OKR in the Real World: Lessons from SEEK with Mark Henry

OKRs sound simple—set a goal, track progress, win. But the reality? Much harder. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Henry, product leader and OKR practitioner, to unpack what it really takes to embed OKRs in a high-performing organization like SEEK. Mark shares the challenges of getting leadership alignment, keeping teams focused, and ensuring customer outcomes drive product decisions. Whether you’re new to OKRs or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with real-world insights you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction – Why this episode is a must-listen

[00:01:00] Mark Henry’s journey with OKRs at SEEK

[00:03:00] The biggest challenge: Focus (Hint: You’re doing too much)

[00:05:00] How to connect technical work to customer impact

[00:08:00] Directional autonomy—giving teams clarity without micromanaging

[00:12:00] How UX discovery fits into OKRs (and why it matters)

[00:17:00] The difference between feature teams and mission teams

[00:19:00] Why strategy clarity makes OKRs way easier

[00:22:00] Where OKRs don’t work (and why that’s okay)

[00:27:00] The alignment challenge—how SEEK approached company-wide OKRs

[00:33:00] How Mark’s team set OKRs each quarter (real process details)

[00:38:00] The hidden benefit of OKRs: Speed to market

[00:43:00] Mark’s biggest takeaways from leading OKRs at SEEK

[00:45:00] How to connect with Mark for more insights

Guest Bio:

Mark Henry is a seasoned product leader with deep expertise in product strategy, OKRs, and high-performing teams. He played a key role in embedding OKRs at SEEK, one of Australia’s leading job platforms, before moving on to leadership roles at Metadvisor and now working as a consultant and advisor. With years of experience navigating the complexities of OKRs, product discovery, and customer-driven innovation, Mark brings a practical, no-BS perspective on what really works.

Tim’s OKR Quickstart Guide & Resources HERE

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