketing, graphic design, and product management to excel in product development. She sheds light on approaching new challenges, using analytics for insights, and the rewards of helping clients succeed.

Episode 11 of the Product Awards Series features OmniSync CEO and Co-Founder Rupak Doshi. Doshi tells host Nacho Andrade about the company's focus on aiding life sciences and technology startups requiring research and development (R&D) to create innovative solutions is highlighted. Rupak emphasizes the importance of understanding the people behind the problems and tailoring solutions to their needs. OmniSync's success lies in securing grant money for startups' research phases, enabling them to build the best possible solution before seeking venture capital funding. With a background in life sciences and a fresh perspective on software development, OmniSync's product stands out as a niche solution with its focus on deep technical and scientific material. Rupak shares valuable advice for aspiring founders, emphasizing the need for passion, commitment, and patience in solving real problems rather than pursuing overnight success.

How can decision science principles revolutionize product management and drive user behavior? In this podcast, Join Bill.com VP of Growth Heidi Gibson as she interviews Duolingo Fmr. Director of Product Jorge Mazal to explore the fascinating world of decision science and its practical application in product management. Drawing from his extensive experience in the industry, Jorge shares valuable insights and real-life examples that highlight the power of understanding user behavior and leveraging decision science principles to design products that deliver exceptional outcomes.

In episode 7 of the CPO Rising Series, Glassdoor CPO Andy Chen speaks with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. Andy shares his background and path to Glassdoor, highlighting his experience in the digital industry and his role in companies like Travelocity and match.com. Chen discusses Glassdoor's transformation into a community for workplace conversations, drawing analogies to online dating platforms. He explains the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Glassdoor's talent strategy and product roadmap, emphasizing the company's shift to remote work and the importance of asynchronous collaboration. Chen also addresses revenue challenges and the company's long-term product strategy focused on building a community. He emphasizes the role of product in driving growth, understanding customer needs, and navigating M&A activities. Chen discusses the evolving relationship between product design and product management, with product managers focusing on the overall management of the product while relying on the expertise of product designers. Overall, the podcast covers a range of topics related to product management, community-building, remote work, revenue challenges, and the future of product design.

In this podcast, Ammunition Founder Robert Brunner sits down with Willow Innovations Product VP Melissa Pickering. Brunner is a design leader with experience in various industries, and he shares insights from throughout his career. He discusses his work at Lunar Design and his role as the former director of industrial design at Apple. Brunner highlights the importance of design in building emotional connections with customers, drawing from his experience with Beats by Dr. Dre. He co-authored the book "Do You Matter? How Great Design Will Make People Love Your Company," exploring how design influences brand perception and customer loyalty. Brunner provides advice for product managers, emphasizing the need to understand the design process, advocate for great products, and foster a culture of great design within organizations.

It's episode 10 of the Product Awards Series, hosted by Ubiety Techologies CPO Nacho Andrade! Here, Nacho speaks with inCitu Founding CEO Dana Chermesh. The focus is on the company's use of augmented reality (AR) to transform city planning and make it accessible to everyone. Chermesh's background in architecture and experience with immersive technologies in the Israeli Air Force inspired her to explore AR in urban planning. InCitu's mission is to improve the conversation around the future of cities by providing easy access to information and fostering engagement. The team prioritizes user experience and has shifted from an iOS app to web AR and QR codes for seamless access to AR experiences. Chermesh emphasizes the importance of passion and problem-solving in building great products. The podcast also touches on industry trends, the convergence of AR and city planning, and the need for responsible urban development.

How can product leaders design playful product experiences for users? In this episode, Willow Innovations VP of Product Melissa Pickering interviews LEGO Fmr. Product Design Leader Steve Geist on the art of designing playful product experiences. Discover Steve's unique ability to blend technology into play experiences, while always prioritizing the user experience and involving cross-functional stakeholders. Gain valuable insights into the design thinking process, stakeholder management tactics, and the importance of early prototyping and user testing. Explore how to create surprise and delight in product experiences and learn about Steve's favorite projects and proud moments.

Here is the 6th episode of the CPO Rising Podcast Series, hosted by Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. In this podcast, Bose CPO Raza Haider discusses the company's focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences through various channels, including e-commerce and partnerships. Haider mentions that partnerships are sought when there are unmet needs that Bose's core products cannot fulfill. Additionally, Bose considers mergers and acquisitions to accelerate their plans. Haider highlights the evolving role of product management, emphasizing the importance of putting the customer at the center of decision-making. Purpose, people, profit, and planet are key considerations in product management, especially for companies with physical products, like Bose.

In this podcast, Product Director Jonathan Ozeran interviews Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Product Manager Anh-Vu Dinh on the challenges and considerations involved in internationalization and mobile app development. Uncover the role of technology, from mobile apps to augmented reality, and the evolving landscape of product development. Dive deep into the hybrid work culture, the impact of wearable devices on personal health, and the possibility of making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Here is the 9th episode of the Product Awards Series. Ubiety Techologies CPO Nacho Andrade speaks with Ellipsis Health CPO Melissa McCool. Listeners will explore the innovative use of AI and machine learning to detect anxiety and depression through voice analysis. McCool, a former social worker, recognized the limitations of traditional methods for identifying mental health issues and saw the potential for technology to scale interventions. The discussion covers Ellipsis Health's technology, which analyzes both spoken words and their delivery to determine levels of anxiety and depression. McCool shares her journey from clinician to product manager and emphasizes the importance of problem-solving and collaboration in product development. Listeners will gain insights into integrating behavioral health into primary care, managing cross-functional teams, and navigating a career in product management. Don't miss this discussion on transforming mental healthcare with AI.

How can product leaders navigate the challenges and opportunities of responsible AI in product management? In this podcast, Adobe Senior Product Director Heidi Gibson meets with Fiddler AI Advisor Natalia Burina to discover the nuances and challenges of integrating AI in product management, from leveraging existing capabilities to building AI-powered solutions from scratch. Gain valuable insights into the role of responsible AI in product management and the importance of fairness, privacy, robustness, explainability, and accountability in AI products. Explore the dynamic relationship between product managers and engineers, and learn how they can collaborate to overcome obstacles and create successful AI-driven products.

This is episode 5 of the CPO Rising Podcast Series, hosted by Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. Here, Calix CPO Shane Eleniak discusses the company's transformation from a traditional systems entity to a software and services organization, a shift he led. Eleniak delves into the company's product-led approach, asserting that product strategy, customer value, and market needs drive their operations. He also explains his collaborative role with the Head of Global Sales and CFO, detailing their product management sales strategy, the generation of comprehensive P&L plans, and how these factors influence decisions on quota targets, product transitions, and investments. Eleniak's passion for creating new products, using technology to solve problems, and balancing business and product perspectives underpins his belief that this is an exciting era to be a Chief Product Officer.

Why is adopting a product-focused mindset important? In this podcast, Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade meets with Craft.io CEO Elad Simon to discuss how adopting a product-focused mindset can drive transformation and growth. Discover valuable insights on embracing curiosity, leveraging qualitative and quantitative data, and exploring innovative tools.

