Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

Vision, conviction, and hype: How to build 0 to 1 inside a company | Mihika Kapoor (Product at Figma)

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Apr 21, 2024

Mihika Kapoor, a design-engineer-PM hybrid at Figma and a former Meta product lead, shares her insights on launching new 0-to-1 products. She discusses crafting a compelling vision and the role of intuition in product management. Emphasizing vulnerability and feedback, she also delves into balancing strong opinions with collaboration. Kapoor highlights the significance of passion in team culture and the impact of AI on product development, encouraging adaptability and grace during pivots. Her experiences reflect a commitment to fostering innovation and a positive work environment.

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ADVICE

Crafting a Vision

Create a compelling vision by identifying a key user insight and projecting a desirable future world.
Communicate this vision internally using visual aids like mockups and prototypes, even before project approval.

INSIGHT

Show, Don't Tell

Figma's detail-oriented culture emphasizes visual communication, making words less effective than prototypes.
Demonstrating a user testimonial alongside a mockup or prototype evokes stronger emotional engagement and buy-in.

ANECDOTE

FigJam's Democratic Vision

FigJam's initial success with brainstorms revealed a user need for more democratic meeting experiences.
This insight led to features like music and voting, transforming traditional one-way meetings into collaborative sessions.

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