Fighting for Creatives: From Apple Siri to Becoming a Founder | Mohammed Abdoolcarim (DesignPro, ex-Apple & Google)

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This time we talked to Mohammed, formerly a Product lead on Apple Siri, Product Marketing Manager at Google, and currently a Co-founder of DesignPro. Mohammed shared his journey from studying at Stanford to building innovative products, and reflected on his time at Google and Apple, highlighting the different cultures and approaches to innovation. 

I felt so inspired after this conversation, especially when Mohammed shared how Steve Jobs entered their room to acquire Siri, how he embraced trial and error and be okay with failure, and how he uncovered that creativity is a fundamental aspect of human nature and should be prioritized in product development. Here are some highlights you can find in the episode:

— Embrace trial and error and be okay with failure in the process of product design and development.

— Customer obsession and understanding their desires and needs are crucial for successful innovation.

— Timing is key in launching products, and being able to tell a compelling narrative is essential for engaging customers.

— Creativity is a fundamental aspect of human nature and should be prioritized in product development.

— Combining the disciplines of product design and product management can lead to more successful and innovative products.

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Where to find Mohammed Abdoolcarim (DesignPro, ex-Apple & Google):

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscarim/

* DesignPro: https://designpro.ai/

Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/

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What we’ve covered in this episode:

01:26 Studying at Stanford University

03:09 Creating Products at Stanford

04:44 Working at Google

08:14 Building Siri and Joining Apple

12:29 Apple's Unique Culture

13:57 Combining Product Design and Product Management

19:16 Apple's Approach to Building Products

22:14 Adapting to the Trend of AI

26:38 Transitioning to a Founder Role

29:35 Creating DesignPro

35:05 Balancing Creativity and Operational Tasks

40:42 Fulfilling Creative Routine as a Founder

43:09 Memorable Moments at Apple

45:14 Book Recommendation: Shoe Dog

Resources referenced:

* 15% discount for Self-serve Onboarding course (starts on 15th of April!): https://maven.com/growth-course/self-serve-onboarding?promoCode=growthmates

* How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley: https://www.amazon.com/How-Innovation-Works-Serendipity-Technology/dp/0062916599

* Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012

* Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight: https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135929

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