In the 8th episode of the Product Awards Series, Ubiety Techologies CPO Nacho Andrade interviews Sagetap Co-Founder Kevin Hughes. Originally inspired by dating apps, the Sagetap team realized the broken state of software discovery and the need for a platform that categorizes and offers technology in a consumable way. Hughes emphasizes the importance of a clear mission, strategy, and product goals, as well as the value of resources like books, frameworks, and design tools such as Figma. Sagetap's current focus is on cybersecurity dev tools and cloud infrastructure, with plans for expansion. Hughes also shares insights on the company's hiring process and the passion for creating frictionless connections between participants.

How can you navigate a non-linear career path in the tech industry? In this podcast, Kaboo Founder Neha Shah meets with Atlassian Data Science Lead Nisha Lyer to discuss non-linear career paths, the power of continuous learning, and the significance of product-market fit. Gain valuable insights on leveraging user interviews, synthesizing data, and understanding customer needs.

In episode 4 of the CPO Rising Podcast Series, Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi hosts SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Chief Product and Digital Officer Kou Raghavan. Through the modernization of websites, improvement of the mobile app, and increased digital usage, SeaWorld has enhanced guest satisfaction, increased revenue, and attracted new visitors. The product team's focus on optimizing the pre-visit and in-park experiences has resulted in a high utility mobile app that minimizes waiting times and maximizes time spent on attractions. Raghavan guides the team's initiatives, collaborating with other teams, and plays a strategic role in driving growth and aligning with company objectives. The episode also delves into the team structure, metrics, lessons learned, and the qualities of a great product leader driving digital transformation.

How can thoughtful design and innovative products address women's health? In this podcast, Willow Innovations Product CXO Melissa Pickering meets with Herself Health CPO Nicole Lyon to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and inspiring companies that are revolutionizing women's health and the FemTech industry. Gain insights into user-centric design, the motherhood journey, and the importance of inclusive design. Uncover the potential for transformative solutions and the impact of addressing real needs in women's health and FemTech.

In episode 7 of the Product Awards Series, Ubiety Techologies CPO Nacho Andrade interviews Novo Director of Product Roger Liu. Liu discusses the importance of balancing customer needs and business outcomes. He underscores the crucial role of robust internal communication and swift execution, which he views as the pillars of successful product creation. Liu emphasizes the importance of correctly identifying target markets, a strategy that has significantly influenced Novo's product development process. As a proponent of urgency in product release, Liu believes in maintaining high-quality standards while rapidly responding to market needs. For those aspiring to join product management, Liu advises developing a customer-centric mindset, improving communication skills, and gaining a deep understanding of stakeholder management.

How can product leaders navigate product management challenges? In this episode, join Jonathan Ozeran as he interviews Google Product Lead Dan Chuparkoff to gain valuable insights into product management challenges and strategies. Discover Dan's experiences in small startups and large enterprises, his lessons learned, and the importance of effective communication and storytelling in product management.

Episode 3 of the CPO Rising Podcast Series sees Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi hosting Brex CPO Karandeep Anand. A seasoned tech executive, Anand discusses his transition from large firms like Microsoft and Meta to Brex, a dynamic financial services company that has evolved into a mid-market enterprise SaaS provider. Anand offers insights into the strategic pivots Brex had to undertake amid financial uncertainties, placing an emphasis on core value, strategic focus, and talent acquisition. He shares their journey of creating an enterprise workflow for expense management, serving corporations such as DoorDash and Coinbase, and the role of their cultural values in accelerating development. With a keen focus on 'responsible growth', transparency, and customer-centric decisions, Anand sheds light on Brex's approach to mergers and acquisitions, their lessons learned, and his philosophy on what makes a great product leader. Tune in for a thoughtful discourse on navigating financial uncertainties, fostering a nimble corporate culture, and driving responsible growth.

How can product managers effectively drive innovation and manage resources in larger organizations? Join Adobe Senior Product Director Heidi Gibson as she interviews Linkedin Senior Product Director Laura Teclemariam in an insightful discussion about product management and innovation. Discover valuable insights on managing resources, building effective product teams, and driving innovation in larger organizations.

In episode 6 of the Product Awards Series, Ubiety Techologies CPO Nacho Andrade interviews Earkick Co-Founder Herbert Bay. The conversation revolves around the company's mission and approach to building a digital companion in the form of an assistant in your ear. Earkick prioritizes privacy-focused data usage and aims to differentiate itself from other AI models. Initially targeting enterprise customers, Earkick focuses on workplace mental health, offering employees a tool to share their experiences and concerns while providing aggregated data to employers for insights and improvements. The company emphasizes understanding customer problems, achieving product-market fit, and maintaining a high standard of quality. They employ metrics like the Product-Market Fit (PMF) and Net Promoter Score (NPS) to track and improve their product. Earkick values customer feedback, actively iterates based on user input, and considers every touchpoint with the product and brand as part of the overall experience.

What are the key principles and challenges of product development in the legal technology industry? In this podcast, Ubiety Technologies CPO and Product Talk Host Nacho Andrade interviews Linksquares SVP of Product & Engineering Andrew Leverone on product and engineering leadership, challenges in prioritizing work in a new market with little competition, and the importance of staying close to customers to develop solutions. He also offers career advice for those interested in product development, emphasizing networking, finding the right team members, and self-awareness. Leverone discusses the importance of trust and communication when scaling teams, psychological safety in the workplace, the role of data in decision-making, and the Agile approach as a culture or behavior.

Subscribe to the Product Talk podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and catch every conversation with leading product executives. Episodes drop on Wednesdays.

In episode 2 of the CPO Rising Podcast Series, Rockwell Automation CPO Claudia Chandra speaks with Products That Count CPO Renee Niemi. Claudia's portfolio includes the FactoryTalk Hub, Edge, Data, and Analytics portfolio. And also the delivery of common cloud services for all Rockwell cloud offerings, data and AI services, Edge and Edge Gateway, FactoryTalk Analytics (DataView, LogixAI, Pavilion8), and the Innovation Suite products. Claudia emphasizes the importance of scalability, manageability, and close collaboration with the services team in embracing the future of industrial automation. Discover the challenges and opportunities faced by product leaders as they navigate end-to-end product lifecycle management, adoption, and delivery.

What are the key challenges in building AI-powered products and how can they be overcome? In this podcast, Product Leader and Product Talk Host Neha Shah meets with PeopleReign CEO Dan Turchin to discuss the latest developments in the field of AI and its impact on the workplace and society. They explore the challenges and opportunities of building AI-powered products, with a focus on creating personalized experiences and addressing ethical considerations. They also share insights into their own experiences building companies and navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of technology.

In episode 5 of the 2023 Product Awards podcast series, Pando Founding CEO Barbra Gago speaks with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade on building a better future of work. Gago emphasizes the importance of taking a differentiated approach to problems and filling a need rather than automating existing workflows. Pando's vision is to kill performance reviews and introduce just-in-time promotions, and its mission is to level the playing field for all employees. The podcast also covers Pando's product management approach, which is agile, iterative, and opinionated, and its success in solving the pain point of career progression.

What does it take to build a successful startup from scratch? In this episode, Groundswell CPO Tammy Hahn meets with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade to discuss her experience working in the startup industry. She offers valuable insights into building a successful company from scratch. Tammy discusses the importance of being strategic when starting with zero customers, adapting to change, and being less of a perfectionist.

