BALL! (Best Advice & Life Lessons) Podcast cover image

BALL! (Best Advice & Life Lessons) Podcast

Best Advice & Life Lessons with Brian MacDonald (Microsoft Teams, Outlook & Project)

Sep 22, 2020
Brian MacDonald, the creator of Microsoft Project, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams, shares his best advice and life lessons in this podcast. Topics include retirement during the pandemic, the importance of healthy disagreement within a team, life-changing purchases like Airpods and Kindle, book recommendations, starting out as a developer or project manager, and the evolution of work-life balance.
54:55

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Balancing technical skills with business understanding is crucial for success in product development.
  • Pursuing work aligned with personal passions and values leads to a fulfilling and balanced life.

Deep dives

Importance of Building a Business Strategy alongside Product Development

One of the best advice Brian McDonald received from Steve Ballmer was to always think about the business side of technology alongside product development. This means considering the business context, how customers will acquire and pay for the product, and developing a successful business strategy. Balancing strong technical skills with a clear understanding of the business aspects is crucial for success.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner