The Product Experience A masterclass on rapid experimentation - Dan Dalton (Director of Product, Sage)
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Oct 22, 2025 Dan Dalton, Director of Product Management at Sage, brings 14 years of expertise in product strategy and rapid experimentation. He discusses the critical state of product management, emphasizing the need for evolution beyond bureaucratic practices. Dan critiques the obsession with frameworks over outcomes and advocates for impactful leadership through continuous learning and authentic hiring. He shares insights on building prototypes for faster alignment and highlights the importance of soft skills in navigating today’s product challenges.
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From HP Apprentice To Sage Product Director
- Dan entered product accidentally via an apprenticeship at Hewlett-Packard and rotated across contracts.
- He later worked at startups and Pendo before joining Sage to lead cloud payroll products globally.
Product Management Tipped Toward Bureaucracy
- Product management has swung from building to bureaucracy and lost its original business-focused role.
- Dan Dalton warns the role is at a critical juncture and must correct course to remain essential.
The Cult Of Best Practice Problem
- Between 2018 and 2021 product culture became tribal and obsessed with 'how' rather than 'what'.
- Dan calls this period the "cult of best practice" that prioritized alignment to frameworks over impact.