In this first episode of the 2023 CPO Rising Series podcast, Renee Niemi interviews Synapse Product Development President Jeff Hebert. Jeff shares insights into the challenges that companies face in the current economic climate, discusses the importance of upskilling existing teams, and highlights the growth of the Climate Technologies market. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the world of product development and the current state of the industry.

How can leaders effectively motivate cross-functional teams in the post-pandemic era to achieve escape velocity and drive business success? In this episode, Product Talk Host & Willow Innovations, Inc VP of Product, Melissa Pickering, meets with Fractional Executive and CPO Eleanor Morgan. They discuss her transition from consultancy to e-commerce, the importance of cross-functional teams, and the challenge of motivating individuals and teams. The conversation touches on topics such as work-life balance, psychological safety, diversity and inclusion, and effective leadership.

In episode #4 of the Product Awards Series, Mperativ Co-Founder and CMO Daniel Raskin speaks with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade. According to Raskin, the roles of product management and marketing are intertwined, especially in the world of SaaS companies. Mperativ is focused on helping Chief Marketing Officers connect their activities to revenue, and how the CMO role is evolving to take more ownership of growth. They also discuss how product management is changing as companies specialize and become more sophisticated, creating new opportunities for businesses like Mperativ. Overall, the discussion offers insights on connecting product and revenue and the changing landscape of marketing and product management.

How can you lead product development with an entrepreneurial mindset? In this episode, Product Talk Host & Willow Innovations, Inc VP of Product, Melissa Pickering, meets with ABN CTO & Co-founder Valdemar Ostergaard to discuss his journey as a product leader. He speaks on the importance of leading with inherent curiosity, including how new product leaders can navigate PM tools, overcome potential setbacks, and embody an entrepreneurial mindset.

In episode #3 of the Product Awards Series, Nitra Founder and CEO Jonathan Chen speaks with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade. Nitra is a fintech company building financial solutions for the healthcare industry, primarily targeting small healthcare practices. As doctors often prioritize treating patients over optimizing their business, product companies like Nitra face challenges in helping clients understand the importance of business optimization.

How do you create a customer-centered product experience? In this episode, StockX Product Lead Josh Sklar discusses the company's approach to product management, which emphasizes listening to customers to create an experience that reflects the brand's values. StockX's product detail pages consider usability, design, legal regulations, and buyer behavior. Pricing is determined by analyzing market trends, and customer feedback is used to improve the user experience and maintain trust and loyalty.

How do you build a product that will provide a rewarding experience for product users? In episode #2 of the Product Awards Series, radd. Founder Sivan Baram meets with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade and discusses her unique approach to building successful products that provide value to the intended product users. She speaks on her personal journey as a product manager and the product management considerations that made radd. successful. This includes embodying the user perspective, the influence of verticalization and specialization trends, and building a human connection through a product.

How can a positive user experience drive product-led growth? In this episode, Oscar Health Director of Product Management Aditya Subramaniam speaks with Chameleon CEO and Co-Founder Pulkit Agrawal about how the user experience drives product-led growth. They start by defining product-led growth and the role of PLG at Chameleon. Then, they dive into a discussion on how user onboarding influences PLG, and the differences in PLG between a B2B and B2C product.

What does it take to create a sustainable and innovative product? In this episode, Spira Inc. Founder Elliot Roth meets with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade to discuss his journey founding Spira and what made his product successful. He speaks on what using his own product taught him, how his team built a product that stands out, and how his approach to product management led to the creation of a thriving and innovative product.

As a product manager, how do you implement team building and collaboration? In this episode, Adobe Chief Product Officer Scott Belskey meets with Heidi Gibson to discuss how he considers team building and collaboration to ensure success in the product space. He covers the role of the product leader in the context of the whole team, the importance of collaboration between product leaders and design teams, and the traits a product manager should possess. 

How do you traverse the ever-changing terrain of the FinTech industry? In this episode, True ML VP of Product Michael Krafft meets with Alloy Head of Product Parilee Wang. They begin by discussing Parilee’s journey with product and FinTech, while uncovering her perspective as to how great products are built and how she implements this at Alloy today. Following that, they dive into the uncertainties surrounding FinTech in 2023. They cover fraud in the product space, the current macro economics climate, and the rise of new data signals and sources.

What does it take to be a successful product manager? In this episode, Vowel Head of Product Anna Marie Clifton speaks with Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade about her journey from earning a degree in Medieval Art History to entering her dream career as a product manager. From there, she speaks as to how aspiring product managers can enter the industry, and the skills and attributes that make an excellent product manager.

How do you build a world class telecom product? Here is episode seven in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. In this episode, Macy’s Product Leader Alisher Rakhimov speaks with Calix CPO Shane Eleniak. They discuss build versus buy, and the poetry of high performing teams. But the conversation kicks off with Shane’s explanation of the value in delivering managed services.

Product managers are like acrobats. They are required to juggle countless responsibilities. There is so much input that they have to take in, evaluate, and understand to make sure they are meeting the needs of their users. So, what does it take to be successful as a product leader? This week, Product Leader and ProductTalk host, Neha Shah, interviewed CarMax Product Leader Susan Stavitzski on the skills required to be a great product leader.

This is episode six in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. In this episode, Pulse PEMF Director of Product Ryan House sits down with Microsoft Product Leader Arun Ravi. They discuss Arun’s work on Microsoft’s AI platform, Nuance. First, they discuss the value of AI for voice in healthcare. Ravi also shares his thoughts on how to use one product stack for multiple uses in B2B. And finally, Ryan asks Ravi to share what he believes makes a great product. According to Ravi, it comes down to value.

A looming recession feels like a big challenge for product managers & innovators. However, innovating in a recession will lead your brand, product, and business to grow. So, how do you turn the downturn into a creative opportunity? This week, Product Talk Host & Willow Innovations, Inc VP of Product, Melissa Pickering, interviews Ooni Pizza Ovens Fmr Head of Product Ben Diamant on strategies for product innovation in recessions.

This is episode five in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. In this episode, Vertafore VP of Product Development Nand Shivkumar sits down with Boomi Product Leader Ramkumar Menon. Their conversation included Ramkumar’s journey from a computer science degree in India to product management in America. They also talked about what makes a great product. And Ramkumar explained what it takes to be thriving in the new B2B world.

Product managers and leaders across the globe are facing layoffs. Product teams are looking for ways to increase efficiency while doing more with less. So, what does it take to be successful as a PM today? Asset Panda VP of Product Management and Design Ram Shamanna shares insights on key traits needed to be successful as a product manager.

What does digital health have in common with Spotify? More than you might think. This is episode four in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. In this episode, TimelyMD SVP of Product Zachary Fleming speaks with Transcarent Head of Product Vikas Sabnani. They discuss the evolution of the music industry and how that relates to digital health. Then Vikas shares his four markers of what makes a great product. Overall, the theme is about creating an integrated digital health experience for every user.

Product management is an extremely lucrative and engaging career path for creative minds who want to help improve the lives of their customers. And it is in the top 10 on Glassdoor's list of America's 50 best jobs (2022). So, how do you develop and advance your career in product? Bill.com Chief Product Officer Irana Wasti shares key insights on best practices for developing a career in product.

