Keji Adedeji, a seasoned product leadership coach with over 18 years in tech, shares her insights on the quirks of corporate culture. She humorously navigates the illusion of control that leads to micromanagement and restrictive environments. Keji highlights the pitfalls of poorly implemented agile practices and the dangers of excessive bureaucracy in product management. With a focus on adaptability, she champions outcome-driven work and emphasizes the need for clear goals, evidence-based decision-making, and empowering teams to thrive in a hybrid work world.
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Physical and Digital Kanban
A team adopted Spotify's squad model and used a physical Kanban board.
Developers moved cards, then told a project manager, who updated Jira, despite developers having access.
insights INSIGHT
Root Cause of Kanban Issue
The root cause of the Kanban issue was a lack of trust stemming from past reporting errors.
PMOs and project managers locked down Jira due to this fear of failure.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Fish Transportation
A transportation company partnered with a fish company for alternative revenue.
They transported fish in luggage compartments, raising questions about brand alignment.
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Curious about the illusions and realities of corporate culture? Join us as we chat with Keiji Adedeji, an experienced product leadership coach with deep insights into the world of product management. Keiji shares her fascinating journey from software tester to product manager, driven by a relentless curiosity and a knack for problem-solving. With over 18 years in tech and extensive experience in B2B sectors, including her recent work with the International Baccalaureate Organization, Keiji brings to light the humorous and perplexing behaviors of large companies and the illusion of control that often drives their decisions.
In our conversation, we unpack the common pitfalls of adopting agile methodologies without truly grasping their essence, drawing from Keiji's firsthand experience with teams attempting to mirror Spotify's squad model. We highlight unusual practices, like the need to move physical cards, emphasizing the necessity of trust and focusing on outcomes rather than getting lost in the process. As our world shifts towards virtual and hybrid work environments, Keiji questions the relevance of traditional tools and underscores the importance of adaptable, outcome-driven work practices.
We also explore the challenges that come with setting strategic goals and how organizations can sometimes lose sight of their brand and mission in pursuit of metrics and revenue. By discussing the value of clear boundaries and the dangers of excessive bureaucracy, we aim to equip listeners with strategies to empower teams and drive meaningful change. From setting effective guardrails to navigating organizational complexity, Keiji offers a wealth of knowledge on building a culture of experimentation and tackling inefficiencies to enhance productivity and engagement.
Featured Links: Follow Keji on LinkedIn | Watch Keji's talk at #mtpcon 2023 | The Spotify Squad Model
Our Hosts Lily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She’s currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She’s worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.
Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury’s. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group’s Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He’s the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager’s Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon’s music stores in the US & UK.
The Product Experience