42. The Time Traveler - How to stay ahead in the world of Product Design.

The best product leaders are a bit like time travelers. They can pick up trends and feedback from users, but they also have a sixth sense that allows them to tune in into what's coming next.

My guest for this episode is a hyper energetic, New York based (and raised) Product Leader that is so dialed in that he can never stop channeling thoughts into paper.

Post-it notes, emails, Word, Google, Notion, and any sort of physical or digital way you can think of to put ideas into writing, are only the start for him. Then comes design, drawing. And through that design, choosing the best ideas and executing on them.  

Rob Petrozzo has 15 years of experience as a digital designer, experience lead, creative director, and product specialist. He has worked with a broad spectrum of content in a variety of industries including music, publishing, and bio-technology. His most recent position allowed him to contribute hands-on to the growth of an industry leading hardware/software startup, and was the precursor to the founding of his newest venture, Rally Rd.

His mind is always on, and you can notice that just by the way he talks and connects concepts and experiences, with unparalleled energy and passion.

How do you stay dialed in as a Product Leader? How can you predict what’s coming next? How do you execute on ideas? When and how do you listen to user feedback? How do you navigate back and forth from analog to digital and how do you know when to choose each one? How do you get insights from younger generations? What role does your city play into how you are able to stay dialed in?

These are just some of the questions Rob answered during our 40 minute conversation.

Listen to this episode, you’ll get more energy and ideas from it than you can imagine.

Enjoy!