How do you scale with software and services? Turns out, that is a tricky question. Here is episode three in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. In this episode, Fidelity Investments VP of Product Management Alex Westner interviews two product leaders from Forecastr. The two guests are Forecastr's Head of Product Zack Pennington and Fractional CFO Evan Diaz de Arce. They discuss their financial modeling software and the accompanying services. If you’re a PM thinking about scaling software and services, listen up!

Do you get excited about regulations? This is the second episode in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. Here, ZEFR Senior PM Bharat Manglani leads the conversation. He sits down with Google Play Product & Business Consultant Tammy Taw. Their conversation is all about AdTech. (Be sure to check out our Adtech infographic.) They talk quite a bit about regulations, including why they can be (surprisingly enough) exciting. They also discuss opportunities in AdTech, for example in the free-to-play gaming space.

Product management has evolved and grown in almost every industry, including Fintech. With Fintech comes great responsibility. Building customer trust, and ensuring cybersecurity and data safety are at the core of product management in this space. So, what practices and strategies are needed to be a PM in the Fintech world? Extend Chief Product Officer Orna Albus shares insights on core strategies and practices for product management in the Fintech space.

In this Age of Product, people are seeing the potential in starting their own businesses. But starting a business from the ground up can be extremely challenging. These trailblazers need people to help them make the money move faster, and also to make the checking experience powerful and specific to their needs. So, how do entrepreneurs access powerful banking experiences that fuel their businesses? Novo Group Product Leader Akash Desai shares insights on how to gain a business edge with powerful and simple business banking.

“Where can I find bacon on a stick?” From such simple origins, Satisfi Labs built an AI product to answer the questions event-goers really want to know… Here is the first episode in our podcast series hosted by the 2023 Awards Advisory Board. Here, Fmr Groupon Head of Product Kristopher Drey leads the conversation. His guest is Satisfi Labs CEO & Co-Founder Don White. They talk about Satisfi Labs’ quest to build a conversational AI tech platform on the theory that it should answer everything. Including where to find bacon on a stick.

This is the fifth episode in our series presenting the Awards Advisory Board (AAB) for the 2023 Product Awards. In this episode, seasoned product leader Neha Shah speaks with two product leaders. First up is Pulse PEMF Director of Product Ryan House. And second is TimelyMD Head of Product Zac Fleming. The subject of the conversation is Life Sciences.

This is the fourth episode in our series presenting the Awards Advisory Board (AAB) for the 2023 Product Awards. In this episode, seasoned product leader Neha Shah speaks with three product leaders. First, is Xander CEO Alex Westner. Second is A10 Networks VP of Product Line Management Ganesh Rajan. And third is Vertafore VP of Product Development Nand Shivkumar. The subject of the conversation is B2B Tech.

This is episode three in our series presenting the Awards Advisory Board (AAB) for the 2023 Product Awards. In this episode, seasoned product leader Neha Shah speaks with two product leaders. First, Fmr Groupon Head of Product Kris Drey talks about the PropTech industry. Next, TrueML VP of Product Michael Krafft leads us on a deep dive into FinTech. So sit back and listen to these “product leaders to watch” as they explain two key product industries.

Does your team have its eye on the prize? Or is it constantly chasing the shiny new object? Here, Symantec Product Lead Michael Dubinsky explains why it is important not to do that. As he tells PayPal Product Lead Dimitry Shvartsman, it is vital that teams are not chasing the shiny new object. Rather, you should know your agenda, and what you are focusing on. Stick to that, and watch the new business roll in.

This is the 20th episode in the CPO Rising Series, featuring Teladoc CPO Donna Boyer. Donna speaks with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi on leading change in telehealth. A key theme is looking forward to the next horizon, rather than wallowing in what has come before.

This is the second episode in our series presenting the Awards Advisory Board (AAB) for the 2023 Product Awards. Here, seasoned product leader Neha Shah speaks with three product leaders. First, Macy’s Product Lead Alisher Rakhimov discusses trends in telecom. Next, ZEFR Product Lead Bharat Manglani shares insights on the AdTech industry. And finally, Universal Electronics Product Lead Nikki Ahmadi talks about the Internet of Things (IoT). Altogether it is a good introduction to telecom, AdTech, and IoT.

Here is episode 19 of the CPO Rising Series, featuring Ford CPO Hau Thai-Tang. Hau speaks with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi on the big transitions at Ford. A key theme is how Ford decided to stop hedging their bets and go all in on electric vehicles, or EVs.

This is the first episode in our series presenting the Awards Advisory Board (AAB) for the 2023 Product Awards. Here, Fmr ALTR Product Lead Neha Shah speaks with two of the AAB members about the B2B tech product vertical. First up is Oscar Health Product Lead Aditya Subramaniam. And second is Intuit/Quickbooks Product Lead Rosa Gonzalez Welton.

This is the final episode in the 2022 Product Awards series. Here, Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade speaks with Kura Technologies Founding CEO Kelly Peng. They quickly got into the topic of digital transformation. This has resulted in a hugely diverse VR market, with clients in automotive, medical, and smart homes. They also discussed why Kelly believes the enterprise companies are the early adopters who will pave the way for consumers. And of course, Kelly shares what she believes makes a great product manager.

Data analysis is one of the most important aspects of product management. It is how we get to know our customers and our product. In order to be successful product leaders, we need to dive deep into data and turn it into actionable insights. So, how can data analysis help propel your product forward? This week, Product Talk host and Product Leader, Neha Shah, interviews MongoDB Product Lead Rachelle Palmer who shares insights on a data-driven approach to product management.

What is the hardest part of being a product leader? Here is episode 18 of the CPO Rising Series, featuring ChargePoint CPO Bill Loewenthal. Bill sits down with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi to talk about the hardest part of being a product leader. A main thread in the conversation is that building great products includes building the systems around the product. All of that needs to work. In order to architect those systems, a product leader needs good prioritization systems in place. And that is a great clue to answer the question at the top of this blog.

Thanks to Products That Count’s growing network of over 300,000 managers and leaders, we have been fortunate enough to speak with some of the top product people in the world. One of my favorite things this has led to is our podcast, Product Talk, which has been a Webby Awards honoree, was named by Forbes as a top podcast and has won other awards. Now, 250 episodes later, I have been delighted to see we’ve shared product strategies with people across the globe. Product execs from Netflix, Google, Wayfair, Instagram, and many more have helped to understand exactly what it takes to build great products. So, what are some of the best lessons learned since the founding of Products That Count? This week on Product Talk, I am honored and excited to share this special episode as we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite conversations and the best product practices we have learned. 

This is the episode 13 in the 2022 Product Awards series. In this talk, Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade speaks with MURAL VP of Product Rosalyn Lemieux. They discuss the ways that MURAL is helping solve the problem of disconnected hybrid teams. And also why Rosalyn dislikes the miscommunication that can happen between product and engineering teams. Additionally, Rosalyn gives insight into how MURAL tries to be a fun company to work with – and for. She says this is enshrined in a company value called “playing to wow.”

