Episode 245: Building Product Thinking in Engineering Teams with Matt Watson

24 snips

Sep 17, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Matt Watson, Founder and CEO of Full Scale, shares his transformative journey from developer to CEO. He highlights the importance of engineers embracing product thinking and seeing their role as part of a larger vision. Matt emphasizes the need for clear communication and ownership in tech teams, advocating for a culture that supports innovation. He also explores how AI is reshaping engineering roles, pushing teams to balance technical skills with business insights to deliver real value to customers.

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INSIGHT

Shift Engineers From Code To Customer

Engineers often think inwardly about code and lose sight of customer impact.
Matt Watson argues product thinking requires shifting focus outward to why the product matters.

ANECDOTE

First Job Shaped Product Mindset

Matt Watson began professional development by rebuilding a car dealer's Access system while selling computers.
That early hands-on product work shaped his product-driven approach throughout his career.

INSIGHT

Lack Of Context Drives Over-Engineering

Engineers who lack product context tend to over-engineer solutions.
Clear purpose and expected scale prevent unnecessary complexity and wasted effort.

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Join Melissa Perri as she sits down with Matt Watson, founder and CEO of Full Scale, to delve into the evolving world of product management and software development. In this insightful conversation, Matt shares his journey from developer to CEO, offering lessons on how to blend engineering expertise with product thinking. Discover how Matt encourages a culture of ownership and courage among teams, and how AI is reshaping the roles of engineers and product managers alike.

If you're interested in enhancing your product management skills and understanding the importance of clarity, communication, and collaboration in tech teams, this episode is a must-listen. Matt’s insights will resonate with anyone looking to break out of the build trap and focus on delivering real value to customers.

Tune in to gain practical strategies for fostering innovation and empowering your team to think beyond the code.

You’ll hear us talk about:

10:15 - Encouraging Product Thinking in Engineers

Matt discusses the importance of engineers understanding the product's broader impact, not just focusing on the technical aspects. He emphasizes the need for engineers to see themselves as part of the product team, contributing to the overall vision and strategy.

22:40 - The Role of Clarity and Communication

In this segment, Matt highlights the significance of maintaining clarity in software development. He shares how regular communication and one-on-ones are essential for coaching and ensuring everyone understands the vision and scope of projects.

35:55 - The Impact of AI on Engineering Roles

Matt explores how AI is transforming traditional engineering roles, pushing engineers to adopt more product thinking. He underscores the growing importance of emotional intelligence and teamwork as AI takes on more technical tasks.

Episode resources:

Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Product Driven: https://productdriven.com/

Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/about-us/

Check out Monday dev: http://monday.com/dev

Check our courses: https://productinstitute.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Matt's career journey

08:07 Giving engineers context and autonomy

15:51 Building psychological safety for courage

21:26 Creating ownership through one-on-ones

26:31 Redefining roles in the age of AI

30:16 Shifting from order takers to product owners