Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

LinkedIn’s product evolution and the art of building complex systems | Hari Srinivasan (LinkedIn)

Jul 16, 2023

Hari Srinivasan, VP of Product at LinkedIn Talent Solutions and a former CEO, shares his journey in product management. He discusses LinkedIn’s transformation from a networking site to a comprehensive platform focused on skills-based hiring. Hari reveals strategies for job seekers to enhance their visibility to recruiters and emphasizes the importance of networking. He also dives into the complexities of managing interconnected products and offers insights on decision-making processes at LinkedIn, along with tips for newcomers in product management.

01:04:48

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Hari Srinivasan

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Quick takeaways

Skills-first hiring approach is gaining traction in the job market, emphasizing transferable skills over specific job titles.

LinkedIn's core value revolves around connecting people to economic opportunity, influencing decision-making and product development.

Managing complexity within LinkedIn's ecosystem requires clear thinking, decision-making processes, and talent systems that can navigate interconnected systems.

Deep dives

Skills-first hiring and the rebalancing job market

During the COVID-19 pandemic, LinkedIn noticed a shift in the job market. Many people were losing their jobs, but there was also a lack of movement among job seekers to other industries. This was partly due to people being focused on specific job titles and not realizing that their skills were transferable to different roles. As a response to this, LinkedIn implemented a skills-first hiring approach, where they translated people's experiences into a set of skills. This approach has gained traction with 47% of recruiters now explicitly using skills when searching for candidates. These changes indicate a rebalancing job market in which skills and broader interests are becoming more valuable.

How to Prove Your Skills on LinkedIn

02:35

The Impact of Cause and Effect in Decision Making and Ecosystem Ties

01:00

Innovating Product Development: Impactful Changes in Planning and Review Process

01:44

Buying People and Book Recommendations

02:16

Intro

5min

The Serendipity of Connection in the Tech World

2min

LinkedIn's Evolution: From Networking to Knowledge Sharing

18min

Enhancing LinkedIn Visibility for Job Seekers

9min

Navigating Complex Ecosystems in Product Management

4min

Decision-Making and Skill Development at LinkedIn

19min

Family Entertainment and Innovative Problem-Solving

6min

Maximizing LinkedIn: Tips and Insights for Users

2min

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Hari Srinivasan is VP of Product at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, where he oversees LinkedIn Recruiter, LinkedIn Jobs, and LinkedIn Learning. He’s also a frequent guest lecturer at Stanford University. Previously, he served as the CEO and founder of We Created It, which was acquired by LinkedIn in 2014. Hari has a passion for building products, with experience ranging from creating the first U.S. hybrid SUV to developing a No. 1 app and writing a beloved children’s book. In today’s episode, we discuss:

• LinkedIn’s unique business model and org structure

• How to optimize your LinkedIn experience and improve your chances of getting a PM role

• How to adapt to a skills-first talent market

• The story of Hari’s failed first product review, and how he pivoted for success

• Strategies for building and maintaining complex systems

• How to get into product management

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Find the full transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/linkedins-product-evolution-and-the

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Where to find Hari Srinivasan:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsrinivasan1/

• Website: https://www.mindofhari.com/