Artificial intelligence has grown into one of the most formidable product tools on the planet. The Age of Product is being driven by automation and connectivity. and it is crucial that product managers understand what AI is and what it is not. So, how do product managers know whether or not AI should be a part of their product strategy? This week, Product Talk host, Neha Shah, interviews Tata Consultancy Services VP of Sustainability and Emerging Tech & Co-Founder of STRIDES.ai Malur Narayan on how artificial intelligence can impact your product and company.

Do you find comfort in constant chaos? If not, it might be time to shake things up. This is episode 17 of the CPO Rising Series, featuring Optimizely CPO Justin Anovick. Justin sits down with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi to talk about the value of constant chaos. It isn’t that Justin loves chaos, but he does think it reminds the team not to get too settled. He always wants to keep improving. Beyond that, Justin and Renée also talk about structuring the organization, and what makes a great Chief Product Officer. 

This is the 12th episode of the 2022 Product Awards series. Here, Ubiety Technologies CPO Nacho Andrade sits down with TripleBlind CRO Jay Smilyk. Jay points out that product people need to listen to customers, but likewise, customers need to listen as well. Next, he discusses the idea that data is the new gold. Data creates business opportunities as well as opportunities to increase the greater good. He also explains what makes product managers unique, as well as successful.

More and more, companies are jumping on board the train to new and innovative developments. New technologies like artificial intelligence have improved customer service and optimized routine processes and tasks. So, how can artificial intelligence benefit your company? This week, Product Talk host and Universal Electronics Sr. Director of Product, Nikki Ahmadi, interviews YegaTech CEO Mehdi Nourbakhsh on real use cases of artificial intelligence and how it can help product development.

Is it a problem when your whole team agrees? According to UiPath CPO Param Kahlon, the answer is yes. In episode 16 of the CPO Rising Series, Param sits down with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. They discuss what Param values in product leaders. Param also argues that if you’ve hired good people, you need to give them autonomy. And Param urges product teams to seek out diverse perspectives and dissenting views. That is the only way to challenge the status quo and grow the business.

In this age of technological advancement, the most successful companies are centered around products. Product management, as a function, means different things in different organizations because every company is in a different phase of the product lifecycle. So, how has product management evolved in fintech? This week, ProductTalk host, Neha Shah, interviews Marqeta VP of Product Management Archana Prasad on how fintech and product management interplay.

The 11th episode of the 2022 Product Awards series features the CEO and co-founder of an innovative mental health app. Bloom CEO Leon Mueller spoke with Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade about the founding and development of the app. Leon's insights include the impetus behind the app and how women users made a difference. He also shares what makes a good product manager. Just like Bloom, it requires a laser focus on the consumer.

This is the fifth and final episode in the Capgemini Leaders in Innovation podcast series. In this conversation, Capgemini Consulting VP Adrian Penka speaks with Rockwell Automation Industry Lead Glen Fields. The discussion includes digital transformation in the manufacturing world relating to AR, cloud, and data analytics. Additionally, they consider digital twin opportunities for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). And Glen lays out five keys for companies looking to pivot from products to services.

In episode 15 of the CPO Rising Series, Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi interviews Tenable CPO Nico Popp. Nico speaks a lot about the Chief Product Officer mindset, such as thinking like a coach. He also stresses the importance of sharing the company vision with the whole team. This includes making meaningful connections and leading with transparency. Finally, Nico shares his key measurements for performance and growth. He calls these his “magnificent seven” KPIs.

Product management is unique. Unlike many other professions, product managers must forge their own path. They must build roadmaps, plans, and strategies, and they must collaborate with engineers to build the actual product. So, how can product managers ensure their success? This week on Product Talk, Transfix Director of Brand Content & Sustainability, Patrick Blute, interviews Notion Chief Product Officer Madhu Muthukumar on how to successfully navigate the product management journey.

Do you believe in the dichotomy between utility and delight? In episode 10 of the 2022 Product Awards series, we learn why that dichotomy may be false. Here, Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade speaks with Pendo SVP of New Products Tatyana Mamut. They discuss why great company culture at Pendo starts with having a transparent culture. Tatyana explains her biggest product pet peeve. And why PMs often should consider giving their product teams the same attention as their product customers.

Great products solve real problems, are understandable by users, and perform their tasks as easily and efficiently as possible. In order to be successful, product managers and leaders need to understand their customers and their pain points. So, how can product managers and leaders ensure that they provide their consumers with a seamless user experience? This week, Product Talk host and Product Leader, Neha Shah, interviews Rent the Runway Sr. VP of Consumer Product Preethi Ramani on how to create a seamless user experience. 

Here comes episode 14 in the CPO Rising Series. It features Vonage CPO Savinay Berry speaking with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. Savinay and Renée touch on several key topics, all of them revolving around the owner’s mindset. First, Savinay gives his list of key features he looks for in product leaders. One of those is the owner’s mindset, which he explains in detail. Ultimately, he believes that instilling new hires with this mindset can give your company a significant boost over the competition.

No matter what type of product your company develops, the goals and vision should always be customer-driven. Product managers need to understand their customers' pain points, and how they do their work in order to create proper frameworks and strategies. So, how do product managers create a stubborn long-term vision that is flexible in execution? This week, ProductTalk host and Transfix Director of Brand Content and Sustainability, Patrick Blute, interviews CareRev COO, Filiz Genca, who shares insights on how to create customer-driven frameworks that align with your company's vision. 

When setting priorities, are you properly sizing the opportunity? In the ninth episode in the 2022 Product Awards series, we learn that, with prioritization, sizing is everything. Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade sits down with Hootsuite SVP of Product Darren Guarnaccia. They discuss the best way to go about choosing the best opportunities. They also talk about why curiosity and empathy are two key traits for PMs. Finally, Darren sheds light on how he fosters curiosity in his PMs.

New technologies have allowed for devices to be invented that are truly revolutionary. Because of haptics, we now have technologies that provide the sensation of digital touch feedback. So, how can product managers implement universal adaptive design? This week, Product Talk host & ALTR Product Leader, Neha Shah, interviews WearWorks Co-Founder & Inventor Kevin Hoil Yoo who shares insights on the impact that inclusive product design can have on broader populations.

Get ready for episode 13 in the CPO Rising Series. Here, Fmr GitLab CPO Scott Williamson sits down with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. Scott talks about the importance of transparency when leading people and driving change. When it comes to change, he keeps it old school by writing things down. With talent, he makes sure people know where they stand (and where they need to go). And because GitLab is all-remote, transparent communication is key to making sure everybody stays in the loop.

How do PMs create trends in innovation? This is episode four in the Capgemini “Leaders in Innovation” Podcast Series, featuring guests in the Capgemini portfolio of products. Here, Capgemini Invent Senior Director Eric Cohen talks with Unilever Global Head of Digital Innovation Darren Adams. The conversation ranges from data in consumer products, to how PMs balance long and short term priorities. Finally, Darren gives insight into how PMs can set and reach goals for both innovation and sustainability.

In episode eight in the 2022 Product Awards series, we learn that people still miss things about the office. Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade sits down with SpatialChat CEO Almas Abulkhairov. They discuss why sometimes stubbornness is a key quality in creating a successful product. They also touch on why great PMs not only have a coding background, but they are also often entrepreneurs. Finally, they talk about the 4 things remote teams still miss about the office, and how SpatialChat can help.

