The Product Opscast Product Opscast Episode 12: Surfacing Bad Product Ops
Jan 21, 2026
David Pereira, a seasoned product leadership consultant and author of *Untrapping Product Teams*, joins Graham Reed and Antonia Landi for a deep dive into the evolution of product operations over the past three years. They discuss the critical need for intentionality in product Ops and the pivotal role of leadership in team success. David emphasizes understanding organizational dynamics and the importance of tackling challenges systematically. He also shares insights on creating effective, high-leverage work environments for product teams.
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Episode notes
Product Ops Is A Means Not A Mandate
- David Pereira says product ops is a means to an end and not always necessary to start with.
- He prefers solving the organisation's problems by context rather than imposing a role by default.
Enable Repeatable High-Leverage Work
- Antonia Landi: Make high-leverage work repeatable by reducing cognitive load across teams.
- Put systems in place that enable better decision making, not just tactical support work.
First Hire Should Understand Product Work
- Hire a senior product manager as your first Product Ops or give the role to someone with lived PM experience.
- Prioritise people who understand product practices before hiring for admin-like tasks.
