108. Joana Cardoso: Startup-like growth, working in the "backstage" and managing emotions

In this episode, João was speaking to Joana Nunes Cardoso, Head of New Product Development at Cofidis and one of the speakers of the first Product Weekend event. Joana has a long experience in the personal credit space as well as in managing the development and launching of innovative products. Besides being the head of new product development she is also a theatre and gymnastics lover, a mother and an enthusiastic person with strong convictions. [0:10] Introduction of Joana [0:55] Theatre as the most magical place of Joana's childhood [6:20] Joana's experience in gymnastics and balancing between other disciplines [8:55] Professional experience at Cetelem and Cofidis  [13:05] Ending up in a financial institution while studying communication  [15:20] First contact with product and transition from marketing to product [21:20] Challenges caused by a lack of a technical background [25:18] What would 18-yer-old Joana choose to study instead? [27:45] Putting customer experience first and having the mindset of failure and the main learning [34:33] The biggest challenge as a PM and the impact of emotions Having this relation within the team in different disciplines is really teamwork.  [38:43] Favourite things about working in product - from ideas to feedback [39:47] Lessons people can learn from the product management [41:15] Advice for starting a career in a big company [43:00] Coffee with a historical figure - which one? [45:45] Recommendations. PRODUCTION This podcast was hosted by João Moita from Product Weekend, with sound edited by Miguel Sousa and production help by Productized, André Marquet and Evelina Bogdiun.