One of the consumers’ main concerns when it comes to buying and using products is security. Product managers need a strategic approach to cybersecurity that secures both the organization and the consumer. So, how do product managers ensure security? Google Cloud Director of Product shares insights on how Zero Trust Security helps protect your product. 

Are you communicating enough with your team?

Here is episode 12 in the CPO Rising Series. Autodesk EVP of AEC Amy Bunszel sits down with Products That Count CPO Renée Niemi. Amy shares tips on shifting the culture, structuring the organization, and setting priorities. For Amy, this story begins with embracing overcommunication. And considering how wide-ranging this discussion is (not to mention authoritative), communication is clearly one of Amy’s strengths.

Here is number three in the Capgemini “Leaders in Innovation” Podcast Series, featuring guests in the Capgemini portfolio of products. In this conversation, Synapse Product Development VP of Engineering Martine Stillman talks with Hamilton Beach Senior Industrial Designer Drew Carlson. They discuss the ways that Hamilton Beach is leading sustainability efforts, from reduced packaging to recycling test appliances. Drew argues that even small steps add up to big impact when it comes to sustainability in product.

What does a good product leader have in common with Henry Kissinger? Here is episode seven in the 2022 Product Awards series. In this conversation, Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade sits down with PandaDoc SVP of Product Bernard Desarnauts. They touch on the importance of grit and iteration in building a Product Award-winning product. They also discuss why PMs must learn to ask the right questions. Finally, Bernard shares why he thinks a good product leader is more like a diplomat than a president – or CEO.

There has yet to be a job field that has grown as exponentially as product management. Many product managers and leaders are attempting to expand both their careers and their companies. And are searching for the right kinds of career development. So, how do you develop your career as a product manager? In this episode, Product Talk host and ALTR Product Lead, Neha Shah, interviews Root Insurance fmr CPO Hemal Shah who takes us on a journey through product management and into leadership.

Do your products make a difference in people’s lives? This is episode 11 in the CPO Rising Series. Here, SoFi Chief Product Officer Assaf Ronen talks about leading product at the San Francisco-based financial services company. In particular he talks about building what he calls “the AWS of banking,” the importance of thought diversity on product teams, and why he is passionate about building products that make a difference.

Media companies whose main focus is producing content are still delivering a product to consumers. Knowing how to navigate the waters of product development, operations, and management are equally important in the media industry as in the product world. So, how do media companies redefine their playbook? Morning Brew VP of Product shares insights on how content and product management interplay. 

How do you get to know your users? This is episode six in the 2022 Product Awards series. Here, Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade speaks with User.com Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder Mike Korba. Their conversation covered topics from live chatting with customers to the silver lining of COVID for digital platforms. In the final analysis, Mike says that your value proposition has to be easily understood by users.

In this new Age of Product, the way that we approach product management and product operations must change, and so must our product teams. Product excellence is measurable and can be achieved through various practices. So, how do we ensure product excellence? Contentsquare VP of Product Excellence, Danny Carvajal, shares how a product excellence team can help drive overall success.

This is episode 10 in the CPO Rising Series. Here, Elsevier Chief Product Officer Mikhail Vaysbukh talks about leading product at the Netherlands-based academic publishing company. In particular he talks about building with the right people, beginning with the interview process, to structuring teams, to the two most important behaviors for any product leader.

Here is the second podcast in our Capgemini “Leaders in Innovation” Series, featuring guests in the Capgemini portfolio of products. In this conversation, Capgemini VP of Product Management Masood Amin talks with Intel Global GM for New IOT Markets Sameer Sharma. Their main topic of discussion is Intel’s innovative roadside technology, an AI-integrated infrastructure enhancement designed to make cities safer and more efficient.

Here is the fifth episode in the 2022 Product Awards series. The conversation features Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade and InVision CPO Jeff Chow. The discussion began with Jeff explaining that InVision has long been obsessed with building simple tools to improve team engagement. Jeff then shared how InVision had the opportunity to build and flex new muscles — for new customer segments — during the pandemic. Finally, Jeff laid out three traits of a great product manager.

With the invention of SaaS, cloud infrastructure, and global technology advancements, the cyber security industry is constantly evolving. Instead of the old “wall” method, product managers are taking a new approach to product, including building straight to platform. How can PMs take advantage of platform products to serve multiple use cases? Authomize VP of Product Guy Katzir shares the holistic approach to cyber security and how to build great platform products.

Does your company build a strong talent pipeline by investing in a culture of learning and development? Here’s the ninth episode in the CPO Rising Series, in which Fidelity Investments Chief Product Officer Deba Sahoo talks about building and developing a strong talent pipeline. Train your team. Provide them with mentorship opportunities. Let them spread the word about your company culture. Then, even during a difficult transition like the digital transformation, your team will always have the right people.

The immediate success of a product is always highlighted, but we often forget to mention the time spent hustling to get there. This is especially true in the post-pandemic world, where our lives took an immediate pivot in 2020 and many unique products have been developed as a result. How did a former political campaign creative develop a first-to-market tech product? VODIUM Co-founder Camille Padilla shares her nonlinear path and unique experiences that led her to build a tech startup.

Try VODIUM now and use promo code PRODUCTALK for 30% off! (code expired on 8/31/2022)

How can you make sure that you’re solving a problem that matters? This is the fourth episode in the 2022 Product Awards series. In this conversation, Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade speaks with Amplitude SVP of Product Justin Bauer. At Amplitude, says Justin Bauer, the customer is part of the team. From the company’s origins, to its evolution into new product directions, the direction comes from spending time with customers.

What gets you excited about product solutions? This is the first podcast in our Capgemini "Leaders in Innovation" Series, featuring guests in the Capgemini portfolio of products. Here, frog Creative Director Inna Lobel sits down with Heatworks Founder & CEO Jerry Callahan. They discuss a few innovative Heatworks Technologies products, each inspired by Jerry’s passion for efficient design.

Does your company have a value system that it truly lives by? Or does it simply have platitudes stuck on a wall? In this, the eighth episode in the CPO Rising Series, Atlassian Chief Product Officer Joff Redfern talks about the importance of values. Why? Because a company’s culture sits on top of its value system. This comes into play in hiring, communicating, and working out problems. The strength of the culture is largely determined by the strength of the core tenets at its base.

There are different customer mindsets within FinTech, as the industry’s journey sets its eyes on understanding the customer product wants. This process isn’t always clear, and it might include educating customers but also sometimes just helping them navigate through the process. How can PMs create products and experiences that everyday people can relate to? Republic Product Lead Matt Hamilton shares insights into the importance of the customer journey and the future of FinTech.

(The views, information, or opinions expressed during this [series, episode, podcast] are solely those of the Matt Hamilton and do not necessarily represent those of Republic, its affiliates, and its employees and may not be current. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to constitute legal or investment advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available expressed are for general informational and entertainment purposes only.)

In this podcast episode, the third in the 2022 Product Awards series, Optimizely VP of Product Thilo Richter speaks with Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade about why PMs should do more exploratory testing, why actually understanding your customer’s problem is the most important thing, and why a great PM might have a few things in common with a scientist.

