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In this episode of the How to Succeed in Product Management Podcast, marketing professor Jeff Shulman welcomes Leslie Grandy (Modwell) and Eric Loh (The Product Management Center at UW) as they discuss building a high-performing team and the power of culture. Building a product team and understanding the culture are crucial for a PM because they directly impact the success of a product. A well-structured team ensures diverse skills and perspectives, enabling efficient execution and innovation. Moreover, a deep understanding of the organizational culture helps the PM navigate communication, decision-making processes, and stakeholder expectations, leading to smoother collaboration and more effective product development

Disclaimer: All opinions of the speakers are their own.

What to Listen For:

00:00 Intro
06:04 Building a product team
09:08 Who’s involved in building a product team?
11:28 Scaling the hardware and software teams
14:26 Understanding the existing culture while building a team in another location
16:17 Onboarding process
21:25 Getting the willing people to onboard first
25:30 Ideal ratio of PMs to other roles on a product team
31:06 Changing people and rivalry in product
38:27 Bridging the gap in the culture between two organizations
43:57 Challenges coming up with the rubric for hiring
48:04 Building a team towards social purpose
51:17 Accepting what’s happening at the moment
54:55 Final Thoughts

94: Building High-Performing Teams and The Power of Culture