In this ever-changing world, it is part of the product leader’s responsibility to navigate their teams toward continuous improvement and success. This can include a few methodologies and strategies to create a system that teams can rely on. How can a product leader build a systematic approach while giving room for flexibility? American Express VP of Product Development Penelope Madry shares how to lead through change and align successful product teams.

(The views expressed by Penelope Madry in this podcast episode are her own and do not represent American Express.)

Change is the only constant in life. And in the world of product, digital transformation over the past 2 years has effected everyone from the largest corporation down to the individual remote freelancer. Few companies are as plugged in to that reality as Upwork, “the world’s work marketplace.” In this conversation, the seventh in our CPO Rising series, Upwork Chief Product and Experience Officer Samuel Bright talks about leading his teams to navigate that transformation. It starts, he says, with a culture of making the customer win big.

As product managers, we are told to be curious. There are many books, guides, and resources explaining how to create a product management framework that can be used to achieve success. Is it truly one size fits all or different frameworks for different problems? In this episode, Product Talk host and ALTR Product Lead, Neha Shah, interviews Zoopla Product Head Yanislava Petrova who talks about the craft and context of PM frameworks and how PMs can create their own.

In this podcast episode, the second in the 2022 Product Awards series, Heap VP of Product Rachel Obstler sits down with Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade to give insights into how Heap built its Product Award-winning analytics tooling. A major key, says Rachel, is not only listening to what customers are saying, but also to what they are not saying.

We are seeing people from all types of work backgrounds and cultures becoming a part of product. It is a critical shift as you build products for a emerging global market. How do PMs empower diversity in thought leadership and product management? PayPal Senior Product Leader Ronke Majekodunmi shares insights about diversity within roles and customer relationships for successful PMs.

In this podcast episode, the first in the 2022 Product Awards series, Sprig Product Lead Rachel Wang sits down with Wayfair Product Leader Nacho Andrade. Rachel shares how 2022 Product Award winner Sprig aims to reach more people through research, helping to gather the qualitative data to drive decisions that product teams can be confident about.

Many organizations don't always start with a culture of product management. Sometimes there are unclear definitions and undetermined boundaries on who are product managers and what it actually takes to manage products. How can PMs bring the fluidity of product processes to their companies?  In this episode, Product Talk host and ALTR Product Lead, Neha Shah, interviews Metron Aviation Product Leader Marcus Lowther who discusses what it takes to transition to a product management culture in an established industry.

Building a good team is not just the individual leaders but the team as a whole. CPOs should manage through efficient delegation but also give their product managers the freedom to execute. What are some best practices to hire and retain the best product teams? Box CPO and 2022 Global CPO 20 winner Diego Dugatkin shares his insights into creating the best product teams, embracing the vision, and building the next generation of product leaders.

It might seem like it is the dawn of digital transformation, but there have been certain players – good and bad – who have thrived in the digital environment for quite some time. Digital security has always been top of mind for many companies, most especially as Internet access has gone wireless. How can PMs be at the forefront of secure digital transformation? Fmr Illumio Product Leader Matthew Glenn shares the dynamics of cybersecurity and explains the zero trust model.

A manager can run a department, but the truly great product leaders have a secret sauce that makes them stand out from the rest. Many Chief Product Officers are at the forefront of steering change within many companies, including healthcare. What skills and qualities are necessary to make an impact on product leadership? Included Health CPO and 2022 Global CPO 20 winner Nupur Srivastava shares the attributes of great product leaders and how to set priorities while enabling innovation.

Wouldn’t it be easy to just pull from a list of B2B customers and know how they get value out of your product? While that database doesn’t exist, value is a huge component in any product’s monetization strategy. How can B2B companies not run in circles figuring this out? Software Pricing Partners Managing Partner Chris Mele shares insights into value and how a pricing strategy is important to product development.

Chief Product Officers face many challenges while managing both team motivation and product innovation, especially with pandemic-related workplace changes. There also are constant priority interrupts that can affect the cadence of product innovation. How does a CPO facilitate the right culture to keep up the innovative pace? Nubank CPO Jag Duggal shares insights into creating rhythm, hiring a great team, and maintaining innovation.

With the growing importance in a digitally connected world, the role of Chief Product Officer (CPO) is being elevated. There are companies, like Capgemini, whose intelligent product and services offering helps product leaders to accelerate their product innovation journey. What are the best practices for current and future CPOs to further define their roles? Capgemini Invent Executive VP Lisa Mitnick shares ways CPOs can be successful and how Capgemini is a leader for product leaders.

Good customer experience or CX spans across the entire customer journey. To do that, a product leader needs to try to bring together the technology side and the human side. How can product managers utilize CX at every part of product iteration? CX thought leader Lorraine Schumacher shares how CX adds value to product teams and listening to customer voice brings success.

As more companies aim to be product-led, there are higher-level priorities for product leaders. Product managers are rising through the business ranks and gaining seats at C-suite tables, as well as the title of Chief Product Officer. How have the leadership dynamics changed as we see the rise of the CPO? Products That Count CPO Renee Niemi sits down with our founder SC Moatti to showcase the inaugural Global CPO 20 and discuss observations from the best CPOs.

As product management evolves, so do the teams around it. With product leading the way in all aspects of an organization, the effects have also shifted product operations and project management. These changes bring a question to the forefront: Why are we doing things the way we're always doing them? Contentsquare Product Leader Danny Carvajal shares his answer and demystifies the role of product excellence and enablement.

Jim Gray, former Chief Product Officer of Products That Count, interviews PTC founder SC Moatti about the history of the Product Awards in advance of the 2022 Awards, our 5th celebration.

As cars become more connected, we can make more decisions using data. Automations are within reach for underwriting decisions, distribution, and claims, just to name a few. How can we create products that use data for global solutions?  In this episode, Product Talk host and ALTR Product Lead, Neha Shah, interviews Roadzen CEO Rohan Malhotra who discusses how AI data bridges the gaps between insurance and mobility to make better decisions.

When product managers think about setting goals within product teams, we can shy away from accepting if we have set the bar too high, for ourselves or others. We are ambitious individuals and want to meet or exceed the goals we set. How do we normalize mistakes, failure, and human error? Shopify Vice President of Product Mamuna Oladipo shares opportunities to pivot within your goals when faced with mistakes and failures.

Product leaders are category creators and world changers. For example, the world of telecommunications used to require a lot of physical dedicated equipment with a lack of flexibility. How did this industry change into the powerhouse it has become today? SignalWire founder and CEO Anthony Minessale shares how telecommunications turned into a software platform, the role it played in remote work, and what to expect for the next generation.

Experimentation can be developed as a powerful storytelling and product tool. Through experimentation, a product manager can make accurate, data-driving decisions that can expand their product’s reach. These don’t need to be complicated, but how can product managers experiment in ways that best fit their product? Dow Jones Product VP Peter Gray shares his unique insights in experimentation, subscription, and personalization to create value.

This year has been another one for the history books. In our 2021 Product Talk year in review, we handpicked an episode for each season led by some of our hosts: Transfix’s Patrick Blute, Universal Electronics’ Nikki Ahmadi, and our founder SC Moatti. Relive insights from leaders at Ramp, Dolby, and Cox Communications, as well as Silicon Valley icon Geoff Moore. Listen to their insights into industry trends and product.

Some product leaders enter this career because they want to be involved with product directly, while others jump in by happenstance. In non-tech roles such as teaching, the ability to make an impact with certain products comes from a different vantage point. How can future PMs utilize these experiences to enhance their products?  In this episode, Product Talk host and ALTR Product Lead, Neha Shah, interviews  BetterLesson Sr. VP Amber Orenstein who discusses how having a diverse professional background provides a different perspective on building quality edtech products.

There are many different products and thousands of ways to build these products. In a technology-first environment, a platform is part of this process, whether it helps to build the product or is the product itself. What comes first in all this development: the platform or the product? PepsiCo Product Lead Deepika Yerragunta shares her ideas of building platforms as products and within frameworks to boost productivity and scale.

We are online all day, every day, for all aspects of our lives and business. We want a space that is safe and trustworthy to share information without the fear of getting scammed or hacked. However, there isn’t a silver bullet or quick fix to the safety issue. How does a company treat the real-life problem of internet safety and trust? LinkedIn Product Lead Shreyas Nangalia shares how safety PMs balance challenges, solutions, and customers to make secure products.

We all use mobile apps, all day, every day. As consumers, we only see them right as an end product and don’t have any insight into all of the complexity a typical organization has to coordinate, from cross-team collaboration to integrating various technologies. What are some of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to produce high-quality mobile apps? Blue Cedar CEO John Aisien shares how product leaders can build secure mobile apps to deliver positive business outcomes.

Felipe Gasparino takes the mic to tell listeners about the category of “empowering the whole human” at the 2022 Products That Count Product Awards.

When a business wants to innovate and capture a different market segment, that might involve some big changes. For some, this also might mean changing from a direct-to-consumer approach and targeting your product toward other businesses. What are some elements and surprises to consider in order to make a successful switch? Cox Communications Product Lead Kelly Hoople shares how her path led her to a product leader role, and what it takes to be successful when moving a business from B2C to B2B.

Fmr Transformco Product Director Maheep Bhalla introduces the Responsive Product Accountability category for the 2022 Product Awards.

Most of us need some type of insurance at different points in our lives, and often more than one type of policy. The paperwork can be cumbersome, the claims drawn out, and the whole process daunting. Is the insurance industry taking a digital cue from others, and how can it become customer-empowering? Getsafe VP of Product & Design Konrad Heimpel shares insurance changes within tech and how its product development is different from other industries.

This is the third in a five-part series introducing the categories for the Products That Count 2022 Product Awards. Last time, we heard from Transfix Product Marketing Lead, Patrick Blute, on Delightful User Journey. In this talk, Indeed.com Senior International Product Lead Iryna Krutenko introduces the Level Up Scale & Complexity category for the 2022 Product Awards.

Self-driving cars, replicators from Star Trek, or even Rosey from The Jetsons: It is an exciting time to be in the field of artificial intelligence with many ideas defining what it means. It also is a popular career path for product professionals. What does it actually mean outside of all the hype and excitement surrounding this term?  In this episode, Product Talk host and ALTR Product Lead, Neha Shah, interviews Procore Product Lead Reza Shirazi who talks about demystifying artificial intelligence and what it means to build AI products.

This is the second in a five-part series introducing the categories for the Products That Count 2022 Product Awards. Last time, we heard from Google Product Lead, Neha Taleja, on Informed Go-To-Market Strategy. In this talk, Transfix Product Marketing Lead Patrick Blute introduces the Delightful User Journey category for the 2022 Product Awards.

The most critical decisions in the world are driven by people’s understanding of unstructured content. It all comes down to the abilities of subject matter experts to make those decisions entirely driven by whether they're looking at the right piece of that data at the right time. Is there a solution for these companies to view and process the correct information? Sorcero CEO Dipanwita Das shares ways she discovered data analytics can produce cognitive solutions in life sciences.

When developing a B2B product, product managers have to think a bit differently than other PMs. From ideation to client interaction to pricing, many areas shift for this specific market. What are some areas PMs should focus on when working within the business-to-business realm? Ambient Photonics CEO Bates Marshall shares the ways B2B product management differs from direct to customer and some tips for product managers at B2B companies.

PMs need a plan to launch their products in the market, whether beta, internal, or otherwise. For the 2022 Product Awards, the Awards Advisory Board proposed 5 new categories, including Informed Go-To-Market Strategy. How will they do the testing, experimentation, and ramp-up, and what are the best tools out there to help in this process? Google Product Lead Neha Taleja introduces the Informed Go-To-Market Strategy category for the 2022 Product Awards.

We are taught to experience life, not just live in it, and this can be true for product management. PMs need different lenses to solve problems and develop ideas. How do we cultivate storytelling with our products? VP of Product at Disney Streaming Dave Lankford speaks about inclusivity and true listening, and how this relates to product development.

Product managers and leaders come to the world of product from many different backgrounds. This gives each individual product person a unique perspective on the products they build. But what does it mean to truly be a product visionary? In this talk, fmr IBM VP & Partner and current Structured Mischief Founder and CEO, David Jensen, joins us to discuss visionary product thinking.

There are as many ways to build a business as there are people who build them. Some are motivated solely by profit, some by challenge, some by accident, and some by philanthropy, or purpose. What does it mean to build with purpose? Join Amazon Care Head of UX Design and Research Dane Howard to learn about the concepts and actions necessary for building with purpose.

It’s all too easy to get serious about work. We have meetings, deadlines,  goals, profits, and more to consider. How can we maintain the fun while we do the work of making great products? In this talk, Melissa Pickering, former LEGO Education Head of Product, joins us to talk about focusing on play within your product.

Users tend to be less concerned with what companies are meeting their needs, as long as those needs are met. Companies see users jump to competitor’s platforms and see a pain point. How can content producers get their content in front of users on all chat platforms and drive revenue? GameOn Founder and CEO Alex Beckman joins us to go over how companies can connect the dots between content and chat platforms all over the world.

Scaling a global business in the age of remote work demands a specific approach for it to be successful. Remote work is here to stay, whether companies have chosen it as a convenience, strategic advantage, or pandemic necessity. How can companies use remote employees as an advantage when scaling a global business? Join MURAL Co-Founder and CPO Agustin Soler as he offers insights into his experience in scaling a global business over the last decade and creating a  2021 Product Award Winner in the Design Interface category.

Our Summer Series of podcasts is designed to introduce you to some of our most popular content and superstar PM professionals from the last six years. This episode focuses on making impactful products from one of the most popular episodes of Product Talk. Are you putting the customer first when designing products? Join product superstar Marty Cagan, founder of Silicon Valley Product Group, to learn about how product managers can put the customer first to build impactful products.

Our Summer Series of podcasts is designed to introduce you to some of our most popular content and superstar PM professionals from the last six years. This episode focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning highlights from five popular episodes of Product Talk. How do product leaders succeed in building smarter AI and ML that make products better? These product leaders share their insights about the potential of AI, along with some limitations to keep in mind.

Our Summer Series of podcasts is designed to introduce you to some of our most popular content and superstar PM professionals from the last six years. This episode focuses on product lifecycle highlights from five popular episodes of Product Talk. What’s your strategy for optimizing your product lifecycle efforts? These product leaders share their insights from their experience managing products at leading tech firms.